HARTFORD, Conn. — Several theaters throughout the state are urging legislators to reinstate what they say is crucial funding promised by the state of Connecticut.
“It was such necessary funding,” said Cynthia Rider, managing director of Hartford Stage.
The cut to funding came when Gov. Ned Lamont signed HB 5523 into law back in May. The bill laid out which Connecticut organizations would continue to receive American Rescue Plan Act funding, established to aid businesses and organizations facing financial hardship due to the pandemic. 13 local theaters were not among the hundreds of names that made the list.
Semina DeLaurentis, artistic director of Seven Angels Theater in Waterbury explained just how much was taken from their budget.
“For FY24 and FY25, $129,000, so it has its impact,” said DeLaurentis.
“That funding that we lost is really hard, there’s really no way for us to make up for that,” added Rider.
Now, they’re pushing to get funding restored. The impacted groups, including Hartford Stage and the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, sent a letter Lamont seeking some kind of help if not that ARPA funding.
“I think it’s important for people to realize the impact of the arts on the state, and the impact of the arts on quality of life,” said DeLaurentis, “and how important it is and how much theaters do not just for, we do professional theater here, plays and musicals but also what we do for the youth.”
Looking ahead, there’s optimism.
“We want to be clear that people know this happened and it’s really going to hurt if it doesn’t get rectified in some way,” said Rider.
“There’s such a passion for the arts and love of what we do that we somehow figure it out,” said DeLaurentis.
A statement from Lamont's office was not immediately made available upon request.
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