The
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism is the state agency responsible
for developing and strengthening cultural resources, and increasing public
participation in and support for the arts. Funded by the Connecticut Legislature
and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Commission strategically
invests in a growing non-profit arts sector that has an annual economic
impact exceeding $1.5 billion.
The Commission sustains Connecticut's vibrant non-profit arts industry
in many ways. Competitive matching grants enable cultural organizations,
schools and communities to present outstanding artistic programming, conduct
outreach efforts to reach new audiences, improve community life through
the arts, and foster education through the arts.
Fellowships to working artists support the career development of some
of Connecticut's finest creators, while special initiatives offer professional
training to arts managers, artists and educators. The Commission also
administers one of the most active public art programs in the country.
The beneficiaries of the Commission's work include a very broad cross-section
of residents: students, "at-risk" youth, elders, people with
disabilities, and individuals in every city and town across the state.
