Gloucester Stage Co. in the heart of the Rocky Neck Cultural District served Wednesday as the backdrop for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to announce $810,000 in awards to 54 state-designated cultural districts, including Rocky Neck and Harbortown in Gloucester, and Essex River in Essex. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to unanimously pass its spending proposal utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) surplus funds. Funded at $3.82 billion, the bill addresses disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to facilitate recovery through one-time investments in housing, environment…
Mass Cultural Council is now announcing fall grant opportunities for individual artists, teaching artists, nonprofit organizations and more. See below to find links to these funding opportunities. Each of these pages will describe the program, link to the program guidelines for FY22, and have the key dates and info sessions for applicants. Artist Fellowships The Artist…
Supporters of the program tout its economic benefit and argue that letting it expire in two years will hurt the state’s small but thriving movie industry. Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester, said allowing that to happen could jeopardize jobs and economic growth. “We’re building an industry,” she said. “We need to keep the momentum going and…
The Mass Cultural Council, in partnership with the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development, has launched the Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program, which offers grant assistance to Massachusetts nonprofit cultural organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the $10 million available, $2 million will be dedicated to supporting small cultural nonprofits, in…
The Commonwealth has announced a $774 million comprehensive plan to stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy. The plan focuses on getting people back to work, supporting small businesses, fostering innovation, revitalizing downtowns and ensuring housing stability. This plan begins today by directing $115 million in new funding to small businesses and Main Streets hardest hit…
Restaurants are a major backbone of Cape Ann’s economy. Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has injured our local tourism industry. In the coming months, I pledge to work diligently to help our local tourism and cultural businesses and organizations. Today, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass legislation that provides more tools for the restaurants…
“We know how crucial our museums, theaters, historic sites and science centers are to our community and how much our artists and cultural workers contribute to the education of our children. Their survival and vitality depend on support at the federal, state, and local level, and on the continued generosity of all of us.” Read…
As fall begins and our formal sessions resume at the State House, I want to update you on some of the important work that is happening on Beacon Hill and around Cape Ann! First, some exciting news on education. The Joint Committee on Education released an education funding reform bill last week that fully implements…
The fiscal year 2020 budget also includes $580,000 in amendments authored by Tarr and state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester, to fund Cape Ann initiatives in public safety, water quality, economic development, marine genomics research, the Blue Economy, as well as community celebrations in Gloucester and Essex. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
