Weston Historical Society 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 an exhibition in Weston celebrating Mort Schindel’s contributions to children’s literacy to a complete assessment of the Greenwich Historical Society’s collection of artifacts.

The Bridgeport Public Library received a grant of nearly $6,200 to explore the history of Bridgeport’s Cultural Arts Center. The Arts Center flourished in the 1970’s as a creative, cultural, social and political space that became an important hub of community unity and development. An exhibition and oral history project will examine the Arts Center in the context of the intersectionality of sociology, cultural studies, ethnic studies, political science and art history and criticism.

The Weston Historical Society will use a $1,000 grant to celebrate Weston Woods founder Mort Schindel’s creative genius and his enormous contributions to children’s literacy. It will present an Exhibition and Children’s Film Series at the museum from December 6, 2015 through February 28, 2016. A pioneer in the field of adapting children’s books into animated films, Schindel has worked to introduce families to good literature. This exhibition includes videos, photographs, storyboards and Schindel’s vintage filmmaking equipment.

The Greenwich Historical Society will use the largest grant – nearly $10,000 – to fund a comprehensive assessment of its collections. This assessment will help the Historical Society identify themes for future exhibitions and provide an understanding of long term space and gallery needs, which will help in preparation for the final phase of a major capital campaign.

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