Who Can Apply
Applicants must be either an arts organization or a municipal arts department. For the purpose of the Supporting Arts grant program, an arts organization and a municipal arts department are defined below.
Arts Organization
An arts organization is defined as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that 1) has the arts explicitly stated as a center part of its core mission, vision, focus and legal purpose; 2) creates, performs, presents or promotes artistic programming and/or services* and 3) at least 51 percent of its annual expenditures are allocated specifically to its artistic programming and/or services.
Additional criteria required for an Arts Organization applying to the Supporting Arts grant program:
- Have minimum annual operating expenses of $5,000
- Have documentation of income and expenses for the organization's last completed fiscal year
- Be registered with the CT Secretary of the State to do business in Connecticut as a legal nonprofit entity and be in Good Standing
- Primary place of business and operations in Connecticut
Municipal Arts Department
A municipal arts department is a Connecticut municipal government entity, such as a Commission on the Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs or other specifically designated office with the purpose to conduct and/or support artistic programming and/or services.
Additional criteria required for a Municipal Arts Department applying to the Supporting Arts grant program:
- Have a dedicated allocation in the municipal budget for arts and cultural support, artistic programming, and/or services
- Employ at least one (1) person who is assigned to and responsible for overseeing the funding for and administration of artistic programming and/or services
- Have minimum annual operating expenses of $5,000
- Have documentation of income and expenses for the department's last completed fiscal year
Ineligible
- An organization with a fiscal sponsor. An arts organization must have its own 501(c)(3) tax exempt status to apply to Supporting Arts
- Organizations that receive Directed Local Funds (a.k.a Line Items) in the Biennial State Budget
- Organizations allocated legislatively directed carry-forward funds in the FY22-23 State Budget
- Organizations allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds in the FY22-23 State Budget