The Legacy Theatre Gets $17,700 COVID Relief Arts Grant

BRANFORD, CT — The Legacy Theatre will receive a $17,700 state COVID Relief Fund for the Arts grants, Gov. Ned Lamont announced.

The theatre in Stony Creek is one of 154 arts organizations who’ll share in the $9 million in grants under the program created to provide support to the state’s arts community amid the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The nonprofit groups chosen are performing arts centers, schools of the arts, or performing groups for whom grants will make a difference in terms of survival or rehiring and are ones that the pandemic forced to curtail operations and which have had limited ability to reopen due to pandemic restrictions or have had to pivot their service delivery due to pandemic restrictions.

Qualifying organizations will receive a base grant of $5,000. For organizations that have raised funds between March 10 and November 1, 2020, the program will offer a supplemental match of up to 50 percent of contributed income during that period. The program uses federal CARES Act funding from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund.

“Connecticut’s arts community provides an incredible amount of good for our state and supports thousands of jobs,” Lamont said. “Like nearly every segment of our communities, many of nonprofit arts organizations are struggling to recover from its impact. These grants will provide some needed support so that these groups can continue providing the services in our state that on which many depend.”

“The year 2020 has presented unprecedented challenges to Connecticut’s arts organizations and they have risen to the occasion in every possible way,” Liz Shapiro, DECD’s Director of Arts, Preservation, and Museums, said. “These organizations play a critical role in shaping the character of our communities, providing forums for engaging public dialogue, and positively impacting the economy. While we are thrilled to offer this support, it is important to understand that this funding, while certainly helpful, does not solve these organizations’ financial challenges. I strongly encourage residents and donors to do everything they can to support these organizations in the months ahead.”

The theatre recently celebrated a milestone.