Sixteen Area Programs Receive Norton Cultural Council Grant

On Thursday, 16 grant recipients were honored by the Norton Cultural Council.

The Council had about 40 grant applications and distributed approximately $4,700 to area supporters of the arts. The group is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency that supports the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences. The Massachusetts Cultural Council receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, Bank of America and more.

“Our goal was to cover as broad a range as possible,” said Norton Cultural Council Chair Naomi Viglas. “We also wanted to keep the money as local as possible.”

One such local program is the SMARTS Collaborative Summer Artists program.

“Having the Cultural Council support the wind symphony and artists at the SMART Summer Institute means everything,” said executive director Sherye Weisz. “As a Norton resident I’m very proud of the Norton Cultural Council that they’re keeping culture alive in Norton.”

The Southeastern Massachusetts Wind Symphony will present a concert 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27 in the Weber Theatre of Watson Fine Arts at . Directed and conducted by assistant professor Earl Raney, the ensemble features a performance of spring pops and more.  General admission is $5, $4 for seniors, $10 for families of four or more and free for students.

Rachel Daly, who is a member of the council is thankful for the grant since the Hornithology Ensemble program is expensive to run. The Hornithology Ensemble will have a concert Monday, Aug. 6 at in Norton.

Jane Rotondi of the Children’s Museum in Easton said the grant money they received will go towards hands on programs at and .

“It gives the opportunity to bring our hands on programs into the schools that are struggling with their funding,” Rotondi said. “So they get to reach more kids.”

The Museum is also sponsoring the Father’s Day road Race Sunday, June 17. Registration begins 8 a.m. the day of the race while the start time is 9 a.m. July 17 the Museum will host Kids Night from 5 to 7 p.m. at Silver City Galleria.

Other recipients and their projects include:
Bay Colony Productions, Inc., “Guys and Dolls;” J. C. Solmonese Parent Organization, Native American Storytelling with Robin Pease; Kristi Johnson, Winter Wonderland watercolor; Gregory Maichak, Georgia O’Keeffe: How to Pastel Paint Flowers; Norton Community Theatre, “The Drowsy Chaperone;” , In the Night Sky with the Starlab; Norton Public Library, Japanese Manga Workshop; Norton Public Library, Fabulous Family Concert with Ellen Allard and Co.; Norton Public Library; Concert of Songs from the Great American Songbook; South Coast Historical Associates, 18th Century Colonial Life; The Children’s Museum in Easton, Science Roadshow; The Un-Common Theatre Company, “Pride and Prejudice;” The Un-Common Theatre Company, Young Performers Disney’s “Aladdin;” and Lynn Toomey, Dream Big - Create.

The Council, which consists of Joanne Hadley, Ann Murray, Rowena Koran, Rachel Daly and Viglas, are always looking for other new members. For more information call 508-285-0200 or email nortonculturalcouncil@yahoo.com. To apply for a grant, visit http://www.mass-culture.org/Norton#.