Application deadlines:

June 1, 2018
August 3, 2018
October 5, 2018
December 7, 2018
February 1, 2019
April 5, 2019
June 7, 2019

Award decision: the first workday of the following month.

Applications must be submitted using Connecticut Humanities’ online grant portal.

Click here to view the Quick Grants program grant guidelines.

Before applying, organizations must contact CTH staff member Scott Wands at swands@cthumanities.org to discuss your project idea. We are eager to help you submit a strong application and are available to review draft applications received at least two weeks before the grant deadline. Applications submitted without prior communication with CTH staff will not be considered.

In FY2018, Connecticut Humanities awarded the following organizations Quick Grants for projects that helped their communities better understand and appreciate human history, culture, values, and beliefs.

American Clock & Watch Museum (Bristol), $1,659: “Scandals & Scoundrels” -This exhibition (on display April 2018 – December 2018) will highlight tales from the dark side of the clock and watch Industries. The stories will explore the darker aspects of the industry – its crimes, criminals, and ethical lapses – told from the vantage point of the timepieces on display. Each tale will also provide glimpses into what life was like during various stages in our nation’s development, and contribute new information about American clock and watch making.

Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association (Windsor Locks), $1,000: “2018 Speaker Series” – The first in the series, “23 Years and Counting…The Restoration of the K28 Blimp Car” featured Crew Chiefs George Diemer and Russ Magnuson discussing the lone remaining Blimp Car used to detect and destroy German submarines in WWII. The second lecture, “The History of Pratt & Whitney,” was given by Mark P. Sullivan, former Communications Director for Pratt & Whitney. Mark will provide insight into one of the most iconic names in aviation, including background on Pratt & Whitney’s humble beginnings in a former cigar warehouse. “Maiden Flight – The Role of Katherine Wright” featured Guilford author Henry Haskell. His grandfather’s second wife, Katherine Wright, was the sister of Orville & Wilbur Wright. Haskell brought together the love and strife experienced by Katherine, her husband Henry Haskell, and brother Orville. Katherine was an integral member of the “team” and without her intervention during some of the brother’s toughest times, history may have taken a different turn.

Connecticut Storytelling Center (New London), $2,000: “37th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival & Conference” – Participants at the Connecticut Storytelling Festival & Conference had the opportunity to hear, work with and learn from an ethnically and stylistically diverse group of top-notch professional storytellers. The festival, which took place April 27th and 28th, included performances, hands-on intensive workshops and story sharing circles.

Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum (Hamden), $4,400: “Making America: The Irish in the Civil War Era” – This exhibit will be on display April 2018 through October 2018 to tell the story of the Civil War from the ethnic perspective of the Irish. Drawings, some never on display before, and journalism pieces will explore the differences that often take place from the original to what is published.

Litchfield Historical Society, $3,720: “By the Virtue of its Citizens: Educating a New Nation at Sarah Pierce’s Academy” – “By the Virtue of its Citizens” is an exhibition celebrating the 225th anniversary of Sarah Pierce’s Litchfield Female Academy, an important institution for female education that numbered over 3,000 graduates. The exhibit will run from April 14, 2018, to November 25, 2018, with a second season in 2019. The show covers all aspects of the school’s history, with specific focus on Pierce’s educational philosophy and the ways in which she helped to shape new opportunities and roles for women.

Russell Library Corporation (Middletown), $4,720: “Celebrating Black History Month” – Programs highlighting Black History Month educated library patrons of all ethnicities about the rich history of African Americans. Programs increased awareness of opportunities for ongoing partnerships between the library and the African American community and increased patronage. Funding went to support for a musical performance, film showings and discussions, book discussions, and marketing materials for an art exhibition.

Shakesperience Productions (Waterbury),$3,140: “Waterbury Interactive: Our City, Our Neighborhoods” – This is an inter-generational project within Waterbury that engages participants of all ages to obtain oral histories and adapt them to be presented to the public in performances by casts comprised of young people and older adults and project leaders. These shows are toured to the general public where they live, learn, and recreate to promote dialogue and the further development of this history of the people and cultures of the Greater Waterbury area.

Connecticut Historical Society (Hartford), $4,000: “Facing War: Connecticut in World War I”- Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) will present an exhibition about the experience of Connecticut residents during World War I. Photographs and artifacts from the CHS collection help tell a story about how the Great War affected and changed people’s lives in the state. The exhibition will be on view to the public May 22, 2018 – December 8, 2018.

