CT Humanities’ Board of Directors recently approved 13 new Quick Grant awards totaling $49,030 in funding from the State of Connecticut.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Cyndi Tolosa, ctolosa@cthumanities.org 860.986.6704

Middletown, CT (February 17, 2026) – This round of grants supports organizations across Connecticut that offer initiatives and projects centered on representation of diverse voices and the commemoration of America 250.

“The Museum of the Old Colony: Dislocation: A Conversation with Dr. Laura Bravo López, Dr. Amanda Guzmán and the artist, Pablo Delano” at New Britain Museum of American Art examines the conceptual artwork of their recent exhibit within the broader context of contemporary Puerto Rican art by exploring how history is seen, remembered, and believed. Other funded projects include a performance and discussion of Yemenite Jewish musical life, personal and historic impacts of the war on drugs, the effects of social media on free speech and hate speech, and America 250-themed exhibits across the state.

“This round of funded grants showcases an amazing spectrum of history and culture,” said Becky Vitkauskas, Grants Officer at CT Humanities. “Stories range from the founding of the nation to contemporary issues that we’re proud to support.”

The full list of funded programs is:

Connecticut Museum of Culture and History (Hartford, $4,999)

Rebellious

To commemorate America 250 in alignment with CT250, the Connecticut Museum will open Rebellious, an exhibition connecting the democratic ideals of 1776 to the lived experience of Connecticut residents from the Revolution to the present day. From national movements to moments of quiet resistance, Connecticans have tested, redefined, and expanded America’s founding principles in pursuit of their own visions of life, liberty, and happiness. The exhibition will run from April 23 to November 1, 2026.

Cornwall Historical Society (Cornwall, $4,999)

War Stories: Cornwall in the Revolution

How did a small farming village take part in the American revolution? Featuring historic documents, objects, works of art, maps, and other materials, most of them from the Cornwall Historical Society’s own collections, this exhibition will bring together stories of diverse individuals and the larger events of the Revolutionary War to teach visitors about the personal decisions Cornwall’s people made as they fought for liberty and independence from 1775 to 1783.

Litchfield Historical Society (Litchfield, $4,749)

Reconsidering Perspectives of the American Revolution: Litchfield Historical Society’s 250th Exhibition

Actions taken during the American Revolution created local legends, often changing as they passed through generations. Exploring these well-known narratives reveals complex motivations behind the rebellion and how we choose to remember them. Litchfield’s 250th exhibit “Legends and Lore: Reconsidering Perspectives of the American Revolution” examines these tales and how they shape our understanding of the fight for independence. Free to the public, open April 18, 2026 – November 28, 2027.

Mending Minyan (New Haven, $2,000)

Ahavat Hadassah: An evening of Yemeni song with Anat Halevy Hochberg and Band

Join Anat Halevy Hochberg  on Saturday March 21, 2026 as she performs original arrangements of traditional Yemeni Jewish song through her Ahavat Hadassah project. Drawing from both the sacred men’s singing tradition rooted in piyyut and women’s folk songs, her work brings forward a wide range of Yemenite Jewish musical life—prayer, poetry, and everyday song. With a voice of striking clarity, Anat sings with directness and care, allowing the weight and beauty of the repertoire to speak.

Museum of Darien (Darien, $3,000)

Museum of Darien Exhibit: War Comes to Middlesex

War Comes to Middlesex is a new Museum of Darien exhibit marking America’s 250th Anniversary. It features key documents, artifacts, textiles and images from MoD’s diverse collections, illustrating the role Middlesex Parish, now Darien, played in the Revolutionary War. This year-long exhibit, opening in April, includes reenactments on May 2, an Open House on June 13, and a Whaleboat War lecture on October 25, all designed to educate and promote a better understanding of the town we call home.

