“Artists and teaching artists are the movers, drivers and connectors of our creative economy. Their creative works spark joy and inspiration, and push us to question and understand. Investing in artists – particularly now – is just the right thing to do.”
-Liz Shapiro, Director of Connecticut Office of the Arts
The Connecticut Office of the Arts is responding to the needs of Connecticut Artists by releasing two new grants, the Connecticut Artists Relief Grant, and the Connecticut Artists Respond Grant. Individual artists may apply for funding through one of these opportunities. Both applications open on April 20, 2020 and must be received by 11:59 am on Monday May 4.
The Connecticut Artists Relief Grant provides $500 grants to individual artists and teaching artists who live in Connecticut and whose creative practices and incomes are being adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). With events of all types being cancelled to reduce the spread of COVID-19, artists who make income partially or fully through gigs, exhibits, events and freelance work are losing critical opportunities to support their well-being. The Connecticut Office of the Arts will award 120 Artists Relief Grants to qualifying individual artists and teaching artists. This unrestricted funding may be used for any kind of relief.
The Connecticut Artists Relief Grant is generously supported by $47,000 from the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). NEFA recently approved an award of $282,000 to support emergency artist relief funds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to be distributed to artists in the six New England states – in partnership with New England’s state arts agencies. “NEFA’s reserve policy enables us to allocate funds for several purposes, including responding to emergency situations,” said NEFA Board chair Ann Smith.
Due to an anticipated high volume of applications, grantees will be randomly selected from the pool of eligible applicants.
The Connecticut Artists Respond Grant was created by the COA to support artists in their work to translate and present their art in the virtual arena. Recognizing that artists help us through challenging times by providing inspiration, connection, education, and so much more, the Connecticut Artists Respond program, funded by Connecticut Office of the Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, provides funding for artists at a time when the creative sector is needed most.
The Connecticut Office of the Arts will award up to 87 Artist Respond Grants to artists who have created projects that respond to the needs of the times and which present arts activities, classes or other creative experiences online at no cost to the public. Grants for individual artists are $1,000 and grants for a group of two or more artists collaborating are $2,000. Applications will be reviewed and selected based on review criteria.
“Artists and teaching artists are the movers, drivers and connectors of our creative economy.” said Liz Shapiro, Director of Connecticut Office of the Arts. “Their creative works spark joy and inspiration, and push us to question and understand. Investing in artists – particularly now – is just the right thing to do.”
Artists may apply to either Artist Relief OR Artist Respond.
For both grants the deadline to apply is Monday, May 4, 2020. For specific questions, artists may contact Tamara Dimitri at tamara.dimitri@ct.gov and teaching artists may contact Bonnie Koba at bonnie.koba@ct.gov.
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