It is the singular mission of the Foundation to provide a living-wage to artists to help them create original works of art.

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Without painters, museums would have beautiful yet empty walls. Without composers, orchestras would sit quietly without a score to play. Without authors, theatres and actors would have no scripts; nor would movies, TV shows, music lyrics, commercials, websites, apps, etc.

The point is we have nothing to see, hear or experience without the artists creating works of art.

 

Beginning in the 1980s with the rightward shift in American politics, direct artists grants were removed from public funding. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the matching funds from the Connecticut State Legislature, prohibit direct funding of artists. Last year, for example, the State of Connecticut distributed more than $65 million in grants from the NEA and State Legislature to arts, culture and tourism organizations. By contrast, only $150,000 from a single grant was allocated to distribute as artist grants in amounts up to $5,000 each.

 

The Connecticut Arts Foundation (the Foundation) was created with the mission of supporting the arts. It is obvious that supporting the arts must include supporting the artists.

 

Distinctively different from the NEA or State funding, which are entirely public funds, the Foundation works with the private sector; other foundations, family offices, corporations, public-private partnerships, and individuals in building an endowment and distributing grant funds. The stewardship of the endowment is designed to generate returns sufficient to provide six to eight million dollars per year for artist grants, while perpetuating the value of the endowment.

 

It is our honor to be the directors of such a prestigious organization to help fill the gap in our artistic ecosystem. On behalf of the Board of Directors,

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jack Rosenberg, Chair