Montserrat College of Art Awarded $2.1 Million Federal Grant

BEVERLY, MA — The Montserrat College of Art in Beverly was awarded a $2.1 million Department of Education grant to help the school expand its capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management,

and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) announced the grant on Tuesday that will be delivered in installments over five years with the first payment of $372,000 set for this fall.

"This is a testament to the wonderful work and dedication of the faculty, staff, and students," Moulton said in a statement to Patch. "There is nothing more important than a good education. At a time when arts education is increasingly underfunded, I'm proud that one of our local institutions will be able to put these funds toward providing a world-class arts education to even more students in the Sixth District."

Montserrat College of Arts hosts the annual 6th District Congressional Art Show.

Each year, the winning artwork is displayed in the Capitol building for one year alongside the winners from other Congressional districts across the country.

"This grant is a milestone for our college — it is the largest grant and the first Federal grant we have ever received," said Brian Pellinen, interim president of Montserrat College of Art. "I am exceptionally proud of the team that put the proposal together and thankful to so many people here on the North Shore and particularly for the support of our legislators in Washington who recognized the strength and value that Montserrat College of Art brings to Beverly.

"This recognition by the Department of Education confirms a belief many of us on this campus hold: our individualized, personalized way of teaching, working, and mentoring helps our students achieve great things. This grant will help us build on that success for our next generation of students."

Last year, Danvers High senior Sadie Bucco's portrait "Continued In My Reflection" won first place in the Sixth District Congressional Art Show and was displayed in the Capitol for the next year.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)