NORTHAMPTON – Four arts organizations in Hampshire County and the University of Massachusetts Amherst are the recipients of nearly $654,000 in state grants to improve their facilities.
The capital grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund include $300,000 for the Northampton Community Arts Trust Inc.; $103,000 for the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art; $100,000 for the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center; $74,000 for Amherst Cinema Arts Center; and $77,000 for the Earthdance Creative Living Project in Plainfield.
The grants are among $8.9 million awarded in capital grants along with another $400,000 in planning grants approved by the MassDevelopment board of directors.
The money will help the Northampton Community Arts trust fund a second phase renovation of its 25,000-square-foot building at 33 Hawley St., which includes performance space, workspaces, an art gallery, lobby and mezzanine. The organization was formed in 2006 in response to the loss of affordable spaces for creative work in the city’s downtown and acquired the property in 2013, according to the Mass Cultural Council.
The grant for Amherst Cinema Arts Center will allow the nonprofit to install solar panels on the facility’s roof to generate electricity and solar renewable energy credits, with the aim of reducing electric utility costs.
The UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center plans to renovate its 704-seat proscenium theater, installing new seating, dressing rooms, wardrobe, a green room and storage space with its grant.
The grant for the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst will help pay for the installation of a high efficiency condensing boiler system and humidifier; upgrades to gallery and café lighting; and repairs to entrance overhangs and drainage in a second floor mechanical room.
The Earthdance Creative Living Project plans to use its $77,000 grant for accessibility improvement and structural upgrades.
The cultural facilities fund is a state program that fosters the growth of the creative economy by supporting building projects in the nonprofit arts, humanities, and sciences. The grants are competitive with 146 applications filed in the latest round seeking $25 million for projects, according to the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Marty Jones, President and CEO of MassDevelopment described the cultural facilities fund as a “crucial program,” stating that the commonwealth’s cultural organizations are “major economic drivers, bringing residents, visitors and jobs to our historic and vibrant communities.”
MassDevelopment is the state’s finance and development agency and jointly administers the fund with the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The grants must be matched dollar for dollar from other private or public funding sources.
In a statement, Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said supporting the local creative economy is essential for western Massachusetts to continue promoting a health arts and tourism industry.
“These grants fuel our vibrant arts community by ensuring that there is ample space for artists to thrive,” Rosenberg said.
Staff Writer Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com.