Good afternoon, Representative Walker and honorable members of the Appropriations Committee. I'm Jason Mancini. I'm the executive director of Connecticut Humanities testifying in support of SB 15 51. Thank you for raising this important bill at a critical time in both the state's and nation's history when our social fabric is being torn apart before our eyes.

Why it matters: Dozens of witnesses representing theaters, museums, regional arts organizations and tourism groups testified that recent federal developments have put core grant funding at risk. Several witnesses said they had received notices that NEH operating support grants were terminated and that the Institute of Museum and Library Services staff and grants were under immediate threat. Witnesses described lost federal awards, the fragility of small cultural organizations, and the multiplier effect on downtown businesses, restaurants and hotels.

What advocates asked

- Provide dedicated state funding for arts, culture and tourism: Many witnesses supported SB 15 51 (a percentage allocation of the meals and beverage tax or specific annual appropriations) and higher figures cited in companion bills. Requests included $5,000,000 for Connecticut Humanities, $5,000,000 for the Office of the Arts and $12,000,000 for tourism in FY26.

- Protect small and mid‑sized institutions: Speakers emphasized that federal funds and small grants enable museums, historical societies and individual artists to participate in statewide programs (examples: Connecticut Collections, summer museum programs, Good to Great grants) and that state funding would substitute and stabilize those flows if federal grants vanish.

- Economic case: Arts leaders pointed to economic studies (American for the Arts, DECD) showing cultural visitors boost local retail and food spending and make downtowns more attractive to residents and businesses. Several presenters gave local examples: Mystic Aquarium’s free EBT admissions program (100,000 visitors helped in 2024; $4M estimated value), Goodspeed Musicals and other theaters that draw out‑of‑state audiences, and local festivals that generate restaurant and retail traffic.

Ending

Witnesses described management and program disruptions if federal support disappears and urged the legislature to adopt a statewide funding mechanism this session. They said targeted state investment would protect jobs, preserve cultural education for students, and sustain tourism inflows that support restaurants, hotels and downtown businesses.