HAMDEN, CT — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT), the state’s premier provider of arts-learning programs, is delighted to announce it has received $10,000 in combined grants from the Elizabeth Carse Foundation and the R. S. Gernon Trust, both administered by the Bank of America Foundation. This generous funding will support AFLCT’s mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts, with a focus on underserved communities across Connecticut, including dedicated programming in Norwich supported by the Gernon Trust.
The grant will enable AFLCT to deliver arts-learning programs that spark creativity, enhance critical thinking, and nurture social-emotional growth. In Norwich, the funding will help expand AFLCT’s offerings through engaging workshops, artist residencies, and culturally responsive performances led by professional teaching artists.
“We are deeply thankful to the Elizabeth Carse Foundation, the R. S. Gernon Trust, and the Bank of America Foundation for championing arts education in Connecticut,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “This transformative support enables us to spark creativity and nurture essential life skills in students statewide while fostering a love of learning and self-expression in communities like Norwich.”
The partnership with the Bank of America Foundation aligns with AFLCT’s long-standing dedication to using the arts to close opportunity gaps and create equitable access to education. By leveraging AFLCT’s innovative Arts Learning Framework, the grant will support arts integration workshops, culturally responsive performances, and professional development for educators, empowering students of all backgrounds to thrive academically and socially.
For over 40 years, AFLCT has partnered with schools, libraries, and community organizations to provide programs that make the arts an essential part of learning for children of all ages. Research shows that arts integration enhances communication, collaboration, and creativity while improving academic outcomes and supporting social-emotional development.