Old Lyme’s Arts Scene Recognized with $68,000 in State Support

OLD LYME, CT – Long celebrated by artists for its natural beauty and distinctive light, Old Lyme was recognized this month by the Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund with a combined $68,401 in grants to four local organizations.

The grants are part of a $946,398 allocation distributed to 140 organizations across the state. 

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts was awarded $51,303, while the Florence Griswold Museum will receive $10,784. Also representing Old Lyme are Musical Masterworks at $4,481 and the Lyme Art Association at $1,833. 

First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker said Thursday the grants underscore the importance of prominent local arts institutions and the need to sustain them. 

“This is a significant boost to our local cultural landscape,” she said. 

Lyme Academy’s grant was the largest among the 19 New London County recipients, which together received $142,065. 

Funds can be used for programming, administrative and operational costs, capital projects or equipment. They can also be added directly to an organization’s endowment.

Wendy Bury, managing director at Lyme Academy, said the flexible funding makes it possible for organizations to direct resources where they’re most needed. 

“At Lyme Academy, we will use the award to help sustain and manage our continued enrollment growth, including the associated demands on our facilities, as well as to support our faculty, administrative staff, and, most importantly, our students,” she said. 

Twelve organizations in Middlesex County were awarded a total of $83,943. Goodspeed Musicals received $53,922, the largest share. 

The Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund was established by the state legislature to support the long-term stability of the state’s arts industry by providing financial assistance and encouraging private investment. 

The program is administered by the state Office of the Arts and managed by the Office of the Treasurer.