Owegatchie Elementary School Wins Arts Leadership Grant

A Press Release from Sen. Andrea Stillman

State Senator Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford) recently announced individual state grants for seven arts organizations and programs in southeastern Connecticut. Each grant is provided through the state Arts Catalyze Placemaking program and falls into one of two categories, Arts Leadership or Supporting Arts in Place.

Statewide, about $832,000 was distributed through the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and its CT Office of the Arts (COA), which, the DECD says, “support(s) . . . cultural, artistic, and historic preservation organizations so that they can achieve their goals and continue to add to Connecticut’s economic vitality and quality of life.”

Senator Stillman said the grants were awarded to:

• Flanders Elementary School in East Lyme—$3,233—Arts Leadership
• CT Early Music Society in New London—$3,847.47—Supporting Arts in Place
• CT Storytelling Center in New London—$3,462.73—Supporting Arts in Place
• Hygienic Art, Inc. in New London—$24,950—Arts Leadership
• Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London—$4,616.97—Supporting Arts in Place
• Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook—$5,001.71—Supporting Arts in Place
• Oswegatchie Elementary School in Waterford—$3,667—Arts Leadership

“Southeastern Connecticut is already known internationally as a center for fine arts, with highly regarded schools and galleries operating throughout the region,” Senator Stillman said. “These grants will be well received and effectively applied to perpetuate the beauty created and the emotions stirred through art and music—even among grade-school children—as will widespread appreciation for that beauty.”

“Investments in the arts are investments in local economies and communities,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “I’m proud that DECD’s reach extends to cultural investments that directly enrich the quality of life for all citizens. These grants will allow us to preserve and enhance the humanities in one of Connecticut’s most historically vibrant areas.”

“Officials at DECD demonstrated their own creativity, distributing limited resources to such a broad spectrum of qualified applicants,” Senator Stillman added. “These grants will favorably impact the quality of life in our region and help stabilize our local economy besides.”