New Britain Museum of American Art (New Britain, $2,700)

The Museum of the Old Colony: Dislocation: A Conversation with Dr. Laura Bravo López, Dr. Amanda Guzmán and the artist, Pablo Delano

In conjunction with ‘The Museum of the Old Colony: An Art Installation by Pablo Delano’ the New Britain Museum of American Art seeks funds to host a lecture/discussion-based public program on March 13 situating this conceptual artwork within the broader context of contemporary Puerto Rican art. The program will explore the exhibition’s incisive critique of how history is seen, remembered, and believed. Speakers include Dr. Laura Bravo López, Dr. Amanda Guzmán and the artist, Pablo Delano.

Next Level Empowerment Program (New Haven, $4,999)

Fabric Over Fish Scale: Community Conversation on the War on Drugs, Survival, and Repair

Fabric Over Fish Scale: Community Conversations on the War on Drugs, Survival, Repair, and Entrepreneurship is a free, public humanities event hosted in New Haven that examines the historical impacts of the War on Drugs through the lived experiences of four justice-impacted leaders. The program connects personal narrative to historical analysis, fostering public reflection on mass incarceration, state violence, and community repair.

Town of Redding (Redding, $3,200)

Redding Reflects: Civic Memory and the American 250 Through Ives and History

Redding Reflects is a public humanities program for America 250 using Charles Ives’ Three Places in New England to examine how music shapes memory of Redding’s Revolutionary encampment and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment’s fight for citizenship. Free scholarly events—Yale talk, Putnam Park walk, panel, and in-concert narration—explore civic identity and inclusion before the May 30, 2026 symphony.

Town of Waterford (Waterford, $4,450)

Exploring Waterford: a history scavenger hunt

The Waterford250 Committee announces a history scavenger hunt featuring fifteen (15) historically significant locations. Curated by project director Jill Adams, municipal historian emeritus Robert Nye, high school history teacher Courtney Hesch, and town planner Mark Wujtewicz, Waterford has reimagined its past for a modern audience. Using a custom map and a dedicated mobile app, all are invited to rediscover the place they call home. The hunt will run from April 11 through October 31, 2026.

Trinity College (Hartford, $4,840)

Living Declarations Photo Exhibit on Global Hip Hop in the City of Hartford

Living Declarations is a multi-sited photograph exhibition celebrating 19 years of the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival in Hartford. This exhibition presented at Trinity College and in the Hartford community, from April 5-19, 2026, aims to spark conversation and critical thought about how Hip Hop music and culture presented in a global and historical context speaks to the ideals articulated by the Declaration of Independence of 1776 while challenging some of its core silences.

Weston History & Culture Center (Weston, $2,431)

Sarah Treadwell – Connecticut Mom, American Patriot

“Sarah Treadwell – Connecticut Mom, American Patriot” honors a woman who supported her family’s active role during the American Revolution, highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of women during the period. This exhibit explores Sarah’s life during and after the Revolutionary War, her family and community roles, the pension process for veterans and the widows of veterans, and her resilience as a wife and mother.

Westport Library (Westport, $3,000)

Digital Publics in Transition: Free Speech or Hate Speech? Expression, Conflict, and Responsibility in the Age of Social Media

In this 90-minute interactive session, renowned research scholar and expert on social media and hate speech Dr. Matthias J. Becker will examine how social media platforms are reshaping the boundaries between free speech and hate speech — and how these shifts are affecting democratic culture, social cohesion, and public life in today’s polarized digital societies.

Yellow Farmhouse Education Center (Stonington, $3,663)

Tides of Change: Connecticut’s Maritime Heritage and the Rise of Kelp Farming

Yellow Farmhouse Education Center will present a series of public programs exploring Connecticut’s coastal working waterfronts, their food traditions, and their evolving future through the lens of kelp farming. The project includes a guided kelp farm boat tour, a public humanities lecture, and a hands-on cooking class. These programs connect maritime history and coastal foodways and are presented in partnership with Project Oceanology, Stonington Kelp Company, and chef David Standridge.