The board of directors of CT Humanities has awarded $44,920 in project grants from the CT Humanities Fund to 13 Connecticut nonprofits and higher education institutions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dana Barcellos-Allen, dbarcellos-allen@cthumanities.org 860.937.6648
This round of grant funding supports a wide variety of strong humanities projects, including timely lectures and exhibits on civics and democracy, along with ones that illustrate the intersection of the environment and the humanities and show positive effects of artificial intelligence (AI). Other funded projects center around oral history, poetry, art and activism, and undertold narratives in CT’s Indigenous, African American, and Puerto Rican communities.
“We are pleased to have been able to provide support for 13 projects from cultural organizations throughout Connecticut,” said Scott Wands, CT Humanities deputy director of grants and programs. “Overall, this was an extremely competitive grant deadline as we received 35 applications requesting over $153,000. This underscores the need for continued advocacy on our part in the next CT Legislative Session for meaningful, equitable, and reliable funding so we are able to support more important humanities initiatives that better our communities and help us discuss the important issues facing us as a society.”
CT Humanities’ most recent Quick Grant funded programs include:
Central Connecticut State University (New Britain, $4,999)
The Community Reads the New Library of America Latino Poetry Anthology, Places We Call Home
The CCSU Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Center in collaboration with community partners in New Britain, Meriden, and Wallingford, is hosting a Community Reads project around the Library of America’s new Latino poetry anthology, “Places We Call Home,” from October 2024 to April 2025. Participants will have the opportunity to read and discuss their ideas about the poems with two contributors to the anthology during public programs.
Connecticut Democracy Center (Hartford, $4,232)
Fall 2024 Hartford History Lecture Series and Tour
The Hartford History Lecture Series returns to CT’s Old State House in fall 2024 for its 7th consecutive season with the theme of “New Histories of Hartford.” The aim is to bring before the public a variety of Hartford histories neglected or forgotten and uncovered by new scholarship. The lectures and tour are free and open to the public and are scheduled for October 3, 10, 17, and 24 at CT’s Old State House, 5:45-7 p.m. The walking tour meets at Center Church at 10 a.m. October 12.
The Connecticut Forum (Hartford, $4,220)
Reflections on a Complex Connecticut
On November 14, The Connecticut Forum presents a public discussion, “Reflections on a Complex Connecticut,” featuring Dr. Andrew Horowitz, CT State Historian; Christopher Newell, Tribal Community Member-in-Residence, UConn and Director of Education, Akomawt Educational Initiative; Dr. Fiona Vernal, Associate Professor of History, UConn; and Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, Senior Curator, Mystic Seaport Museum. This free program will be at 7:30 p.m. at Hartford Public Library Main Branch.
Everyday Democracy (Hartford, $1,000)
Dinner + Dialogue at the Museum
Everyday Democracy and the Westport Museum for History and Culture will host two immersive Dinner + Dialogue at the Museum events in November 2024 and February 2025. In conversation with community experts, Westport residents will explore links between local food, historical harms, and contemporary culture. This series is part of Arts, Culture & Democracy, a program that uses art, culture, and dialogue to engage communities on democratic themes, strengthen social ties, and inspire civic action.
Fairfield Museum and History Center (Fairfield, $4,925)
Building an American Voice
“Building an American Voice” will present an illustrated timeline of important moments in Connecticut’s, and the nation’s, historic struggle to have everyone’s voice heard in the political arena. The exhibition will include objects and original documents that highlight how the history of freedom of assembly, speech, petition, and voting has helped achieve key victories in civil rights, voting, and other freedoms. The Fairfield Museum exhibition will be on view from September 13-February 28.
Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme, $4,999)
Giving Voice to Indigenous Perspectives in Connecticut – A Series of Educational Programs at the FloGris Museum
Members of Connecticut’s five recognized tribes are collaborating to curate a juried exhibition of original Native American art and culture to be on view at the FloGris Museum in conjunction with the upcoming exhibition, “Native Prospects: Indigeneity and Landscape” (November 6-February 9). Funding will support a series of Museum public programs during the exhibition to amplify its themes – all led by local Indigenous people sharing their distinctive voices, histories, and perspectives.
Friends of the Office of State Archaeology (Hartford, $2,000)
Council for Northeastern Historical Archaeology Annual Conference
The Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology Annual Meeting is a public event for historians, archaeologists, and interested individuals from northeastern North America to present and learn about current research. The conference will be held in New Haven from October 17–20, marking the first time in forty years that it will be hosted in Connecticut. It will highlight cutting edge research in the humanities and bring hundreds of scholars to Connecticut.
Long Wharf Theatre (New Haven, $1,500)
Artistic Congress
Funding supports Long Wharf Theatre’s Artistic Congress, a weekend of nourishing panel discussions about the intersections of art and activism. It will take place in a variety of New Haven spaces from October 25 to 27.
National Puerto Rican Diaspora Museum (Hartford, $4,950)
Diasporican: From Dispersion to Integration
“Diasporican: From Dispersion to Integration” is a comprehensive exhibition that will delve into the diverse Puerto Rican identities within the diaspora and document diasporic experiences related to Puerto Rico. Featuring the works of four Puerto Rican artists, the exhibition aims to initiate a dialogue about the ever-changing Puerto Rican community and its ongoing presence in the contemporary United States. The exhibition will run from October 24-February 13 at Eastern Connecticut State University Art Gallery.
The New England Carousel Museum (Bristol, $4,481)
Lecture Series
Beginning in the fall of 2024, The Carousel Museum will bring back its beloved and heavily demanded Lecture Series. Over the course of 12 months, authors, historians, and experts will tell inclusive stories of our past: stories of immigrants and how they carved their place in American culture. Enjoy conversation and community through the pastime of carousel and uncover a rich history centuries in the making that everyone loves.
Portland Historical Society (Portland, $2,300)
Voices of Portland
The Portland Historical Society, the town Committee on Solidarity, and the Portland Public Library will produce an Oral History series focused on the stories of Black Americans living and working in Portland, CT. The series will include four podcast episodes recorded in fall 2024, and spring 2025, and a live panel presentation in February 2025 for Black History Month which will include a “memory recording booth” where all attendees will be invited to share memories inspired by the presentation.
The Salisbury Forum (Salisbury, $2,314)
Exploring the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Three Local High Schools
The Salisbury Forum will host a program on September 27 on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in local secondary schools. Led by Jonathan Costa, a digital learning expert, leaders from three local secondary schools will identify how AI has already been adapted in curricula and can help students prepare for rapidly changing learning and work environments. An audience of up to 300 local residents will gain a better understanding of AI’s role in education and curiosity to learn more.
Southern Connecticut State University Foundation (New Haven, $3,000)
Parks, Pedagogy, and Policy: Ecology as Catalyst for Public Good in the Career of Stephen Collins
This symposium, taking place in mid-April, 2025, will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of West Rock Ridge State Park and honor one of its founders, the late Dr. Stephen Collins, a passionate ecologist and professor of biology at SCSU. Six panelists, whose backgrounds include history of science, public ecology, political science, and environmental and legislative advocacy, will highlight the critical role of humanities and social science in public ecology.
For information on Quick Grants eligibility and application due dates, click here.
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Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.
