麻州文化協會宣佈150萬元支持 Ｋ-12 創意學習

Mass Cultural Council Announces $1.5 Million Supporting Creative Learning Experiences During the School Year

BOSTON – Mass Cultural Council today announces $1.5 million in grant awards for school-based creative learning experiences in the 2024-2025 academic year, through the Creative Projects for Schools grant program.   This program, a one-time funding opportunity offered by Mass Cultural Council in Fiscal Year 2025, provides financial support to school-based projects fostering creative learning experiences for K-12 students statewide.   “Funding creative learning experiences isn’t just about supporting the arts or adding color to the curriculum – it’s about empowering young minds to think critically, take risks, and approach challenges with originality and confidence,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “With these investments, Mass Cultural Council is cultivating creative thinking in the innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers of tomorrow.”

Students participate in a Streetscapes paint night at Artists for Humanity, Boston. Photo courtesy of AFH Photo Studio

As the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, Mass Cultural Council is charged with bolstering the creative and cultural sector, thereby advancing economic vitality, supporting transformational change, and celebrating, preserving, and inspiring creativity across all Massachusetts communities. Mass Cultural Council awarded $5,000 grants to 300 schools across the state, totaling $1,500,000. The funding supported a wide array of activities, including artist residencies, classes, lessons, workshops, public art installations, murals, afterschool programming, concerts, performances, readings, and field trips.   A review of the grant recipients shows: 81% (243) worked with a Massachusetts artist, scientist, or humanist for their project 70% (211) took place at schools in an Under-Resourced City or Town 60% (180) are BIPOC-majority schools or BIPOC-centered organizations 51% (153) are schools or organizations that haven’t received a Mass Cultural Council grant in the past 3 fiscal years 19% (58) are receiving their first ever grant from Mass Cultural Council The complete FY25 Creative Projects for Schools funding list and project descriptions are available online. Some examples of recipients include:   Albert D. Holland School of Technology, Boston Holland Tech grew their partnership with Artists for Humanity, supporting their Design and Visual Communications program. Students were able to collaborate with Artist for Humanity’s animation studio over 8 weeks. Artists for Humanity also hosted “Streetscapes” paint nights for students and families to create cityscapes.   Craneville Elementary School, Dalton Students in Grades 3-5 developed their geometry knowledge and spatial reasoning skills, while learning multicultural awareness through the art of origami, guided by Japanese artist Motoko.   Burncoat High School, Worcester Burncoat High School teamed up with Company One Theater’s Stage One Education Department to create an arts integration residency program within the school. Each week, a teaching artist from Company One joined a ninth-grade world history classroom and used theatrical strategies to make connections with curricular learning to bring history to life.   Joseph G. Pyne School, Lowell Students worked with Cambodian Master Ceramicist and 2025 NEA National Heritage Fellowship recipient Yary Livan to deepen their understanding of Cambodian culture. Activities included creation of Khmer ornamented elephants, the use of Kbach design and study of elephant body structure.   Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Boston Students attended a performance of ANIKAYA Dance Theater’s Conference of the Birds, followed by a five-day residence with Artistic Director Wendy Jehlen and Deaf theater artist Tayyeb Badwe. The residency culminated in a student performance for parents, families, and the school community.

Top: AFH Co-Founder Jason Talbot, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael Bobbitt, AFH Executive Director Anna Yu, Mass Cultural Council Program Officer Amy Chu Bottom: Student and parent participants in Streetscapes paint night. Photos Courtesy of AFH Photo Studio

To mark these investments, Mass Cultural Council participated in the Streetscapes paint night event alongside students from Holland Tech and teaching artists from Artists for Humanity on May 2.   “The opportunities that have been provided to our students both through direct partnership and family paint nights has allowed our students to expand their professional horizons and explore new parts of the city they love,” said Jordan Ritchie, Real World Learning Director, Greater Egleston High School.   “Artists for Humanity Co-Lab Streetscapes is a unique event that not only celebrates teen artists, but expands the opportunity to include their families and our educational partners in the community,” said Anna Yu, Executive Director, Artists for Humanity. “We are excited to host Streetscapes as part of our collective commitment to arts access in Massachusetts.”