Swampscott Cultural Council Names 2012 Award Recipients

This article was submitted by Laura Smith of the Swampscott Cultural Council.

The Swampscott Cultural Council (SCC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2012 grants, totaling approximately $5,000, to a dozen artists or groups that will provide a swath of cultural events.

The grants are made possible through funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which seeks to enrich the quality of life in all the state’s cities and towns. Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers.

“These grants, in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, connect citizens of different generations,” said SCC Chairwoman Wendy Frisch. Also serving on the SCC are Patty Colone, Marianne McDermott, Catherine Esteverena, Jer Jurma, Laura Smith and Cynthia Zeman. Residents interested in joining the council are encouraged to contact a member or come to our next meeting on Tuesday, May 8, at 7. The location will be posted at Town Hall and in the press.

Grants are awarded based on MCC regulations and community input. At the Swampscott Strawberry Festival last year, 77 residents filled out surveys at the SCC table, helping the council identify priorities such as teen and senior events and art in the schools.

The largest grant this year went to the YRUU Band Show series, produced by the YRUU youth group. The band nights and open mic coffee houses give area high schoolers a safe and relaxed place to play music and chill at the Unitarian Universalist church on Forest Ave. The next YRUU Coffee House will take place on Friday, April 6, from 6:30-10:00.

A Cultural Bonanza

Many Swampscott residents had the pleasure of hearing the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra play at Swampscott High School in February; with funding from the SCC, the NSPO will present another concert at the High School on April 22^nd. The 60-member community orchestra has been together for 64 years, and is expanding its involvement with Swampscott High School students through an internship-type program.

Earlier in the school year, Len Cabral transported students at the Hadley Elementary School with a “storytelling concert” of fables, folklore and poetry. Cabral’s tales touched on themes of the fall season and include important messages of how to live well in communities, with messages of friendship, responsibility and tolerance.

In March, the Higgins Armory Museum brought a Roman Legionary presentation to the Swampscott Public Library. Middle schoolers and high school students learned about the arms and armor of the Roman Legion, as well as the political and military history of the Roman Empire.

The Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestra, which draws young musicians from 40 towns including Swampscott, will present a free Spring Afternoon Concert in April at the Jewish Rehabilitation Center, which is open to the public. Contact the JRC for the date and time of the concert, featuring the young musicians performing in small chamber music ensembles of wind, string and brass instruments.

Ed the Wizard will make an appearance at Clarke Elementary School’s “Cow Plop Fair” in May with a program titled “Reading is Magic.” The interactive performance, which emphasizes the value and importance of reading skills, will tap audience volunteers to perform feats of magic that are often found in children’s story books.

On June 11, Gregory Maichack will return, with popular acclaim, to the Swampscott Public Library with a workshop titled, “Que Sera, Seurat! How to Pastel Paint Optically with Color.” Seniors and adults are invited to learn about pointillism and Seurat’s working methods and paint a Venetian Landscape on high-quality paper.                 

Fantastic feats of juggling and more magic will be featured at the Library on Tuesday, July 17. Scott Jameson will delight children and families with routines that are choreographed to music and feature audience participation.

The SCC hopes all residents will enjoy a Big Band Swing Music Concert on the green this summer. Danielle Strauss, recreation director, will work with the New England Swing Orchestra on a dateThe concert will feature music from the Big Bands of the 30s and 40s, including Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

Later this year, Marion Court College will host Delvena Theater Company’s ‘edutainment’ production relating to Fall River’s infamous resident, Lizzie Borden. The free performance will include a mock trial, during which the audience will have the opportunity to question the defendant and then vote on her guilt or innocence.

Got Culture?

All this music, art, theater, storytelling, juggling and magic make Swampscott a cultural hot spot. Be sure to indulge your interest by attending one or more of the events!

Artists who are interested in applying for a 2013 SCC grant may download forms at the following websites and apply by October 15:

Standard Grant Application - 

http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/applications/lccapp.doc

Field Trip Grant Application (formerly known as the “PASS Application”) -
http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/applications/passapp.doc