NORTHFIELD — North County’s Cultural Councils are awarding a number of local residents and businesses with 69 grants totaling nearly $20,000.
Gretchen Licata, chair of the Northfield Cultural Council, said the annual grants make it possible to have frequent events in small towns, which might not happen without the funding, making for nicer communities.
According to a Northfield Cultural Council press release, the local councils are part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which then allocates funds to each community. Each town’s Cultural Council decides which activities to support.
The Northfield Cultural Council awarded 23 grants totaling $4,606 to: Steve Henderson, Da Camera Singers, Northfield Council on Aging, Quabbin Valley Pro Musica, Racial Justice Rising, Roger Tincknell, Dickinson Memorial Library, Matthew Duncan, Franklin County Technical School’s drama club, Sara Campbell, Carolyn Baskowski, Nolan Kitfield, Davis Bates, Orange Revitalization Partnership, Meadowedge Art, Northfield Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization, Ann Linge, Beverly Phelps and Kevin McKeown.
The Bernardston Cultural Council awarded 20 grants totaling $4,500 to: John Root, Gregory Maichack, Hands on History, Franklin County Technical School’s drama club, Hilltown Families, Roger Tincknell, Davis Bates, Racial Justice Rising, Meadowedge Art, Cushman Library, John Friends and Heather Leeds, Kelly Palasciano, Jeannette Muzima, Bernardston Elementary School, Pioneer Valley Symphony, Silverthorne Theater Company, Julie Stepanek, Jennifer Comiskey and the Mary Lyon Foundation.
The Warwick Cultural Council awarded 14 grants totaling $5,038 to: Athol Historical Society, Denyse Dar, Hilltown Families, Literacy Volunteers of Orange/Athol, David Maloof, Eaden Marti, Orange Revitalization Partnership, Piti Theatre Company, Lawrence Pruyne, Quabbin Valley Pro Musica, Franklin County Technical School’s drama club, Roger Tincknell, Warwick Arts Council and Warwick Historical Society.
The Leyden Cultural Council awarded 12 grants totaling $5,020 to: Ann Linge, Thomas Foster, Leyden Council on Aging, Leyden Historical Commission, Gregory Maichack, Memorial Hall Association, Mohawk Trail Concerts, Angus Reid, John Root, The Art Garden and Franklin County Technical School’s drama club.