Norton Cultural Council Seeking Proposals for 2021 Grant Cycle

NORTON, MA – The Norton Cultural Council announces today that proposals to receive funding to support community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs are due Monday, November 16, 2020 by 11:59PM EST.

According to Council spokesperson Catherine Headen, these grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Norton and surrounding communities -- including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, workshops, lectures, and performances.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council played a crucial role in helping Local Cultural Councils access up to date information on state legislation, grant cycle amendments, and special programming to help support all members of the community including artists and performers directly impacted by quarantine regulations. See the full list of resources here.

We at the Norton Cultural Council are looking forward to an exciting 2021 grant cycle. This year, we are particularly interested in projects that address any of the following:

• Help to define what makes Norton special
• Celebrate green spaces or take place in community accessible outdoor areas
• Build connections between people
• Are adaptable to virtual platforms

The Norton Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) serving all 351 communities in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences, and humanities every year. The state Legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to every community.

While the total amount of funding available will be contingent upon the Mass Cultural Council’s FY21 state budget appropriation, last year the Norton Cultural Council distributed $11,718 in grants. Previously funded projects include:

• Seasonal Paint Nights at the Norton Public Library
• Kindergarten Nature & Art Programming: Baby Birds & Their Nests at Norton Elementary Schools
• Brockton Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Norton Senior Center
• From JAZZ to Hip Hop at the Norton Senior Center
• Combating Hate and Prejudice at the Norton Middle School
• Hornithology Summer Horn Ensemble on the St. Mary’s Parking Lot

For local guidelines and complete information on the Norton Cultural Council, contact Catherine Headen at nortonmacc@gmail.com. Application forms and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org.

For specific information about COVID-19 related considerations, please visit https://massculturalcouncil.org/covid-19-resources/guidance-for-local-cultural-councils-and-their-grantees-in-response-to-covid-19/.