Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund Applications Due December 15

HARTFORD — Connecticut Commission on the Arts is currently accepting applications from arts organizations throughout the state to participate in the Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund, established by the State Legislature to assist in the long-term stabilization of Connecticut’s arts industry. The deadline for submission is December 15.

Arts organizations are eligible to apply if they have generated a minimum of $25,000 in matching funds from corporations, foundations, small businesses and individuals for each of their two most recently completed fiscal years (prior to December 15, 2001). This amount is shown on lines 1a and 1b of Part I of an organization’s Internal Revenue Service 990 form, which must be submitted at the time of application. 990 EZ forms are not acceptable.

Organizations must be nonprofit and hold 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. In addition of the IRS 990 forms, prospective applicants must supply a copy of their tax- exempt status form and a “statement of purpose” that ensures the primary function of the organization is “to create, perform, present or otherwise promote the visual, performing or literary arts in the state.”

Organizations whose primary purpose is instructional, or which receive contributions for and provide funding to arts organizations, are not eligible according to the legislation that established the fund. Arts organizations that received an Endowment Fund award last year must also submit a brief report detailing the use of these unrestricted funds.

Distributions to be made in March of 2002 are expected to exceed $880,000.

Application materials for the Arts Endowment Fund may be mailed to the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, One Financial Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103, to the attention of Allen Hoffman. Questions regarding eligibility for Endowment Fund distributions may be addressed to Mr Hoffman by telephone at 860-566-4770 or email AHoffman@CTArts.org.