March 22, 2007 Newburyport - State Representative Michael A. Costello announced today that the Newburyport Maritime Society has received a $5,000 Massachusetts Cultural Council grant.
The grant will help convert Newburyport's Custom House Maritime Museum into a cultural center for the community. MCC's grant will support the project in its nascent stage by funding the development of a business plan for the new center.
"This planning grant comes at a time of transition for the organization. I hope the money will help define what the organization is and where it wants to go," said Costello. "The Custom House Maritime Museum will be a vibrant center for culture and history for our community, and will serve as a gateway to our 'Clipper City' for residents and visitors alike."
Newburyport is one of ten communities to receive planning grants under the MCC's John and Abigail Adams Arts Program this year. Overall, the program will invest $1.3 million in cultural economic development initiatives across the state.
"These planning grants are designed to help communities determine how to use their cultural assets to stimulate economic activity," said Mary Kelley, MCC’s Executive Director. "We look forward to working with the Custom House Maritime Museum to help the organization move forward."
Massachusetts is home to more than 14,000 creative businesses that employ 78,204 people and play a significant role in building and sustaining economic vibrancy, according to a report published by the Americans for the Arts. Thriving museums, galleries, festivals, and performances bring visitors and, with them, the demand for restaurants, shops, and other services.
A full list of Adams grants can be found at http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/programs/adamsarts_funding.html
About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The MCC promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The agency pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. MCC receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources.
The MCC's John and Abigail Adams Arts Program for Cultural Economic Development recognizes the pivotal role that arts and culture plays in driving the Massachusetts economy. Tapping into our state's wealth of cultural assets, the Adams Program funds projects that create jobs and income, revitalize downtowns, and draw visitors. The program inspires innovative, progressive, and systemic approaches to economic development in communities.
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