Reading Awarded State Cultural Grant

A recent state grant will help Reading support a variety of cultural activities.

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) Representative James J. Dwyer (D-Woburn) and Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester), in conjunction with the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), announced on Thursday that the Reading Cultural Council has been awarded a $6,400 grant through MCC’s FY2016 Local Cultural Council Program.

The Reading Cultural Council, under the direction of Chairwoman Peggy Caouette, will use this money to help support a variety of cultural activities for Reading residents. The local cultural council is one of 329 volunteer organizations throughout the state that promote community-based programs focused on the arts, humanities and sciences.

“The Reading Cultural Council does a tremendous job supporting the arts and bringing quality cultural programming directly to the town’s residents,” said Jones. “This grant will help to further the council’s efforts to promote a variety of programs and activities for all ages in the community.”

“This is a great opportunity for the Reading Cultural Council to continue bringing quality cultural experiences to the people of Reading,” said Dwyer.

“Investment in the arts is a critically important ingredient for a vibrant and well-rounded community,” said Lewis. “I’m very pleased that Reading will receive this funding to bolster its important work expanding cultural opportunities for its residents.”

More than $12 million in grants will be distributed by MCC this fall as part of its statewide funding program, with $3 million of these grants going to local cultural councils around the state. Comprised of more than 2,300 volunteers, these local cultural councils help support local arts and history, fund school field trips, and sponsor local concerts and exhibitions.

For more information about MCC, please visit www.massculturalcouncil.org.