The Connecticut State Department of Education has announced a new grant program that aims to strengthen the arts in education.
In partnership with the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, and the Connecticut Arts Council, the SDE will provide mini-grants of up to $50,000 to schools across the state, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
Schools can use the money toward art supplies, professional development, partnerships with local artists and stipends for teachers.
“These funds will help schools strengthen their arts programming by encouraging them to form meaningful partnerships with local and statewide arts organizations and institutions,” said Department of Education Commissioner Stephan Pryor, in a statement Tuesday.
Interested schools must apply for the grant and will be asked to identify their need for support with arts access. Up to $250,000 in total will be available to schools during the program’s first round of funding, according to the release.
“When we expose our young people to the arts, we give them the chance to explore a world far beyond their immediate surroundings,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement. “These cultural investments will directly enrich lives of students and allow us to preserve and enhance the humanities across Connecticut schools.”
Applications for the grant are due in October. More information will be available online starting next month.
