Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Receives CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant from CT Humanities
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art has been awarded a $500,000 CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant (CTCFOSG) by Connecticut Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The grant will support efforts to achieve three transformational goals at the Wadsworth:
- Implementing Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion training for museum staff and board to propel a substantial reimagining of services from programs to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting art.
- Bringing additional experts in the field to Hartford and Connecticut, strengthening community connections across demographics and geography.
- Attracting visitors from across the state, region, and beyond, with important exhibitions, community events, and relevant programs.
“We are profoundly grateful to CT Humanities, members of the state legislature, and the leadership of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts, for their support of the arts in our state, and of the Wadsworth. Particularly now, as we all seek to reconnect safely in challenging times, this support is an investment that will benefit the residents and communities of Connecticut,” said Jeff Brown, CEO and Director of the Wadsworth.
The Wadsworth was one of 624 organizations in Connecticut that was awarded CT Cultural Fund support totaling $16M from CT Humanities. The CTCFOSG are part of $30.7M of support allocated to arts, humanities, and cultural nonprofits through CTH over the next two years by the Connecticut General Assembly and approved by Governor Ned Lamont. The CTCFOSG will assist organizations as they recover from the pandemic and maintain and grow their ability to serve their community and the public.
“In addition to anchoring communities and contributing to the economic engine of our state, the arts and humanities help us make sense of and address today’s biggest challenges in ways that help us learn from one another, be resilient, and co-create paths to move forward,” said Dr. Frank Mitchell, a CT Humanities board member, in a recent statement from the organization.
“For those who visit the Wadsworth, the healing power of art is undeniable, and we aim to share that with as many people as possible,” Brown added. “For nearly 180 years, the Wadsworth has been a source of pride for Connecticut and a beacon for people near and far. And we believe the best is yet to come.”
This grant was administered by CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature.
About the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Founded in 1842 with a vision for infusing art into the American experience, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is home to a collection of nearly 50,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years and encompassing European art from antiquity through contemporary as well as American art from the 1600s to today. The Wadsworth Atheneum’s five connected buildings—representing architectural styles including Gothic Revival, modern International Style, and 1960s Brutalism—are located at 600 Main Street in Hartford, Conn.
Current hours are noon–5pm Thursday–Sunday. Berkins on Main café hours are noon–4pm Thursday–Sunday. The library is currently closed to the public. Visitors are required to wear a face mask/covering while inside the museum. Admission: $5–15; discounts for members, students, and seniors. Free admission for Hartford residents with Wadsworth Welcome registration. Free “happy hour” admission 4–5pm. Advance ticket registration via thewadsworth.org is encouraged, not required. Phone: (860) 278- 2670; website: thewadsworth.org. Sustaining support for the Wadsworth Atheneum is provided by the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign, and the Department of Economic and Community Development.
About Connecticut Humanities
CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.
About Connecticut Office of the Arts
The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the COA is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.