|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2012
Contact: Gregory
Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343 or
Ann Petruccelli, Communications Coordinator 617-727-3668 x231
MCC Invests $200,000 in New Artist Live/Work Spaces
Seven Municipalities and Five Artist Spaces Receive ArtistLink Grants; Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston Receives Funding to Explore Creative Space Development in Mass.
(BOSTON, MA)— The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) today announced $200K in new grants to support artist live/work spaces across the Commonwealth. ArtistLink grants will go to seven municipalities receiving artist space planning grants, and five established artist spaces receiving System Replacement Plan (SRP) grants. A separate MCC grant will help the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston test the potential of creating a cultural real estate network to advance creative space development in Massachusetts.
“Sustainable, affordable spaces for artists to work and live are a crucial element of a successful creative economy,” said MCC Executive Director Anita Walker. “Since its inception, ArtistLink has helped create more than 700,000 square feet of artist workspace, community arts spaces, galleries, and other creative spaces. This new round of grants continues this vital work.”
In addition to funding, ArtistLink
provides technical assistance to artists, community-based non-profits,
municipalities, and real estate developers interested in creating
and maintaining artist live/work spaces and studios. The program
also hosts a website featuring artist space development tips and
an artist live/work studio space listing service.
The seven new municipal ArtistLink grants are $20K each. Grantees include:
- Barnstable
- Dedham
- Fitchburg
- Holyoke
- Lynn
- Pittsfield
- Taunton
SRP grants of $10K will be distributed to:
- 14 Cedar Street in Amesbury
- 249 A Street in Boston’s Fort Point
district
- Artspace Maynard
- Canal Street Studios
in Holyoke
- Gorse Mill Studios
in Needham
"These funds will allow us to plan for the expansion of the creative economy
in Holyoke. At the same time we'll be able to provide direct assistance
to property owners so that they can transform their spaces for
artists, entertainment and restaurant venues, and the kind of
amenities that make a downtown vibrant and attractive," said Mayor
Alex Morse of Holyoke.
Municipal Grants
Municipal grants are awarded to cities and towns that demonstrate a commitment to advance and integrate artist space planning into community-wide economic development plans and strategies. The grants help ensure that artists have access to stable and affordable work and live/work spaces throughout Massachusetts.
Systems Replacement & Maintenance Planning Grants
The Systems Replacement & Maintenance Planning Grant provides owners of artist buildings with tools to prioritize their capital maintenance needs. The plan helps building and/or condominium owners acquire information and analysis needed to address the cycles of replacement and maintenance, and introduce energy efficiency and accessibility/universal design opportunities for the facility. Grantees enter into an agreement with a pre-approved third party consultant who will survey the building. Work includes an analysis of the building’s envelope (roof, walls, and windows), along with mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems.
About ArtistLink
ArtistLink was formed through the collaborative effort of the MCC, The Boston Foundation, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), LEF Foundation, the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), Boston Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism, and Special Events, and the Barr Foundation. It was catalyzed by a grant from Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC)—a 10-year national initiative to improve conditions for artists.
About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The
MCC is a state agency supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences
to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities.
The MCC pursues this mission through of grants, services, and
advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities,
and artists. The MCC is funded primarily by the state and through
grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. It
achieves its mission through grants, services, and partnerships
to nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and
artists.
###
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
| © Massachusetts Cultural Council 2013 |
| |
|
|
