Written by Sigrid Kun, Guilford Events Magazine

Arts, culture, and heritage are essential to building a strong and connected community. In 2025, The Guilford Foundation (TGF) awarded more than $15,000 to the nonprofits featured here as part of $117,900 distributed across 35 grants. Through their work, these organizations create meaningful opportunities for artistic expression, education, and shared experiences. This partnership helps to make Guilford the special place it is.

GreenStage Guilford (GSG) produces a biennial performing arts festival to entertain, enliven, enrich, and strengthen the shoreline community. A TGF grant supported this summer’s festival, which presented 30 live performances and participatory experiences. GSG entertains and enriches the community while offering people broader perspectives on the world and encouraging them to pursue their own creative journeys.

Guilford Art Center (GAC) inspires creativity and connection by engaging the community in the visual arts through education, exhibitions, and outreach. The TGF grant provides general operating support for GAC’s school, gallery, Craft Expo, and outreach programs, ensuring free and accessible opportunities for creative expression for more than 4,000 Guilford residents each year.  

Guilford Community Television (GCTV) has amplified local voices for more than 40 years by providing free production facilities and operating three community cable channels featuring local government, nonprofit news, sports, health, and cultural programming. The TGF grant provides general operating support to strengthen outreach and promote GCTV’s services.

Guilford Garden Club manages a Tree Fund to finance the replacement of new trees on the Green and surrounding streets.  A TGF grant, funded 7-10 trees in support of the Gaden’s club goal to replace and strengthen the town’s tree canopy in partnership with Guilford’s Tree Warden. This initiative ensures the Green remains a vibrant and welcoming centerpiece of Guilford’s identity for generations to come.

Guilford Keeping Society (GKS) collects, preserves, and shares the history and heritage of Guilford for present and future generations. Thanks to TGF funding, GKS made the necessary repairs to the Thomas Griswold House Museum, which includes a historic blacksmith shop and a woodworking shop, both used to teach children and visitors about the craftsmen through live demonstrations.

Neighborhood Music School’s Guilford Branch has provided high-quality, one-on-one music instruction to children and adults on the Guilford Green for more than 40 years. This grant supports operating costs that sustain personalized lessons with experienced teaching artists who mentor students across a wide range of instruments, fostering musical growth, confidence, and connection through the performing arts.

Starship Dance Theater & Company has enriched the Guilford community through dance education and performances for all ages. The TGF grant provides operating support to expand outreach and educational programming as Starship expands its mission as a newly established 501(c)(3). Its focus is to increase access to dance, provide mentorship, and award scholarships to young artists.