Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Local Artists Win Grants from Berkshire Taconic Fund

September 24, 2009

GREAT BARRINGTON, MA— Five local artists have been awarded grants by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Martha Boschen Porter Fund for Artists. Founded by photographer Martha Porter, the fund supports artists and organizations in the visual arts, writing, dance, music and other creative fields. The fund awarded a total of $8,850 to the recipients, who were chosen from 40 applicants.

Beth Davis, North Adams, MA: to bring math to life through the creation of 3-D quilts. John Feldman, Spencertown, NY: to complete a film about evolution and distribute the DVD to schools. Laura Summer, Hillsdale, NY: to offer the Free Columbia Art Course, a yearlong, tuition-free course of painting exploration for adult students. Ann Elizabeth Barnes, Great Barrington, MA: to research two African American historical figures in Berkshire County—Agrippa Hull and Samuel Harrison—and create an illustrated, historically accurate children’s book for grades three through six. Amanda Giracca, Mill River, MA: to complete a book of fictional short stories.

The Martha Boschen Porter Fund accepts applications from visual artists, writers, craftspeople, installation, new media and performance artists, as well as interpretive artists working in dance, music and other areas of performance. Applicants must have been full-time residents of the Berkshire Taconic region for two years prior to applying; artists with a significant connection to the area are also welcome to apply.

Grants generally range between $1,000 and $5,000. The next deadline for applications is July 1, 2010. Guidelines and application forms are available at www.berkshiretaconic.org/grantseekers.shtml or by calling Berkshire Taconic at 413.528.8039.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2008 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $9 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

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