For Immediate Release: 8/20/2024 11:33 am
WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester announced Tuesday its latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant awards from the Cultural Organization Grant Program. The municipality established the program to assist nonprofit organizations in the arts and culture sector in recovering from the negative economic impacts of the pandemic. Applications from eligible organizations were accepted earlier this year.
“The City of Worcester is pleased to provide this support to our community partners in the arts and culture sector,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “Access to creative expression and cultural offerings improves the health and well-being of our community.”
A past study from 2017 commissioned by the municipality and Worcester Cultural Coalition estimated that the arts and culture sector in the City of Worcester stimulates an economic impact of more than $125 million annually.
“The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to our arts and culture community in Worcester, leaving lasting scars on the fabric of our creative ecosystem,” said Cultural Development Officer Fabian Barracks. “These pandemic relief grants are more than just financial support—they will help to heal, rebuild, and sustain the vibrant cultural expressions that define our city. Together, we will emerge stronger, ensuring that our arts continue to inspire and unite us all.”
Applications were evaluated by City of Worcester staff and members of the ARPA Creative Economy Committee based on established criteria centered on the negative and disproportionate impacts of the pandemic. The total funding allocated to the program in the City of Worcester’s ARPA budget was $2,950,000.
ARPA Cultural Organization Grantees:
| EcoTarium: | $125,000 |
| Hanover Theatre: | $125,000 |
| Mechanics Hall: | $125,000 |
| Worcester Art Museum: | $125,000 |
| Mass Symphony Orchestra / Tuckerman Hall: | $125,000 |
| Worcester Center for Crafts: | $120,000 |
| Pakachoag Music School: | $120,000 |
| Technocopia: | $120,000 |
| Joy of Music Program: | $120,000 |
| Music Worcester: | $120,000 |
| Worcester Historical Museum: | $120,000 |
| American Antiquarian Society: | $110,000 |
| Arts Worcester: | $110,000 |
| Creative Hub: | $110,000 |
| WCUW Radio: | $95,000 |
| Worcester Youth Orchestra: | $95,000 |
| Crocodile River Music: | $80,000 |
| Worcester Children’s Chorus: | $80,000 |
| Worcester Chamber Music Society: | $80,000 |
| Preservation Worcester: | $80,000 |
| Worcester Youth Center: | $60,000 |
| The Village Afrocentric Cultural Center: | $60,000 |
| Pride Productions: | $60,000 |
| Worcester County Poetry Association: | $60,000 |
| Worcester Caribbean Am. Carnival Assoc.: | $40,000 |
| Salisbury Singers: | $40,000 |
| Guardians of Tradition: | $40,000 |
| Worcester Community Light Opera Co.: | $40,000 |
| Centro: | $40,000 |
| Jubilee Career Center for Performing Arts: | $40,000 |
| Southeast Asian Coalition: | $40,000 |
| Edward Street Child Services: | $40,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club: | $30,000 |
| Our Story Edutainment: | $20,000 |
| Liberian Association of Worcester: | $20,000 |
| Studio Theatre Worcester: | $20,000 |
| African Community Cultural Center: | $20,000 |
| 4th Wall Stage Company: | $20,000 |
| Mass Audobon - Broad Meadow Brook | $20,000 |
| Master Singers of Worcester | $20,000 |
| Celemente Course Worcester | $20,000 |
| Latino History Project | $15,000 |
