2010 Grant Cycle

ARLINGTON CULTURAL COUNCIL  2010 Grant Recipients

This year, the Arlington Cultural Council granted $10,000 to 20 applicants:
·         The Center for Cancer Support and Education for the publication and distribution of poetry and prose by the Writers’ Group for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers.
·         David Bates and Roger Tincknell for the presentation of the program “Earth Rhythms,” stories and songs celebrating and teaching environmental awareness and responsibility.
·         Richard Clark for his theatrical presentation of Ernest Hemingway’s life and literature scheduled to be performed for the Arlington COA on May 25, 2010.
·         Hands on History, Inc for their enrichment program on the lifeways of Continental Soldiers that will be presented to all of the Arlington elementary schools.
·         Yetti Frenkel for her 5-session, after-school poetry workshop,“The Anonymous Poet: a Poetry and Image-Making Adventure,” scheduled for March 2010 at the Robbins Library.
·         Arlington Center for the Arts for “Face It—Self Portraits by Teens,” an exhibit that will be mounted at the Gibbs Gallery at the Arlington Center for the Arts.
·         Cyrus E. Dallin Museum for the restoration of “My Mother,” a plaster bust made by Cyrus Dallin of his mother, Jane Hammer Dallin
·         Liz Buchanan for a multi-generational singalong event, “Making Music Across the Generations.”
·         Pierce Elementary School for the science enrichment program “Butterflies, Moths and their Caterpillars” by Arlington resident Darlyne Murawski.
·         Dena Ressler for her program, “Learn to Dance Klezmer Music,” that will teach attendees Yiddish Dance (the celebratory dances of Eastern European Jews) accompanied by klezmer music.
·         The Robbins Library for a summer writing program,“The Story of our Lives,” that is designed to bring together Arlington students and seniors to learn about each other.
·         A Couple of Redheads to support their March 2010 performance, “BROAD-ville: a Women’s Vaudeville Show,” featuring original comedy, music and art by Boston-area women.
·         Thompson Elementary School for a Martin Luther King celebration featuring jazz and poetry created by Thompson students.
·         Malong Malual for his documentary work (photographs, video and drawings) on his travels to South Sudan and an exhibition of this work.
·         Julie Leven for her “Viva Due Violin! Virtuoso, Vocal and Fiddling Extravaganza,” an interpretive musical program that is scheduled for May 14, 2010 as part of the Menotomy Concert Series.
·         Dallin School for West African drumming workshops for Dallin’s first grade students.
·         The Friends of Spy Pond Park for their Spy Pond festival, aimed at educating children about environmental systems in and around the pond by involving them in environmental art activities.
·         Music to Cure MS for assistance with their fundraising concert that brings classical singers and instrumentalists together to raise funds for the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis.
·         Kendall Dudley for his cross-cultural “Postcards to Afghanistan” project that would involve a presentation about the daily life of women and children in Afghanistan, followed by a hands-on card-making event.
·         Too Human for their program entitled, “A Celebration of Song: The American Songbook and Beyond,” a musical act with vocals, guitar and percussion.

Heights Bus Depot Community Mural Project Wins the 2009 Gold Star Award!

The Arlington Cultural Council is proud to announce that during our reception celebrating the 2009 grant recipients there will be a special presentation of a 2009 Gold Star Award by the Massachusetts Cultural Council for the Arlington Heights Bus Depot Community Mural Project . This is a very special honor for exemplary projects funded by local cultural councils across the state. These projects celebrate diversity, foster collaboration, showcase artistic excellence, and provide learning experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. The reception is Monday April 6, 6:00-7:30 at Town Hall in the 2nd floor conference room. Light refreshments will be served.

Last fall, a group of students from Dearborn Academy designed and painted Arlington’s first public mural under the direction of artist Tova Speter and with the help of community members. Celebrating Arlington’s past and present, the mural highlights historical buildings and events including Paul Revere’s ride, the Old Schwamb Mill, Uncle Sam, and the old trolleys as well present day landmarks such as the Minuteman Bike Path and Spy Pond.

Students worked throughout September and October 2008 to paint the design they created during a series of workshops last year, and were joined by the general community who participated in a Community Painting Day in September. The mural was funded in part by a grant from the Arlington Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as a project grant, and supported by the Town Manager’s office and the MBTA.

A mural dedication celebration took place Friday October 31 at the bus depot. Speakers included:
Daniel A. Grabauskas, General Manager, MBTA Sean Garballey, State Representative Sharon Shaloo, Arlington Cultural Council Howard Rossman, principal, Dearborn Academy Enrique Velasquez, student artist.