The Marblehead Cultural Council has awarded over $7,800 in grants to support various arts, humanities and science projects in the community this year.
The council, one of 351 local organizations funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, reviewed more than 20 applications before deciding on funding recipients. Grants will support live music performances, art installations, genealogy workshops, field trips and more.
“Our council members diligently reviewed and considered over 20 applications. We believe these awards will result in many meaningful and inspirational projects in and around our beautiful town,” the Council’s chair, Jennifer Uhl, told the Marblehead Current.
The grant recipients include:
— Abbot Public Library, for a six-week genealogy course teaching how to gather historical family materials and use online biography tools.
— Matthew Arnold, for a concert performance of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and works by African American composers to mark the piece’s 100th anniversary. The event will take place at Star of the Sea on Saturday, Feb. 10.
— Meghan Boehmer, for a historical/theatrical portrayal of a woman and her children arriving at the 19th-century poor farm after the death of her husband. It will illustrate the struggles of Marblehead’s impoverished.
— Leah Bokenkamp, for the sixth annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion Gardens, featuring Indigenous music, dance, crafts and stories.
— Teresa Collins, for developing an online interactive map and scavenger hunt highlighting Marblehead sites linked to veterans’ contributions across the town.
— Cantemus Inc., for two performances of the large-scale choral work “Annelies,” based on Anne Frank’s diary. It will feature the group alongside an orchestra at St Paul’s Episcopal Church and Congregation Shirat Hayam.
— Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, for a nature walk, educating participants about local birds at Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.
— Me&Thee Music, for concerts featuring world musicians Sol y Canto and Vienna Teng as part of the Global Music Discovery series, at the Unitarian Universalist Church.
— Ed the Wizard, for a STEM workshop teaching kids aviation history and physics through model plane building at Abbot Public Library.
— Nick Zaino, for a live lecture on the history of comedy in Boston from vaudeville star Eva Tanguay to modern comedian Ziwe. The location is to be determined.
— Artist Olesea Fiodorova, for creating and donating four original paintings of Marblehead to local organizations selected by the community.
The MCC aims to fund diverse arts, humanities and science programming accessible to all Marblehead residents. More information can be found at massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/marblehead.
