Mattapoisett Cultural Council has announced the award of 28 grants totaling $20,800 for arts, humanities and science programs in and around Mattapoisett in 2024.
Grant recipients include Friends of Old Rochester Drama, Mattapoisett Free Public Library, Mattapoisett Historical Society, Mattapoisett Land Trust, Mattapoisett Lions Club and Mattapoisett Recreation. A complete list of recipients can be found below.
Mattapoisett Cultural Council is part of a network of Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth, the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year.
In 2024, Mattapoisett Cultural Council’s town financial support has increased to $15,000, a very generous supplement to the state allocation of $5,500. The town’s backing at this uncommon level makes a huge difference in the Council’s resources available to satisfy grant applicants. Creative arts, humanities and science program offerings in our local region are thriving. Funding needs and requests typically increase every year – the council considered 34 grant applications totaling over $26,000 this year and was disappointed to have to decline or reduce support for several worthwhile projects. Mattapoisett residents are deserving of the rich cultural experiences that the applicants provide.
Decisions about which cultural projects and activities to support are made at the community level by council members Patricia Apperson, Christopher Brennan, Janet Coquillette, Kathleen Damaskos, Michael Eaton, Joanna MacDonald Ingham, Barbara Poznysz, Kimberly Ray, James Rottler, Gale Schultz, Sarah Thomas and Donna Wingate.
This year’s Mattapoisett Cultural Council grantees include: Seth Asser , Education Committee of the Mattapoisett Land Trust , Colin Everett, Friends of ORR Drama, Friends of ORR Music, Steven Hurlburt, Marion Art Center, Mattapoisett Free Public Library, Mattapoisett Historical Society, Mattapoisett Lions Club, New Bedford Festival Theatre, New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, New Bedford Roots & Branches Festival, ORRHS , Practice Best Practice, Rotch-Jones-Duff House, Sippican Choral Society, SouthCoast Almanac, SouthCoast Children’s Chorus, Greater New Bedford Choral Society, New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance, Mattapoisett Recreation, Tri-County Symphonic Band, Tri-Town Against Racism, Matt York, Your Theatre Inc.
The Mattapoisett Cultural Council will seek applications again in the fall for 2025 grants. Information will be available online at massculturalcouncil.org/communities/local-cultural-council-program/application-process/.