February 2, 2022
Contact: Aimee Cotton Bogush | abogush@cthumanities.org | 860-937-6648
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CT Humanities Awards Remaining $80,000 in SHARP Capacity Grants to 8 Humanities Organizations
MIDDLETOWN, CT – At their January meeting, the board of directors of CT Humanities (CTH) awarded a remaining $80,000 in SHARP Capacity Grant funding to eight humanities nonprofits. Funding for these grants comes from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through a program called Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP). The SHARP grants are a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress in 2021.
CTH SHARP Capacity Grants are intended to help museums, historical societies, libraries, and cultural centers respond to and recover from the coronavirus pandemic and improve their ability to thrive and serve their communities now and in the future.
The eight organizations receiving January awards in the amount of $10,000 are:
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (Hartford)
Strategic Planning Project
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (Mystic)
Dynamic Website Project
Friends of Boothe Park (Stratford)
Professionalizing Operations
Stratford Library Association (Stratford)
Strategic Planning Project
New Canaan Historical Society (New Canaan)
Collections Accessibility Expansion
Meriden Historical Society (Meriden)
Expanding Facilities, Activities, Services
New Britain Institute/New Britain Industrial Museum (New Britain)
Designing a New Museum
Newtown Historical Society (Newtown)
Digitization of Core Collection
The additional grants bring the total awarded in SHARP funds to $720,192 through 77 grants. To see the full list of grants, visit the CT Humanities website.
From CTH’s previous press release:
CTH SHARP Capacity Grants are intended to help museums, historical societies, libraries, and cultural centers respond to and recover from the coronavirus pandemic and improve their ability to thrive and serve their communities now and in the future.
“Connecticut’s museums, libraries, and cultural centers have taken a major hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m glad to see federal dollars I helped secure through the American Rescue Plan will help our cultural and historic institutions during these difficult times,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
“Looking at the lessons we have learned throughout the pandemic, priority was given to projects that will increase equity and inclusion, are directed at underserved and minority-serving institutions, connect K-12 teachers and students to strong humanities content, and/or increase public access to engaging cultural opportunities by improving the information technology and digital infrastructure,” said Dr. Jason Mancini, executive director at CT Humanities.
“It is energizing to see the scope of the projects receiving funding. They include activities such as upgrading websites, enhancing access to collections, providing diversity training, developing curriculum, and hiring staff to allow for that work to be done. I’m encouraged by the impact these funds will have in our state,” continued Mancini.
Geographic diversity was also important to the grants committee and organizations in every county and Congressional district in Connecticut received awards. “We’re grateful to Congress for continuing to support the public humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and we’re honored to have a role in helping strengthen Connecticut’s cultural organizations to serve their communities now and in the future,” said Mancini. “Our cultural nonprofits enrich lives, and it is important that they remain viable and accessible to all residents.”
“I am pleased to see six cultural organizations across the 5th District will be receiving awards. During the pandemic, I heard from constituents how vital these museums, libraries, and cultural centers are to the region. The American Rescue Plan Act has helped to sustain these cherished institutions and the programming provided by federal dollars will immediately benefit residents,” said U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05).
“As a former history teacher, I know firsthand the value of a well-rounded education and the need to honestly tell our nation’s story through the arts and humanities,” said U.S. Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01). “This program, funded by the American Rescue Plan, will help 15 organizations in my district recover from the pandemic and grow into the future. My CT Congressional colleagues and I worked hard to pass this legislation so that these hard-hit institutions could not only survive but make cultural enrichment opportunities more accessible and equitable in the communities they serve.”
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Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent, non-profit 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.