CANDARAS ANNOUNCES THE WILBRAHAM CULTURAL COUNCIL GRANT RECIPIENTS

WILBRAHAM – State Representative Gale D. Candaras (D-Wilbraham) announces that the Wilbraham Cultural Council has awarded 17 grants, totaling $7,461 for cultural programs in Wilbraham. The grants were awarded from a pool of funds that is appropriated by the Legislature and distributed by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that supports public programs and educational activities in the arts, sciences and humanities.

Massachusetts’ artists, cultural organizations, schools and local cultural councils serving thousands of Commonwealth residents will share $13.2 million in grant resources this year. This statewide grassroots cultural program makes annual allocations to 335 local cultural councils appointed by elected officials, which in turn support specific cultural needs in every Massachusetts city and town. The decisions about which activities to support are made at the town level, by a board of appointed volunteers.

“It’s the local volunteers who really make this system work. The Wilbraham Cultural Council makes difficult decisions about which projects should be supported for grant funding. Through their decision-making efforts, the Council has successfully managed limited resources ensuring that the residents of Wilbraham have opportunities to experience the arts, sciences and humanities everyday of their lives in this community.” Candaras further adds, “I commend the Council members on their hard work on behalf of this community.”

Massachusetts leads the nation in museum, historic site and classical music performances’ attendance. Residents are also among the nation’s most avid readers, according to a closer analysis of a survey on public participation in the arts conducted by MIT Professor J. Mark Schuster.

“Wilbraham is fortunate to have an abundance of high quality cultural opportunities, from visits to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra youth concerts to the Peach Festival to the Wilbraham Public Library’s innovative creative series. Furthermore, Minnechaug Regional High School will now host diverse programs, such as the study of the African-American culture and a visit by a blues artist,” state Candaras.

This year’s grant recipients in Wilbraham are as follows:

Minnechuag Regional High School – Blues culture, history $750
Minnechuag Regional High School – African-American culture $300
Wilbraham Public Library – Amelia Earhart’s lecture $538
Wilbraham Public Library – Tuesday Night Tempos Concert Series $800
Wilbraham Public Library – Discover Creative Side Series $600
Wilbraham Peach Festival – Main Stage Band Concert $100
Wilbraham Brownie Troop 142 – Cinderella Play at the Bushnell $300
Memorial School – Springfield Symphony String Quartet $375
Memorial School – Springfield Symphony Orchestra Youth Concert $610
Memorial School – Sturbridge Village Field Trip $60
Memorial School – Springfield Symphony Orchestra Youth Concert $570
Memorial School –Theatreworks USA Performance $400
Stony Hill Road School – Springfield Symphony String Quartet $325
Soule Road School – Springfield Symphony String Quartet $325
Stony Hill Road School – Theatreworks USA Performance $368
Rose Colored Glasses – Senior Citizens Concert $400
Leslie Scott – Intergenerational Collaborative Quilt Project $100

The Wilbraham Cultural Council members are Jennifer Chapin and Jean Canosa-Albano, co-chairpersons; Charles Bennett, Secretary; Carolyn Zawicki, Treasurer; Judy Van Raalie, Lee Fontaine, Barbara Los and Barbara Ziskind, members. For more information about the council or the awarded grants, please call Jennifer Chapin at (413) 596-9452.