Gary Turco

I am pleased to see the Newington Children’s Theatre Company is among the 154 nonprofit arts organizations to receive funding totaling $9 million through the COVID Relief for the Arts Fund, which aids arts nonprofits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Newington Children’s Theatre Company was awarded $8,300.

The Newington Children’s Theatre Company is one of many arts organizations that has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is a critical lifeline that allows the theatre company to stay afloat during these truly difficult times. For over 50 years, this organization has brought entertainment to our community and learning opportunities for our youngest charges, and I am happy to see the show will go on.

The COVID Relief Fund for the Arts was established utilizing federal CARES Act funding from the state's Coronavirus Relief Fund. It is administered by the Connecticut Department of Community and Economic Development's Office of the Arts. Its goal is to support arts nonprofits that:

• 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
• Have had to curtail operations for a period of time due to the pandemic and which have had limited ability to reopen due to pandemic restrictions or have had to pivot their service delivery due to pandemic restrictions.

Additional information about the COVID Relief Fund for the Arts is available on the DECD web site, www.ct.gov/DECD.