New London Nonprofit Scores $10K Grant For Historical Programming

NEW LONDON, CT — A New London historical hotspot has been awarded a $9,999 grant by Connecticut Humanities, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The funding is part of $203,479 approved in Capacity, Planning, and Implementation grants to 13 cultural organizations to support humanities projects throughout the state.

Connecticut Humanities funds, creates and collaborates on hundreds of cultural programs across Connecticut each year. It administers a competitive grant pool made possible by the Connecticut General Assembly.

The funding awarded to Thames River Heritage Park in New London is one of the program's Capacity grants. Capacity grants help Connecticut organizations that bring humanities to the public think strategically, better understand their audiences, assets, and operations, and plan for the future, according to a news release from Connecticut Humanities.

Since 2016, Thames River Heritage Park Foundation has successfully implemented the plan created by Yale Urban Design Workshop to establish a water taxi operation to connect heritage sites; design collaborative promotional materials, signage and marketing campaigns; and develop collaborative programs such as their annual Docent Academy and Lecture Series.

Of the 13 total awards, three were for Capacity grants, totaling $25,650. The remaining $177,829 was awarded to 10 organizations for Planning and Implementation grants, which support the planning and execution of humanities projects, such as exhibitions, public programs, and interpretive digital media projects.

Funded projects include ones that:

• Expand the historic and cultural narrative around marginalized peoples including Black, Indigenous, Puerto Rican, and queer communities.
• Commemorate America’s Semiquincentennial – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence taking place in 2026.
• Inspire civic involvement among youth and adults.
• Support exhibitions, lectures, and films on Connecticut artists, writers, and photographers.

"We are pleased to support opportunities for the public to connect and engage with humanities content and themes, and these projects are stellar examples," said Dr. Jason R. Mancini, executive director for CT Humanities. "Through our grant funding, we help our cultural organizations cultivate the curiosity, knowledge, and understanding that is essential to a healthy democracy."