Three Hartford Sites Benefit From State Cultural/Historical Grants

State of Connecticut

HARTFORD, CT — State officials last week released several million in grants aiding multiple organizations that oversee culturally and historically significant locales in Connecticut, including several in Hartford.

Gov. Ned Lamont last week announced the State of Connecticut is releasing more than $7 million in state grants to several nonprofit organizations making facility and infrastructure upgrades at 34 cultural and historic sites statewide.

The funds are being released under the state’s Good to Great Grant Program, which is co-administered by the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and CT Humanities.

Hartford sites benefitting include:

• Cinestudio: $43,950 to replace outdated infrared listening devices with a T-Coil loop system and pilot a program to provide captions on-screen or through a third party.

• Connecticut Landmarks: $261,800 to implement improvements to its visitor centers at five historic house museums to better connect with visitors and other arts and culture resources in our communities.

• Ebony Horsewomen Equestrian and Therapeutic Center: $49,999 to create public access to a transformative, educational and rotating collection of multi-sensory historical artifacts, biographical profiles, photos and interactives exploring the lives of the named and countless unnamed Black men and women whose underrepresented – yet distinct and substantial contributions shaped the foundation of the “Old West.”

The program was established in 2014 with a goal of helping nonprofit arts, cultural or history organizations enhance visitors’ experiences.

“As one of the oldest states in the nation, Connecticut has many unique cultural and historic sites that not only share the history of our state but also provide avenues for that culture to continue into today,” Lamont said. “I’m glad that we can release this state funding and get it into the hands of these nonprofit organizations, who will use these grants to maintain and enhance the valuable services they provide to residents and visitors to our state.”

“The Good to Great Grant Program is a competitive award program that recognizes those organizations that devote time and energy to planning strategies to improve the visitor experience,” said Liz Shapiro, director of arts, preservation and museums at DECD.

“CT Humanities’ public-private partnership with DECD to administer the Good to Great Grant Program continues our shared investment in Connecticut’s cultural sector,” said Dr. Jason R. Mancini, executive director of CT Humanities. “This program aligns with our goals to provide equitable access to grant funding and recognizes the connection between a vibrant arts and humanities ecosystem and a strong tourism economy."

For more information on the program, click on this link.