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:
- Have minimum annual operating expenses of $5,000
- Have documentation of income and expenses for the organization's last completed fiscal year
- Be registered with the CT Secretary of the State to do business in Connecticut as a legal nonprofit entity and be in Good Standing
- Primary place of business and operations in Connecticut

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 $5,000
- Have documentation of income and expenses for the department's last completed fiscal year

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 FY22-23 State Budget
- Organizations allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds in the FY22-23 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

The deadline to apply is Monday, August 1, 2022 at 11:59 PM
Award Notification: Week of September 19, 2022

First-time applicants are required to confirm eligibility before applying by contacting Rhonda Olisky at the email address listed in Contact Information, below.

Eligible Expenses: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Supporting-Arts-Grant/Eligible-Expenses

How to Apply: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Supporting-Arts-Grant/How-To-Apply-and-The-Application

Glossary of Terms & Resources: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Supporting-Arts-Grant/Glossary-of-Terms-and-Resources

Who can Apply: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Supporting-Arts-Grant/Who-Can-Apply

First-Time Applicants: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Supporting-Arts-Grant/First-Time-Applicants

Important Dates: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Supporting-Arts-Grant/Important-Dates

Review Criteria: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Arts-and-Culture/Funding_Opportunities/Supporting-Arts-Grant/Review-Criteria