Washington, DC - Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) joined the Connecticut Congressional Delegation today in announcing 11 grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the arts and creativity in communities across the state. The competitive grants were among 1,118 awarded nationwide and were selected from a pool of 3,455 applicants.

“From music education and public art to provocative theater and international festivals, these grants will help enrich and enliven communities across Connecticut. Whether it is in the classroom, on the street, or in our parks, museums and theaters, the arts play a vital role in shaping our understanding of who we are as a community. Connecticut is a better place because of the outstanding talent, commitment and creativity of our artists. We look forward to continuing to support and advance their work, as well as opportunities to inspire and foster our next generation of artists, thinkers and dreamers,” the delegation stated.

The grantee in the Fourth District is listed below:

Silvermine Guild of Artists, Inc.

New Canaan

Events will include performances by musicians Caladh Nua (Ireland), multidisciplinary animation and performance artist Miwa Matreyek (United States), and a new co-commissioned work from collaborators Bridgman/Packer Dance (United States) and filmmaker Peter Bobrow (United States). Silvermine also will present Arts Fest, a free, outdoor festival of music, dance, and the visual arts, featuring hip-hop and percussion troupe Street Beat (United States).