A $15,010 Partnership Grant was made to the Connecticut Literary Festival (CTLitFest) at the June meeting of the CT Humanities (CTH) board of directors. This funding will support programming in collaboration with the Connecticut Center for the Book (CFB), an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book (LOC), and a program of CTH, in 2021 and 2022.
This partnership helps both CFB and CTLitFest expand their statewide impact to better reach literary communities throughout Connecticut. It provides a platform to develop talent in areas beyond traditional prose and poetry, which can include scriptwriting, flash fiction, publishing, and graphic novels and it harnesses the power of literature to confront societal issues in ways that can advance understanding and empathy.
“Quite simply, literature and storytelling help us understand the world around us,” explains Jotham Burrello, professor at Central CT State University and director at the CTLitFest. “This steppingstone to understanding current issues strengthens the goals of both the CTLitFest and CTH.” Through panel discussions at the on-ground festival and a series of Lit Talks!, writers will discuss prevalent topics in society and how literature opens opportunities to grapple with these issues.
In addition, the partnership allows the CFB to grow their programming, specifically the CT Book Awards, by facilitating events for the winners of the awards across the state beyond the one-day event.
According to Lisa Comstock, director at CFB, “this partnership is good for all of Connecticut’s writers and residents – in addition to providing opportunities for authors and illustrators to refine their work, it connects these literary artists to readers and promotes literature in our state.” A tour for the CT Book Award winners to visit CT libraries and bookstores is being planned.
“This is an important partnership that helps further strategic objectives at both CTH and CTLitFest, allows the CT Center for the Book to sustain activities in this area of the humanities, and to spotlight the remarkable literary landscape in our state,” says Dr. Jason Mancini, executive director at CTH.
The CT Lit Fest and 2021 CT Book Awards are scheduled for October 22 – 23, 2021. To learn more, visit connecticutliteraryfestival.org and ctbook.org.
About CT Humanities
CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH promotes civic engagement and 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.
About CT Center for the Book
Connecticut Center for the Book (CFB) at Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is the state affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. CFB promotes the written and spoken word throughout the state by featuring events throughout Connecticut such as author readings or talks, poetry slams, writing workshops, pre-and post-theater talks, and much more. CFB promotes awareness of CT libraries and booksellers, as well as CT authors and their books.
About CT Literary Festival
Supported by individual, non-profit, and corporate partners, the Connecticut Literary Festival (CTLitFest) is produced by students and staff at Central Connecticut State University. Under the leadership of professor Jotham Burrello, the festival serves readers and writers from Connecticut and beyond producing online Lit Talks!, publishing the CT Literary Anthology, and curating an on-ground festival. Each fall the festival takes over all five galleries at Real Art Ways in Hartford.
