City of New Haven Announces 2008/2009 Mayor’s Community Arts Grant Program (5/6/2008) New Haven, Conn.-- Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. and the Office of Cultural Affairs are pleased to announce the 2008/2009 Mayor’s Community Arts Grant Program funding cycle. The program is designed to facilitate outreach and exposure of New Haven’s many artists and neighborhood-based organizations in three program areas: Arts, Cultural Heritage and Youth/Artist Development. “We are proud to extend support to artists and organizations throughout New Haven as they play a significant role in the continuous cultural development of our city,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. “The community has enjoyed the impact that grant recipients in the past have had on New Haven’s neighborhoods. I look forward to the success of this year’s participating artists and call upon them especially to work with young people to increase interests in the arts and bring the arts into their lives.” The Mayor’s Arts Grants program has targeted community and youth groups as well as individuals who are presenting, teaching or practicing artists working in the City of New Haven as this target group tends to not have non-profit status, a classification that is normally required to apply for funding from most granting organizations. Non-profit arts organizations working with neighborhood groups are also eligible to apply for this program. The 2008/2009 grants guidelines and application are now available. A series of free workshops will be presented at various city library branches covering budget preparation, marketing, event planning and overview of the application and prospective applicants are strongly urged to attend one in their neighborhood. Workshops will be held as follows: Stetson Library - May 13 at 4:30pm; Wilson (Hill) Library May 14 at 5pm; Mitchell Library -May 15 at 4:30pm; Downtown Library - May 20 at 5:30pm and Fair Haven Library - May 22 at 4:30pm. Members of the Cultural Affairs staff are also available to provide assistance. “We have designed this year’s grant program to further strengthen New Haven’s local cultural scene by providing financial support where it’s needed the most. New Haven has so many talented artists and organizations that incorporate arts and cultural activities into their neighborhood activities. We are excited to be able to support those whose creativity enriches our community,” stated Barbara Lamb, Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs. The program, managed by the Office of Cultural Affairs, has supported over 140 organizations since its inception in 2000 and helped to fund arts and cultural activities such as festivals, murals, performances, and apprenticeships in New Haven’s neighborhoods. The application deadline is June 4, 2008. A total of $25,000 will be awarded through grants up to $2,000. The grant application package is available for download on the City’s website, visit www.cityofnewhaven.com/EconomicDevelopment/CulturalAffairs.asp . For more information about the program, please contact Kim Futrell at (203) 946-7172 or kfutrell@newhavenct.net. ### Contact Name: Kim Futrell Contact Email: kfutrell@newhavenct.net Contact Phone: (203) 946-7172