Fairfield Museum, $4,000: “Revolutionary Spies: Exhibition and Graphic Novel”- From May 17-October 1, 2018, Fairfield Museum will exhibit “Revolutionary Spies.” This series of graphic novel-style panels designed by Kirk Manley will tell the dramatic story of the spy ring that operated between New York City, Long Island, and Fairfield during the Revolutionary War. The exhibition will explore the motivations and interactions of members of the spy ring, bringing to life the risks that they took to secure and transmit intelligence.

Haddam Historical Society, $1,000: “Revolution Song; A Story of American Freedom Book Discussion by author Russell Shorto”- Best-selling author Russell Shorto discussed his new book, Revolution Song, which weaves the stories of six historic figures during the American Revolutionary War, including local legend and freed slave, Venture Smith. The book addresses the significance of individual freedom and rights and how they were the inspiration and catalyst for powerful change and a new nation. Conversation and discussion confronted how these past struggles are still relevant social issues today.

Mattatuck Historical Society (Waterbury), $3,000- “FRÁGIL Maneje con Cuidado: Bienvenido a los puertorriqueños a nuestra communidad / FRAGILE Handle with Care: Welcome Puerto Ricans…”- This multi-part project will recognize, address, and welcome the evacuees from Puerto Rico who have come to Waterbury. “FRÁGIL Maneje con Cuidado” is comprised of an art- and history-based exhibition (open now) and a series of educational programs. It explores the evacuee experience in Waterbury and presents that experience against the broader context of Puerto Rican life and culture before the disaster. The Mattatuck has worked with members of the Puerto Rican community to identify relevant and welcoming works.

Paul J. Aicher Foundation, dba Everyday Democracy (Hartford), $1,800: “Citizen Demos”- The Citizen Demos program consisted of a one hour and forty-five-minute talk and group dialogue with renowned international humanities scholar, conflict mediator, and speaker Ashok Panikkar on the values and culture of Democracy in our modern-day context. Participants engaged in dialogue and deliberation to revisit the role of the “citizen” in a modern-day democracy. The talk and dialogue addressed the role of humanities education in preserving open and free societies.

Quiet Corner Reads (Killingly), $2,500: “Quiet Corner Reads One Book Program 2018”- Quiet Corner Reads presents the annual One Book season, which consists of book discussions and related programming at the twenty-one-member libraries in Connecticut’s northeast corner. This year’s book selection was announced on February 14, 2018, and events at member libraries will be held March 2018 through June 2018. Marie Benedict, the author of the 2018 book The Other Einstein, will be traveling to Connecticut to deliver a presentation and sign books at the Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock on June 20, 2018.

Salisbury Forum, $1,000: “Salisbury Forum Lectures”- There were two lectures, a screening, and discussion of five mini-documentaries produced by Connecticut high school students. The first lecture, which took place March 9, 2018, was on contemporary dance by Pamela Tatge of Jacob’s Pillow. The second lecture, which took place April 27, 2018, was on American Political History by PBS journalist and Amherst Professor Ray Suarez. The student documentaries were produced under the Civic Life Project. Students will show their films and discuss them on June 10, 2018.

Yale University/Yale Peabody Museum (New Haven), $3,000: “EVOLUTIONS Exhibition FY18 Unsung Heroes”- Students in the Peabody Museum’s afterschool program will implement an exhibition on the history of women in science. Developed by New Haven and West Haven High School students in the EVOLUTIONS program, with support from museum staff, the exhibition will uncover and tell the story of the history of women in science. In addition to highlighting the scientific achievements of these women, the exhibition will examine the barriers and obstacles these bright, determined, strong individuals overcame. The exhibit will be open for a year, May 2018 to April 2019.

Connecticut River Museum (Essex), $4,999: “Thirsty River: Four Centuries of Drink, Life, and Reform in the Connecticut River Valley”- The exhibit “Thirsty River: Four Centuries of Drink, Life, and Reform in the Connecticut River Valley” will examine through artifacts, documents, and imagery alcohol’s history in the Valley. From colonial settlement to present day, alcohol’s importation, production, and consumption has played a significant social, economic, and political role. The exhibit will explore this complex history that is as dark as it is spirituous, and as historic as it is relevant to today. The exhibit is planned to open on June 7, 2018 and will run through October 8, 2018.

Total Quick Grants Awarded = $45,938.