From the Democratic State legislative caucus
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State Representative Matthew Lesser (D-Middletown), Rep. Joseph Serra (D-Middletown), Sen. Dante Bartolomeo (D, Meriden, Middletown) and Sen. Paul Doyle (D-Wethersfield, Middletown) announced state grants for seven Middletown arts programs.
“I am proud to see this state investment in Middletown arts programs,” Rep. Lesser said. “Middletown has an artistic soul that is exhibited through these artistic endeavors.”
The funding, administered through the state Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of the Arts, was secured through several grant programs.
“As budgets have tightened at the state and local levels, the arts have been an easy target for cuts in schools and elsewhere over the years. That’s why it is such welcome news that the state Department of Economic and Community Development has announced these investments in Middletown. This funding will be used in classrooms and at many organizations throughout our community, touching the lives of students and artists, whose work and performances will reach out and impact the community at large – something we need now, possibly more than ever,” said Sen. Bartolomeo.
Middletown recipients included:
Artists for World Peace Supporting Arts in Place $5,461.00
City of Middletown Arts & Culture Supporting Arts in Place $9,592.00
Green Street Teaching & Learning Center Arts Learning $20,000.00
Greater Middletown Chorale Supporting Arts in Place $3,792.00
North End Arts Rising, Inc. Supporting Arts in Place $3,227.00
Oddfellows Playhouse Supporting Arts in Place $4,651.00
Wesleyan University/Ctr for the Arts Arts & Community Impact $10,000.00
“Funding for the arts is extremely competitive at this time, and so I am pleased that the Department of Economic and Community Development has recognized the value of Middletown’s many venues, organizations and programs that are dedicated to ensuring that art survives and thrives in our community,” said Sen. Doyle.
“The arts and arts education play a critical role in the success of communities, and Middletown will benefit from this funding,” Rep. Serra said. “The impact of these grants will be felt in some way by everyone in town, and I thank all those who made this funding possible.”
DECD grant programs, including the Arts Learning Project Grants (which provide funding up to $20,000 to support arts in education-based projects for birth to grade 12); Arts & Community Impact Project Grants (which provide funding up to $20,000 for projects that connect the intrinsic value of the arts to identifiable community needs, interests or opportunities); and Supporting Arts in Place Grants (which provide general operating support to eligible arts organizations and municipal art departments), distributed the funding.
Actual amount awarded to the City Arts & Culture Office is $9,464.00, as verified by the CT Office of the Arts yesterday.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all awardees! And thanks to our State Representatives and Senators for supporting the Arts!
Rep. Serra said. “... I thank all those who made this funding possible.” Your gratitude is appreciated. I assume you're talking about us, the taxpayers. Or are you talking about the people who are only spending our money?
ReplyDelete"...And thanks to our State Representatives and Senators for supporting the Arts!" Wrong again. It's the taxpayers who are supporting the arts. Reps and senators are only spending it.
ReplyDelete