Westborough – Representative Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) and Cliff Watts, chair of the Westborough Cultural Council (WCC), have announced the award of 30 grants totaling $21,100 for cultural programs in Westborough. The WCC has never been able to give so many grants, and recipients include a variety of Westborough organizations and activities.
“These grants are making a real difference in the quality of life in Westborough – exposing residents to a wide range of cultural activities and programs,” stated Rep. Dykema. “Kudos to the volunteers of the Westborough Cultural Council for making the arts part of our everyday lives and for making these limited resources stretch to so many different programs.”
The WCC is part of a network of 329 local cultural councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.
Westborough Town Meeting voters have consistently approved additional funds to assist the council's activities. The council also created the Arts in Common festival, the proceeds of which are also used toward grants. Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers.
Statewide, more than $2.34 million will be distributed by local cultural councils in 2014. Grants will support an enormous range of grass-roots activities: concerts, exhibitions, radio and video productions, field trips for schoolchildren, after-school youth programs, writing workshops, historical preservation efforts, lectures, First Night celebrations, nature and science education programs for families and town festivals.
This year's grants include: Armstrong Elementary School, Armstrong School Parent Group, Assabet Valley Mastersingers, Audio Journal, Inc., Central Mass Chinese Language School, Century Chinese School Art Group, Chamber Music Metrowest, Stephen Collins, Fales Elementary School, Hastings School, Holly Kenny, Gregory Maichack, Maryann M. Pietropaolo,
Mill Pond School, New Hope Chapel, Northborough Area Community Chorus, Sarah W. Gibbons Middle School, Shir Joy Chorus, SkyRise Children's Theater, The Gravestone Girls,
Symphony Pro Musica, Westborough Community Band, Westborough Community Chorus, Westborough Community Land Trust, Westborough Historical Society, Westborough Players Club, Westborough Public Library, and Westborough Senior Center.
The WCC will seek applications again in the fall. Information and forms are available online at www.masscultural council.org. Applications are due no later than Oct. 15.
