Connecticut Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has awarded the Avon Historical Society a $5,600.00 CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant (CTCFOSG).

A portion of this grant will support the engagement with Sawdust and Strata of Fairfield, CT, professional historic preservation and museum consulting firm that will provide an exhibit design for a new museum of Avon’s history to open in 2024. They are well known for their outstanding designs that create visually interesting and engaging exhibits. The new museum will be inside the historic 1823 Schoolhouse No. 3, 8 East Main Street in the historic and original center of Avon.

“We are very pleased that this grant will be used to further the mission of the Society to educate the public on the rich history of our town. The design of an exhibit is only the first part of the overall plan for the new museum which began prior to the pandemic but had to be put on hold until now. The timing of the grant is perfect as we prepare for the museum opening in 2024 which will mark the 200th anniversary of the first class to use the schoolhouse and the 50th anniversary of the Avon Historical Society,’ said Terri Wilson, president.

The Avon Historical Society is one of 632 organizations in Connecticut that was awarded CT Cultural Fund support totaling more than $16.1M from CT Humanities. The CTCFOSG is part of $30.7M of support allocated to arts, humanities, and cultural nonprofits through CTH over the next two years by the CT General Assembly and approved by Governor Ned Lamont. The CTCFOSG will assist organizations as they recover from the pandemic and maintain and grow their ability to serve their community and the public.

This grant was administered by CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature.
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About Connecticut Humanities
CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org.

About Connecticut Office of the Arts
The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. Part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the COA is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.