House Republican Press Release

April 9, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Ryan Announces Arts Grant for Shakespeare on the Sound

State Representative John J. Ryan, R-Darien, announced the state today provided $5,179.64 in grant funds for the Shakespeare on the Sound, Inc., which is located on, 33 Highland Avenue in Norwalk. The grant is sponsored by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, which will go to the Shakespeare on the Sound’s theater festival.

The Shakespeare on the Sound theater festival produces professional open-air productions of the plays of William Shakespeare and related authors in Fairfield County. They work in collaboration with area civic, business and educational organizations to bring dramatic works to a broad audience, creating a forum for learning, appreciation and celebration.

The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism administers the distribution of The Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund which was established by the Legislature to stimulate the development of private sector funding resources and ensure the long-term stability of Connecticut’s arts industry by providing funding to organizations. Interest earned on the Fund's principal is distributed annually to eligible arts organizations. In April 2006, a total of $732,977 was awarded to 94 organizations.

The Arts Endowment grant is unrestricted and may be applied towards capital expenses, administrative costs, programming, or to build their own endowments.

Rep. Ryan said, “Shakespeare on the Sound is a wonderful organization that not only combines excellent educational opportunities and the furtherance of the performing arts by a dedicated volunteer organization, but has the invaluable benefit of the timeless messages of the Bard. Of course, we all know from As You Like It that ‘All the world's a stage’, and I am delighted that we can help, if only in a small way, this superb community effort.