Politics & Government

Danforth Art, Garden in Woods, Cultural Council Awarded State Grants

Framingham's New England Wild Flower Society was awarded a Cultural Investment Portfolio Program grant of $19,100 to conserve and promote the region's native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) has awarded grants totaling $64,020 to cultural organizations, schools and communities in the MetroWest region.

These grants support a wide variety of cultural activities and projects that benefit local residents, while supporting jobs in the nonprofit cultural sector. The announcement was made as part of MCC’s statewide funding program, which benefits in FY14 from a $1.6 million increase to its state appropriation, approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in July, said Framingham State Sen. Karen Spilka's office in a release.

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“MCC grants help to ensure that the unique cultural resources in our community and across the Commonwealth continue to thrive and benefit our citizens today and in the future,” said Spilka in a press release. “I am pleased to announce these new grants and cultural investments. State support for the arts, humanities and sciences is invaluable in connecting children and adults to diverse cultural experiences.”

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The Danforth Art Museum in Framingham received a direct grant of $9,900 from MCC’s Cultural Investment Portfolio Program, to provide education in the visual arts through the museum’s collection of American art, exhibitions, museum school and outreach programs in the community. 

Framingham’s New England Wild Flower Society was awarded a Cultural Investment Portfolio Program grant of $19,100 to conserve and promote the region’s native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes.

The Cultural Investment Portfolio comprises 388 nonprofit arts, humanities and science organizations across Massachusetts. These organizations connect children and adults to theatre, music, visual arts and film; teach them about history, literature and the natural environment; and introduce them to new languages and cultures. Cultural Investment Portfolio grants must be matched one to one, and range from $2,500 to $55,000.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council also approved the following funding for local cultural councils in the community:

 

•             Ashland Cultural Council, $4,250

•             Framingham Cultural Council, $16,320

•             Holliston Cultural Council, $4,250

•             Hopkinton Cultural Council, $4,250

•             Natick Cultural Council, $5,950

 

Local Cultural Councils comprise the most extensive public cultural funding network in local concerts and exhibitions. Grants to local councils are determined by a formula that reflects the state’s local aid system.

“MCC grants help to ensure that the unique cultural resources in Ashland and Framingham and the extraordinary cultural activity across the Commonwealth continue to thrive and benefit our residents today and for years to come,” said Framingham State Rep. Tom Sannicandro, in a press release. “The impact of state support for the arts, humanities, and sciences is felt on the quality of life in our community; I’m delighted to announce these new grants today.”

The grants were part of Massachusetts Cultural Council’s $10 million statewide investment in the nonprofit cultural sector.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, sciences and humanities, to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. It pursues its mission through a combination of grants, services and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities and artists. For more information, please visit www.massculturalcouncil.org.


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