$7500 crowdfunding goal to receive matching grant from Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund
[HARTFORD, CT, April 9, 2025] – Local artists Amanda Mendoza and Gyllian Cruz are creating a community art show titled ‘We Will Not Be Erased: An LGBTQ+ Art Show’ to uplift the voices of LGBTQ+ artists, showcasing works that celebrates the community during a time of social and legislative challenges against LGBTQ+ rights. We Will Not Be Erased is more than an exhibition, it is a statement, a space of visibility, and a call to building a stronger community of allies through educational workshops, artist panels, an open mic night and a community art installation visitors will be able to add to at the show. We Will Not Be Erased will be showing at the Hartford ArtSpace Gallery from June 16th – June 26th, 2025 with a virtual gallery to come in August 2025. Artist applications for the show are now open until May 21st, 2025 at 11:59 PM and will be free to apply. Interested LGBTQ+ artists and performers can apply here.
The project’s organizers are calling on the community to join this initiative by donating to a crowdfunding campaign. If the campaign reaches its $7500 goal by its fundraising deadline of May 21st, 2025 at 11:45 pm, the project will receive a matching grant of $7500 from Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund, which is an innovative funding resource for public, community-led sustainability projects. For project details and to donate, please visit: We Will Not Be Erased: An LGBTQ+ Community Art Show!
“We have received much excitement since announcing this project,” says artist, muralist and lead curator Amanda Mendoza, “Many artists and community members have reached out saying how needed this is, and we cannot wait to create this space together.” “I’m honored to help uplift the voices of our LGBTQ+ art community,” says artist and Assistant Curator Gyllian Cruz. “I hope attendees leave having more connections and feeling supported, and inspired.”
Mendoza and Cruz are hoping to reach the crowdfunding goal for this project, so they can hire a photographer to capture professional images of each artwork for the virtual gallery, offer paid opportunities to artists such as gallery sitting and artist panels, purchase audio equipment to donate to the Hartford ArtSpace Gallery to use for all future community art shows, create a community art installation for visitors to contribute to at the show, and more.
Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund provides a dollar-for-dollar match to donations raised from the community, doubling local investments in projects. Anyone can lead a project and ideas can be proposed at any time by contacting Sustainable CT at funding@sustainablect.org. The Community Match Fund is generously supported by the Hampshire Foundation, the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Connecticut Green Bank, and Supporting Organizing Work CT.
”We’re thrilled to support We Will Not Be Erased: An LGBTQ+ Art Show that puts residents at the forefront of creating positive, impactful change,” said Jessica LeClair, executive director for Sustainable CT. “Like all Match Fund projects, this initiative is community led and community funded, demonstrating the power of people working together to make change where they live.”
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Media Contacts:
Jim Hunt
Communications Manager
Sustainable CT
860-259-4732
Amanda Mendoza
Artist, Muralist & Lead Curator
203-317-9530
Gyllian Cruz
Artist & Assistant Curator
860-960-2566
