Westport Arts Organization Receives $15,000 Grant

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of the Arts announced Wednesday that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded 15 grants to arts organizations in Connecticut totaling over $1 million.

“Connecticut is home to a uniquely vibrant and diverse arts community,” Malloy said in a release. “Our painters, sculptors, musicians, and craftsman contribute not only to our state’s culture, but to our economic prosperity as well. In fact, arts and cultural production accounts for over $9 billion in value added to the Connecticut economy, and supports over 57,000 jobs. I’d like to thank the National Endowment for the Arts and congratulate the organizations that were awarded these generous grants. I look forward to the contributions these funds will bring to our exciting arts scene.”

According to the NEA's website, Westport Country Playhouse, Inc will receive $15,000 to support the world premiere production of "Thousand Pines," a new play by Matthew Greene and directed by Austin Pendleton.

“These vital funds will be used to supplement the ongoing efforts to strategically support the thousands of arts organizations throughout the state,”Kristina Newman-Scott, Executive Director of the Connecticut Office of the Arts and State Historic Preservation Officer, said in a release. “We are thrilled that Connecticut has been awarded these funds and look forward to using them to increase arts and culture throughout the state.”

The list of recipients and their grants are as follows:

• Westport Country Playhouse, Inc., Art Works — Theater, Westport, $15,000
• Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, Art Works – Arts Education, Bridgeport, $10,000
• Hill-Stead Museum, Art Works — Literature, Farmington, $10,000
• Connecticut Historical Society, Art Works — Folk & Traditional Arts, Hartford, $30,000
• Connecticut Historical Society, Art Works — Folk & Traditional Arts, Hartford, $25,000
• Connecticut State Office of the Arts, Dept. of Economic & Community Development, Partnerships (State & Regional), Hartford, $730,400
• HartBeat Ensemble, Art Works — Theater, Hartford, $10,000
• Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Inc., Art Works — Music, Hartford, $15,500
• Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc., Art Works — Music, Litchfield, $10,000
• Wesleyan University, Art Works — Dance, Middletown, $25,000
• Artspace, Inc., Our Town — Design, New Haven, $75,000
• Connecticut Players Foundation, Inc., Art Works — Theater, New Haven, $10,000
• Elm Shakespeare Company, Art Works — Theater, New Haven, $15,000
• Music Haven, Inc., Art Works — Arts Education, New Haven, $25,000
• Pilobolus, Inc., Art Works — Dance, Washington Depot, $10,000

The complete list of all the grants sorted by city and state and brief project descriptions for each award are available on NEA’s website.

The Connecticut Office of the Arts is charged with fostering the health of the creative economy. The office develops and strengthens the arts in Connecticut and makes artistic experiences widely available to residents and visitors.

Through their grant programs, the Office of the Arts invests in Connecticut artists and arts organizations and encourages the public’s participation as creators, learners, supporters and audience members.

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