Grants Help Keep Peabody Cultured

This year, the Peabody Cultural Council will distribute just over $15,000 in grants to organizations that support arts-related activities in the community.

The cultural council has set an Oct. 15 postmark deadline for organizations, schools, and individuals to apply for these grants.

These grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Peabody, including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies or performances in schools, workshops and lectures, according to cultural council spokesperson Lisa Greene. The council also welcomes new and innovative ideas to enrich the community through the arts.

The Peabody Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

This year, the Peabody Cultural Council will distribute about $15,100 in grants. Previously funded projects include: The Peabody Public School Performing Arts Department City Wide Grade 5th Field trip to Symphony Hall in Boston, The Summer Concert Series on the Commons, The Winter Holiday Concerts, The Teen Mural Project at the Main Branch Library, Model Ship Building, Woodcarving, and Painting classes at the Peabody Community Life Center, and various class field trips to theater and musical performances.

Specific guidelines, application forms and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at http://www.mass-culture.org/lcc_public.aspx. Application forms are also available at Peabody City Hall in the Department of Community Development. For any other questions contact Lisa Greene at lisa.greene@peabody-ma.gov or (978) 538-5777.