Garde Arts Among Local Recipients of State Culture Awards

By AMY LAWSON
Norwich Bulletin - The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism awards grants to local recipients based on donor support.

Apr 22, 2007 1:21 AM - The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism announced Wednesday several Eastern Connecticut cultural organizations are among the recipients of the group's Arts Endowment Fund Awards.

Ninety-six organizations, including the Norwich Arts Council, Curbstone Press in Willimantic and Flock Theatre in New London, were designated to receive funds based on the amount of money donated by private citizens in the last year. A total of $732,939 was awarded.

As home to two of the largest casinos in the world, tourism in Eastern Connecticut is a $4 billion industry that supplies 560,000 jobs and provides $450 million in state revenue.

If state efforts continue rewarding cultural groups that are willing to reach out to donors for funds, said Chris Jennings, president of Norwich-based Mystic Coast and Country, the local tourism industry will continue to grow.

"It's results-based budgeting for funding. We've had to prove ourselves as an industry for many years, and this is one of the ways it shows," Jennings said.

"The endowment was established in 1988 to stimulate private investment in cultural organizations," said An-Ming Truxes, arts division director for the culture and tourism commission. "What's different about these awards is that they can be used for anything, including capital improvements, which is somewhat of an investment in the facilities."

The Norwich Art Council received an award of $356.70, which most likely will be used for marketing, said Dianne Daniels, chairman of the group's board of directors. The funds also may be used to revamp NAC's Web site.

"As is with a lot of nonprofits, we have to make sure the general public is getting our message," Daniels said.

Much of the $22,152.31 awarded to the Garde Arts Center in New London will go to expand community-based programming, including outreach to local schools, said Executive Director Steve Sigel. The theater received one of the larger awards given out.

"It's a really brilliant way for the state to establish some investment fund from which arts organizations of all types could apply," Sigel said. "It's the kind of thing that everyone can really benefit from."

Amounts of awards ranged from $30.74 (given to the Pro Arte Singers of Connecticut) to $64,434.83 (given to two groups -- the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford and the Bruce Museum in Greenwich). Funds are unrestricted and may be used to cover any expense an organization deems necessary.

Recipients were required to apply for consideration.