| SPRINGFIELD The Springfield Cultural Council is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for Project Grants for Springfield artists or organizations needing financial help to bring arts to Springfield residents and Artist Fellowship Grants for FY2008 funding. This year it will receive $100,250 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the same funding amount as last year. Applicants may apply for grants up to $5,000. Applications and guidelines are available either online at www.springfieldculturalcouncil.org or at www.massculturalcouncil.org. Printed copies of the application and guidelines may be picked up at the arts council office located in the Indian Orchard Community Building on Main Street in Indian Orchard, in the Mayor's office or in the City's Main and branch libraries. The deadline for applications is Oct. 15. It is also holding workshops to help applicants understand how to apply for the funds. These workshops are being held on Sept. 20 and Sept. 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the SCC Indian Orchard office. Please call the office at 413-543-6930 to reserve a space. The Springfield Cultural Council is the local cultural council for Springfield, Massachusetts and each year funds many artists and arts organizers with Massachusetts Cultural Council funds. The Springfield Cultural Council supports the mission of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is "to promote excellence, access, education and [particularly] diversity in the arts." The SCC is a commission whose members are appointed by the Mayor. The Council receives an annual appropriation of state funds from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and makes these funds available to the community through a competitive grant program. For over fifteen years, the SCC has awarded grants to artists, cultural organizations, neighborhood councils, teachers, local government agencies, and major cultural institutions for projects that take place in the city. According to Jeremy Cole, Chairman of the Springfield Cultural Council, "Project Grants are given out to encourage Springfield artists or organizations with projects that are innovative, collaborative in nature, benefit the community and demonstrate artistic excellence. Funding priority is given to Springfield artists and organizations and to projects that originate in Springfield." Proposals are encouraged that reflect knowledge of specific Springfield neighborhoods' artistic, humanist and cultural needs and are collaborative efforts with neighborhood councils and organizations. The Springfield Cultural Council encourages grant proposals that highlight and/or serve specific ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Artist Fellowship grants are a special category of award to assist Springfield artists in developing and exploring their artistic work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation. Artists in any discipline may apply for reimbursement based grants to cover time, materials, space, rental, production and other components of their ongoing work. Through these grants, the Council intends to honor exemplary artists who represent the best of our City's creative community. More information about the grant program and a schedule of workshop to help applicants with their grant applications may be found online at their Web site, www.springfieldculturalcouncil.org. |
