North Stonington Among Southeastern CT Communities Awarded Arts & Culture Grant

Hartford, CT – State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today welcomed news that the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) has awarded more than $23,000 in funding to nine organizations, nonprofits and schools for projects focused on arts and culture in Southeastern Connecticut.

The grants, awarded by COA in partnership with the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, are administered through the Department of Economic & Community Development’s Offices of Culture and Tourism, according to a release.

“Arts and culture are an invaluable part of a thriving community, and I am grateful that the Connecticut Office of the Arts has chosen to fund these excellent programs and projects in the greater-Norwich area,” Osten said. “These programs are beneficial to our children and residents, and also help drive tourism in our region. It’s good for our quality of life and our local economy and I congratulate the recipients on receiving this competitive grant funding and look forward to seeing the continued impact these programs have on our community.”

The following grants were awarded in partnership with the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition:

• $3,726 to the Norwich Public Schools for the Kelly Middle School Playwright Project$2,982 for beautification at Ledyard’s Juliet W. Long Elementary School (Gales Ferry)
• $3,726 to Our Piece of the Pie, Inc. in Norwich for a project entitled “Combining History with Creativity: Youth Engage in the Community”
• $3,261 for Girls in Jazz Band Spring Break Music Writing Camp (Norwich, New London & Waterford)
• $1,866 to the Norwich Arts Center for Design Arts Programs Appealing to High School Age Audiences
• $3,726 to The Common Thread Collaboration for a project using fabric in art therapy, culminating in art pieces that will be shown at the Common Thread Art Shows (Norwich, Groton, East Lyme, No. Stonington & New London)
• $3,726 for the Troubadour Trail in Norwich
• $3,261 to Envision Kindness, Inc. for the New London County Student Art Project to Promote Kindness in East Lyme (all towns in New London County invited)
• $2,726 for the Black Light Garden, a community environmental project to create a garden that is free and open to the public (New London)