The mission of the Bridgeport Arts + Cultural Council (BACC) is "to strengthen Bridgeport's cultural sector's capacity with leadership, funding, and marketing to advance the City's quality of life and prosperity."

Founded in 2010, the BACC is the City's cultural umbrella organization, serving Bridgeport and the surrounding communities. The BACC fosters cultural development by supporting artists and organizations and leading arts and cultural initiatives to re-image and promote Bridgeport to spark and sustain economic growth.

Bridgeport enjoys a historically active and vibrant creative community. The BACC partners with a broad array of private and municipal organizations. Collaborations signal a shared commitment to the rejuvenation of Bridgeport: arts and cultural constituents, including artists and organizations, the City of Bridgeport, the Downtown Special Services District (DSSD), the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, and varied other groups with the like-minded goal of bettering Bridgeport through the arts.

The Mayor's Neighborhood Arts & Heritage Grants, which the BACC administers, provide the BACC the opportunity to work with our Citywide arts and cultural constituents. The grants have enriched the quality of life in the City by providing financial support for arts and heritage projects and underserved individuals and organizations. Artists, artisans, craft makers, musicians, and organizations from Bridgeport are eligible. The Spring and Fall 2011 and 2012 grants were awarded to 24 individuals and 25 arts organizations. Recipients included Bridgeport-based Bridge Academy, Bridgeport Theatre Company, Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program, Slant of Light Theatre, WPKN Radio, Barnum Museum, Cardinal Shehan Center, City Lights Gallery, Connecticut Ballet, Connecticut Free Shakespeare, Jazz Guild of Fairfield County, McGivney Community Center, Over 50 Society, Velocity Inc., and the World Artist Network. Individuals received grants to support their art projects in all media, musical compositions and recordings, music and dance performances, an ArtCart to bring art to the streets, children's projects, art therapy workshops, and heritage research and website production.

Bridgeport artists and cultural organizations are promoted through our website, highlighting Artist of the Month and programs, Facebook, email announcements and newsletters, display of posters and literature, and distribution of flyers.