Falmouth Organizations Receive State Cultural Grants

By Laura Schroeder - The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) has awarded grants totaling $131,620 to cultural organizations in the Plymouth and Barnstable District, Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) announced today.

“These grants will help ensure that the unique cultural resources in the Plymouth and Barnstable District continue to benefit our communities today and for many years to come,” Murray said. “Our cultural institutions are critical to the character of our Commonwealth and by investing in these institutions we are promoting economic activity and creating jobs while strengthening our art, history and science organizations. Supporting our cultural facilities and bolstering local tourism have always been top priorities throughout my career in the Senate.”

“We’re deeply grateful to the Senate President for her steadfast support for the nonprofit cultural sector,” MCC Executive Director Anita Walker said. “She understands that the arts, humanities, and sciences are key to the success of our state’s tourism economy, while adding so much to the quality of life in our communities.”

 Local recipients awarded grants include:

Organization

Grant Program

Town

Amount

Mid-Cape Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Barnstable, Yarmouth

$8,720

Bourne Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Bourne

$3,870

Falmouth Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Falmouth

$3,870

Historic Highfield, Inc.

Cultural Investment Portfolio Program

Falmouth

$2,500

Woods Hole Film Festival, Inc.

Cultural Investment Portfolio Program

Falmouth

$3,000

Kingston Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Kingston

$3,870

Pembroke Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Pembroke

$3,870

Plymouth Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Plymouth

$9,080

Manomet, Inc.

Cultural Investment Portfolio Program

Plymouth

$26,600

Plimoth Plantation

Cultural Investment Portfolio Program

Plymouth

$45,700

Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, Inc.

Cultural Investment Portfolio Program

Plymouth

$5,000

Plympton Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Plympton

$3,870

Sandwich Cultural Council

Local Cultural Council Program

Sandwich

$3,870

Thornton W. Burgess Society

Cultural Investment Portfolio Program

Sandwich

$5,300

Heritage Museums & Gardens

Cultural Investment Portfolio Program

Sandwich

$2,500

The grants were part of MCC’s $8 million statewide investment in the nonprofit cultural sector. The

agency announced grants statewide in the following programs:

• Cultural Investment Portfolio: $3.6 million

The Cultural Investment Portfolio comprises 394 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 $50,000.

• Local Cultural Councils: $2.3 million

Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) comprise the most extensive public cultural funding network in the nation. They provide funding to every Massachusetts city and town through 329 local councils and more than 2,300 volunteers. The councils support local arts and history, fund school field trips, and sponsor local concerts and exhibitions. Grants to local councils range from $3,870 for the smallest towns to $74,270 for Worcester and $133,320 for Boston, according to a formula that reflects the state's local aid system.

• Creative Minds: Education in School and Out of School: $940,000

MCC works to ensure that all children have access to high-quality, creative learning experiences through grants, services, and advocacy for schools, communities, and nonprofit cultural organizations.

• Adams Arts Program: $470,830

MCC has been supporting creative economy initiatives throughout Massachusetts for more than a decade. In 2004, the Legislature created the Adams Arts Program, which funds projects that create jobs and income, revitalize downtowns, and increase cultural tourism.

• Partnerships: $428,000

The MCC will also provide annual grants to MassHumanities, which supports public programs in history, literature, and other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life in the Commonwealth; and the New England Foundation for the Arts for regional creative economy initiatives and programs for Massachusetts artists.