Cheshire Public Library Among CT Humanities Grant Recipients

Connecticut Humanities has announced that a dozen state organizations will share more than $37,500 in grant money to support humanities-based programming. The projects range from support for Cheshire’s South Asian Cultural Festival to a series of events organized by Hartford Stage exploring the psychological impact of war.

The Cheshire Public Library has been awarded a $1,500 grant to fund the South Asian Cultural Festival, which occurs in February and March of 2016. The festival explores and celebrated the cultures of the Indian subcontinent through a variety of programs, including lectures, movie screenings, art workshops and performances of traditional folk music and dance. All of the programs are free and take place at the Cheshire Public Library.

The Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium will use a $900 grant to fund its annual Kwanzaa celebration and education program. The program includes a brief history of Kwanzaa, a presentation of the seven Kwanzaa principles, a community discussion and cultural performances. The program runs from 4-8 p.m. on December 26 and is free and open to the public.

Another $1,500 grant will support a series of powerful programs from the Hartford Stage Company entitled, “Seeking the Healing Community: Humanities Experiences for The Body of An American.” The programs will run in conjunction with the Hartford Stage production of “The Body of An American” from January 7-31, 2016, and explore the psychological after-effects of war. On January 11, playwright Dan O’Brien and photojournalist Paul Watson will share their PTSD experiences and recovery work in a free discussion, moderated by Hartford Hospital’s Psychiatrist-in-Chief Dr. Harold Schwartz. On January 12 and January 21, a moderated post-show discussion with the audience will follow the performance of play at Hartford Stage. And on January 14, O’Brien will read poetry from his collection “War Reporter” at 7 p.m. at the Mark Twain House.

The Hartford-based Connecticut Heritage Foundation will use one of the largest grants -- $9,700 -- to explore how Connecticut’s participation in World War I affected the Connecticut of today. This initiative will provide the research, interpretation and format for public presentation that will be used to guide the state’s centennial commemoration of WWI.

Other grant recipients in this round of Connecticut Humanities funding include organizations in Bridgeport, Cheshire, Derby, Greenwich, Kent, Naugatuck, Salisbury and Weston.

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