December 22, 2016 (Hyannis, MA) – The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod (AFCC) has announced its 2016 grants, awarding $25,000 in funding to 18 Cape art and cultural organizations, encompassing the entire region, from Woods Hole to Provincetown.
“More and more we are seeing the arts crossing over into different sectors, such as health and human services,” said Julie Wake, Executive Director of the AFCC, noting several programs funded that help address those needs. Among those were a $500 grant to the Barnstable Senior Center to cover an art therapy program aimed at individuals with dementia and a $1,500 award to the Cape Conservatory to support its ongoing Sing for Joy program, a free music class for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
Wake said there were a number of innovative proposals that reflect the power the arts have on society. “This year’s grants really show that arts can heal, that arts are accessible to everyone, and that arts bring community together,” she said.
In Dennis, a $2,400 grant will be used to allow low-income students to continue pursuing their musical studies past middle school. In Provincetown, the Fine Arts Work Center will utilize a $1,500 grant to support its 2017 Winter Events Series, which offers an array of readings, discussions and artist presentations. And in Falmouth, the Woods Hole Film Festival’s $1,000 grant will help fund FILM FALMOUTH which screens independent movies from September through May at Falmouth Academy.
Since 1988, the AFCC has granted more than $1.5 million to over 300 individual artists, organizations, and educational institutions on Cape Cod. This year’s grant cycle saw 36 applicants seeking more than $100,000 in funding.
Applications were submitted in September and reviewed by a five-member jury that included a combination of AFCC board members, AFCC Patron Program members, and community leaders.
The $25,000 the AFCC granted this round was an increase from last year’s total of $14,000. Applicants were notified last week (December 12-16) with funds being made available immediately.
This year’s AFCC grant recipients are:
- Barnstable Senior Center ($500) – An art therapy program for those with dementia.
- Cape Cod CAN! ($1,500) – “My Pet Project”, a combination of art instruction, development, exhibition and sales, and the creation of a large mosaic, totem sculpture of pet animals entitled “Companions.” The program will bring art to those with disabilities and special needs living on Cape Cod.
- Cape Cod Makers ($1,000) – 4th Annual Cape Cod Mini-Maker Faire at Mashpee High School on April 29, 2007. The faire is a family-friendly event that allows makers of all ages to showcase their inventions and projects to the public.
- Cape Cod Repertory Theatre ($1,000) – A new program that will allow Cape Cod’s theater artists to interact with the region’s fishermen, scientists and naturalists, resulting in the creation of an interview-based theater piece.
- Cape Conservatory ($1,500) – “Sing for Joy” is a free, weekly singing program for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
- Chatham Orpheum Theater ($1,000) – The Sensory Friendly Film Series is a monthly screening of films for families with children and adults affected by Autism.
- Chips House ($1,000) – A touch and feel art class geared to residents who are blind and sight impaired. Pottery, clay and papier mache will be used in the introductory class.
- Cotuit Center for the Arts ($3,000) – Piece by Piece III, a large-scale collaborative art installation featuring over 100 Cape Cod artists.
- Cotuit Library ($1,000) – Musical performances/programs to honor former Cape Cod Symphony director Royston Nash.
- Cultural Center of Cape Cod ($1,500) – Rise and Shine program, which provides free art workshops, lessons and mentoring to at-risk youth.
- Dennis Port Revitalization Committee ($2,000) – Community mural at Pocket Park in Dennis Port.
- Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Music Department ($2,400) – Program for students from middle school and older to further their musical studies.
- Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown ($1,500) – 2017 Winter Events Series which provides an array of readings, discussions and artist presentations during the off-season.
- Heritage Museums & Gardens ($3,000) – An outdoor art installation featuring 6-8 works by area artists that convey the meaning of landscape and point of view.
- Provincetown Art Association and Museum ($1,000) – Funding to support the creation of youth and adult content for a mobile app.
- Veterans for Peace ($500) – A community-wide poetry contest.
- Sandwich Arts Alliance ($600) – A three-part series of events held throughout April to commemorate the 21st anniversary of National Poetry Month.
- Woods Hole Film Festival ($1,000) – FILM FALMOUTH, a film series that screens independent fare at Falmouth Academy, from September through May.
About the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod
The mission of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is to support, promote, and celebrate the arts and culture of Cape Cod in order to sustain a vibrant, diverse, and strong arts community. We envision a Cape Cod where arts and culture fuel innovation, economic growth, and community.