Grants to Connecticut nonprofit arts organizations and municipal arts departments for general operating support. First-time applicants must contact the funding source to confirm eligibility prior to submitting an application. Funding is intended to be flexible and give the grantee the ability to use the funds where they are most needed.
Supporting Arts grants provide unrestricted funds that may be used for a wide variety of operational and program functions including but not limited to:
Staff Salaries
Payments to contracted artistic, technical, or administrative professionals
Telephone, shipping, and postage costs
Space rental; occupancy costs (maintenance, security, insurance, utilities, etc.)
Printing, advertising, and marketing costs
Evaluation services and documentation (photo, video, audio, collection of statistical information, etc.)
Travel and conference registration expenses for staff and/or volunteers to attend local, regional, or national relevant industry conferences, workshops, retreats, clinics, etc.
An applicant must be either a Connecticut Arts Organization or a Municipal Arts Department.
An arts organization is defined as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that 1) has the arts explicitly stated as a center part of its core mission, vision, focus, and legal purpose; 2) creates, performs, presents or promotes artistic programming and/or services* and 3) at least 51 percent of its annual expenditures are allocated specifically to its artistic programming and/or services.
*Artistic activities shall include, but are not limited to, music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, literature, films, and allied arts and crafts.
Additional criteria required for an Arts Organization applying to the Supporting Arts grant program:
- Primary place of business and operations in Connecticut
- Have a designated Accessibility Coordinator
- Have minimum annual operating expenses of $5,000
- Have financial statements documenting the organization's annual income and expenses
- Be registered with the CT Secretary of the State to do business in Connecticut as a legal nonprofit entity and be in Good Standing
- Be registered with the CT Department of Consumer Protection as a Connecticut Charity and have an active CT Charity Registration
Municipal Arts Department: A municipal arts department is a Connecticut municipal government entity, such as a Commission on the Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs, or other specifically designated office with the purpose to conduct and/or support artistic programming and/or services.
Additional criteria required for a Municipal Arts Department applying to the Supporting Arts grant program:
- Have a dedicated allocation in the municipal budget for arts and cultural support, artistic programming, and/or services
- Employ at least one (1) person who is assigned to and responsible for overseeing the funding for and administration of artistic programming and/or services
- Have minimum annual operating expenses of $1,000
- Have a council/committee of residents assigned to and responsible for conducting artistic programming and/or services.
Ineligible
Ineligible:
- An organization with a fiscal sponsor. An arts organization must have its own 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to apply to Supporting Arts
- Organizations that receive Directed Local Funds (a.k.a Line Items) in the Biennial State Budget
- Organizations allocated legislatively directed carry-forward funds in the FY24-25 State Budget
- Organizations allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds in the FY24-25 State Budget.
Grant funds cannot be used for:
- Expenses incurred outside of the funding period
- Brick and mortar or capital improvements/construction
- Elimination or reduction of existing debt
- Benefits, fund-raisers, and social events
- Scholarship assistance for academic or non-academic programs
- Political contributions
- Lobbying activities
- Legal fees
- Religious programming, activities, or paraphernalia
- Expenses for programs that occur in spaces that are not ADA compliant
Pre-Application Information
- The deadline to apply is Sunday, August 13, 2023, at 11:59 PM.
- Award Notification: Mid to late November
New applicants to the Supporting Arts program must confirm eligibility. Eligibility must be confirmed prior to application submission. An application submitted without confirmation of the applicant's eligibility will be deemed ineligible.
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