Christian Kelly, Public Relations & Events Manager
88 Cultural Organizations Receive Grants for Facility Projects; Awards Celebrated at the Children’s Museum in Easton
Yesterday at the Children’s Museum in Easton, MassDevelopment and Mass Cultural Council were joined by Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, local and state officials, and cultural partners to announce and celebrate a $6,159,900 investment into 88 nonprofit and municipal cultural organizations through the Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF), which the two agencies jointly administer.
CFF provides capital and planning grants to nonprofit organizations, colleges, and municipalities that own or operate facilities primarily focused on the arts, humanities, and sciences. These awards invest in the acquisition, design, repair, renovation, expansion, and construction of nonprofit and municipal cultural facilities. All selected projects are subject to a 1:1 matching requirement.
The Cultural Facilities Fund is financed annually through the Governor’s Capital Spending Plan. In FY24, the Healey-Driscoll Administration invested $10 million into the CFF, which supports the awards announced yesterday.
“Massachusetts is a state with a rich history, and our cities and towns are full of stories that deserve to be shared,” said Lt. Governor Driscoll. “This $6.1 million investment from the Cultural Facilities Fund supports the spaces that allow our communities to share those stories, and it allows us to support our cultural and creative economy by creating jobs and bolstering tourism. We are proud to support this work and look forward to seeing the results of these grants at work across the state.”
“Our cultural organizations serve as a key driver of our economy by creating jobs and fostering tourism throughout Massachusetts,” said Dan O’Connell, President & CEO, MassDevelopment. “The Cultural Facilities Fund is an effective resource for helping these institutions improve and expand, so they can continue welcoming and inspiring visitors of all ages.”
“By providing capital support to cultural organizations through the Cultural Facilities Fund, we are investing in the soul of our society, ensuring that the pillars of heritage, creativity, and education stand strong for generations to come,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “This funding bolsters the capacity of these organizations to innovate, expand, and thrive so they can continue to enrich our communities, celebrate diversity, and preserve the invaluable treasures of human expression.”
This was the 16th round of funding made available through CFF. In total, 231 eligible applications were received and reviewed, making it the largest pool of applicants since the program’s inception.
There are three types of grants available through CFF. Of the 88 applications funded in this round:
- 51 organizations will receive a total of $5.5 million for Capital Grants
to assist with the acquisition, final-stage design, construction, repair, renovation, rehabilitation, or other capital improvements or deferred maintenance of facilities
- 20 organizations will receive a total of $501,400 for Feasibility & Technical Assistance Grants
to assist organizations in collecting the objective information and analysis they need before committing their energies and financial resources to a facilities project
- 17 organizations will receive a total of $150,500 for Systems Replacement Plan Grants
to support 20-year capital needs assessments which assess a facility’s structure, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety systems
A complete list of FY24 Cultural Facilities Fund grant recipients is available online. Below are examples of newly funded capital projects:
- Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton – $200,000
to repair and replace the peaked, shingled portion of the roofing on the museum facility
- Hudson Cultural Alliance – $200,000
for schematic design for renovations to the Hudson Armory
- Triplex Cinema, Great Barrington – $200,000
to support reopening their second largest theater by making the building ADA-compliant and improving health and safety measures
- Jean Appolon Expressions, Malden – $138,000
to create a new accessible dance studio in a mixed-use building in Nubian Square
- Easton Children’s Museum – $129,000
for repairs to the roof, flashings, roof drainage systems, doors, windows, clapboard and trim, and to paint the building exterior
- The Andover Historical Society – $112,000
to acquire the former November Club building at 6 Locke Street in Andover
Representatives from two organizations spoke at the event to detail the impact the grant has for their organizations.
“The Children’s Museum in Easton will embark on a project of immense importance, bringing historically appropriate renovations to the 1903 firehouse that is our home,” said Christine Santoro, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum in Easton. The Town of Easton entrusted the museum’s founders to preserve and maintain this historic building and we are steadfast in honoring our commitment to the community. The work we will undertake as part of this project is preserving our community’s rich historical character and advancing the museum’s mission. We thank Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment for this significant grant.”
“Fuller Craft Museum acknowledges the support of Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment, as the museum completes the final stage of roof repairs for its 20,000 sq. ft. building,” said Erin McGough, Executive Director, Fuller Craft Museum. “Over the past year, the museum has raised more than $1.2 million to fund a comprehensive plan, including much-needed work on siding shingles, roofing, HVAC and generator, patio repairs, and more. Fuller Craft Museum is a significant structure, built in 1969 by Boston architectural firm J. Timothy Anderson & Associates (now Finegold Alexander + Associates Inc.). Our building is the platform for our work; from community programming, to dynamic exhibitions, to early arts education – having a well-cared for and secure facility is at the heart of our mission and is important for long-term investment and planning. We are deeply grateful to our funders for making this possible.”
Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment were also joined by state Senator Paul Mark (D- Becket), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development.
“The Cultural Facilities Fund provides much-needed support to so many great organizations throughout the Commonwealth,” said Sen. Mark. “It is so important as a legislature to partner with Mass Cultural Council to ensure that funding exists to help our local communities support the arts and to promote the benefits of a thriving cultural sector. I am grateful to Mass Cultural Council, MassDevelopment, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for the many grant awards in my district and congratulations to all recipients!”
Applications for the next round of CFF grants are expected to open fall 2024.