MCC announces art stimulus grants

The Massachusetts Cultural Council today announced 28 nonprofit arts organizations it has selected to each receive $10,000 in federal stimulus funds to help preserve arts jobs across the state. What’s notable about the grant recipients is that these are primarily small or mid-sized arts organizations where $10,000 could have a significant effect.

But also note that with the Massachusetts Cultural Council expected to get whacked with a 23 percent budget cut for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, the end result may be a wash in which grant recipients win additional funding now but less in the next round of state art grants.

Among the organizations to receive funds are: Arlington Center for the Arts, Boston Center for the Arts, DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, RAW Art Works in Lynn, Spontaneous Celebrations in Jamaica Plain, Underground Railway Theater in Cambridge, and the Worcester Art Museum. A full list is at bottom.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council reports that its recent survey of arts organizations that receive state funding found that 43% have laid off at least one worker since the start of the current recession. It says many others are reducing salaries and work hours, and instituting hiring freezes.

The $280,000 for art stimulus grants comes from Massachusetts’s share of $50 million for arts included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was passed by the U.S. Congress in February. The Massachusetts organizations to receive funding were chosen from 143 applicants. They must spend the money between July 1 and Dec. 31.

Complete list of Massachusetts stimulus grant recipients:

Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington
Arts Boston, Boston
Bay State Performing Arts, Boston
The Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield
Boston Center for the Arts, Boston
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Boston
Community Music School of Springfield, Springfield
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln
Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton
Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Boston
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams
Medicine Wheel Productions, Boston
Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell
The Nora Theatre Company, Cambridge
RAW Art Works, Lynn
Shakespeare & Company, Lenox
South Shore Conservatory, Hingham
Spontaneous Celebrations, Boston
The Springfield Museums, Springfield
The Theater Offensive, Cambridge
Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Truro
Underground Railway Theater, Cambridge
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester
Zeiterion Theatre, New Bedford
Zumix, Boston

Previously:
Feb. 6, 2009: “Why do they hate us – and zoo babies?”
Feb. 13, 2009: “U.S. House stimulus bill keeps arts funding. Also Sen. Collins on why she supported Coburn amendment.”