Local Artists Win Grants from Berkshire Taconic Fund
April 7, 2008
GREAT BARRINGTON, MA – Five local artists and one arts organization have been awarded grants by the Martha Boschen Porter Fund for Artists, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Started 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 $7,000 to the recipients, who were chosen from 58 applicants.
Bernard Drew, Great Barrington, MA: to assist in preparing and printing “Berkshire Fields Flower with History,” a collection of Drew’s essays on local history.
Kimberly Donovan, Richmond, MA: to help fund a full-length ballet of “Phantom of the Opera,” featuring a company of ballet students.
Brendan O’Connell, Cornwall, CT: for a bilingual catalogue to accompany a show of his work in Shanghai.
Julie McCarthy, Stockbridge, MA: for the “Hair Project,” a photography project including text and educational information relating to women who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.
Joseph Jude Brian, Falls Village, CT: To teach fundamental construction skills and concepts to children and adults.
Community Access to the Arts, Great Barrington, MA: To support workshops for performing arts teachers, leading to the annual performance and gala in May.
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 February 1 at 5 p.m. 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 in the region it serves: Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Founded in 1987, Berkshire Taconic currently has over 500 funds and manages more than $86 million in assets. Each year, it distributes more than $7 million through grants and scholarships, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goal and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work.
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