CCF: Arts and Culture Grants

The CCF: Arts and Culture Grants aim to enhance access to creative arts programs while addressing disparities in the arts. By supporting initiatives led by BIPOC artists, the program fosters community engagement through participatory arts, collaboration, and advocacy for underrepresented groups. The Connecticut Community Foundation encourages applications from nonprofit organizations that create impactful cultural experiences, promote economic development, and nurture a diverse, inclusive arts sector, ultimately enriching the community's cultural landscape.

Arts & Culture Grant
Arts and culture play important roles in education, economic development, and general quality of life. Research shows a correlation between arts-based learning and enhanced student achievement, noting how the arts stimulate learning and improve overall academic performance. The arts are also an important part of Connecticut’s economy and more importantly, can serve as a bridge between cultures. As a result, our arts and culture funding prioritize efforts that address disparity and increase access to culturally responsive art experiences, led by BIPOC artists.
Increasing access to quality creative arts programs, with a focus on addressing existing disparities.Nourishing community arts efforts and refreshing expectations for larger legacy institutions, exploring how traditional entities can serve and partner with diverse communities in non-traditional ways.
Participatory arts programs in various media (visual, theater, music, dance, writing, etc.) that create inclusive and supportive conditions for individuals of diverse backgrounds, ages, genders and cultures, and provide ways of making deeper connections to community life.Opportunities to create/showcase work and collaborate with others. This may also include integration of arts and community-building activities, or outreach to and inclusion of traditionally underrepresented audiences.Work to support/develop artists and efforts to build a supportive and thriving arts sector, welcoming to both current and new/non-traditional artists.Support for artists and organizations in forging creative efforts to uplift residents and inspire community & economic development.

Eligibility

In order to apply for funding, an organization must:Be a not-for-profit organization recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a municipal entity seeking a grant for public purposes. Organizations may also have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, if they do not have their own nonprofit status.Have a board, representative of the community, of which a majority is neither employees nor relatives of employees.Possess a Nonprofit Registration to Solicit Funds (or exemption, if appropriate) from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. This registration must be renewed annually. Learn more, confirm registration or file for an exemption.

Ineligibility

We do not fund:Requests for political or religious purposesRequests for capital expenditures on buildings not owned by a nonprofit