WORCESTER – The Worcester Cultural Coalition announced eight grants for a total of $85,000 for programs at the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) in 2023.
The funding for the grants comes from the Barr Foundation.
The JMAC Access Grant Committee reviewed 26 applications for funding. Applicants could apply for a maximum of $10,000 in venue and rental costs and $15,000 in discretionary funds. Based on the funding requested and how the application scored, selected applicants received between $3,500 and $22,500 in total support.
Application scoring included a range of criteria, including whether the presenter had leadership from and/or programming that uplifts historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, such as the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.
The 2023 JMAC Access Grant Awardees and projects, in alphabetical order, are:
- Crocodile River Music: Mali in Massachusetts
- The Hanover Theatre Repertory (THT Rep): Experimental Staged Reading of Judith, a New Play by Katie Bender Directed by Brendon Fox
- Inner Voices Outer Change: IVOC Summer Jumpoff
- Nathan D. Manna: The Acrobatics of the Divine: An Exhibition and Symposium Responding to the Work of John O’Reilly
- studioXpresents: Let Them Eat Cake!
Voices 21C: Bridging and Breaking: Incarceration, Community, and Empowerment - Kristin Wagner / Bodies Moving: Fairy Tales and Folklore: Dreaming with the Body
- Worcester Writers Collective: Spring Intensive
“The Barr Foundation’s funding of JMAC’s Access Grants has made real the slogan: Our House, Your Home,” says Zach Combs, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Crocodile River Music. “Now, our organization can create in this amazing space, bringing a unique African art, music, and dance experience to our community. Thank you Barr, WCC and JMAC for this wonderful Project Sponsorship opportunity!”
The JMAC Access Grant Committee is:
- Ellen Dunlap, Treasurer of the Worcester Cultural Coalition
- JMAC Staff:
- Livy Scanlon, Managing Director
- Doménica Dillon, Associate Managing Director
- Sarah MacIntyre, Production + Operations Manager
- Elijah Lidonde, Administrative Manager
- Cailin Manson, Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Music Performance at Clark University
The $85,000 awarded in the JMAC Access Grants is part of a $175,000 investment from the Barr Foundation. The remaining funds will also be used to continue equitable access to the JMAC, primarily by underwriting rental of the BrickBox Theater through June 2023.
More information about the Project Sponsorships and a calendar of events see the JMAC website.
