Cultural Facilities Fund Supports Renovations at Gloucester Museum
February 20, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Kelsey Abbruzzese, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086 & 617-448-9077 (cell)
kabbruzzese@massdevelopment.com
Greg Liakos, Mass. Cultural Council, 617-858-2720
greg.liakos@state.ma.us
The Cape Ann Museum receives its new vents (courtesy Cape Ann Museum).
MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council have provided a $250,000 Cultural Facilities Fund grant to the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester. Founded in 1873, the Museum’s rich collections represent the history of the region: its people, its industries, and especially its arts and culture. The Museum’s facilities include 13 galleries, a library and historical archives, an auditorium, children’s activity center, sculpture gardens and historic homes. The Museum is using grant funds to replace an aging HVAC system, to install fire prevention systems, and to upgrade its lighting.
“The Cape Ann Museum preserves and celebrates the vibrant history and culture of a unique port that has inspired artists for centuries,” said MassDevelopment President & CEO Marty Jones. “We are pleased to provide this grant to help the Museum make needed facility improvements as it highlights the rich history of Cape Ann and honors its artists.”
The Cape Ann Museum’s fine art collection includes the largest grouping of works by native son and renowned marine artist Fitz Henry Lane, as well as work by other prominent painters and sculptors who lived on, visited, or were inspired by Cape Ann. The museum also collects and exhibits the work of contemporary Cape Ann artists. The permanent collection includes fine and decorative arts and artifacts from the major industries of the area: the fisheries and granite quarrying.
“The Cape Ann Museum is honored to be a recipient of the Cultural Facilities Fund grant and grateful to MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their support,” said Museum Director Ronda Faloon. “HVAC, fire prevention, and lighting projects are not always easy to fund, but they are critical to the preservation and protection of our collection and to the safety and comfort of our visitors. We have been fortunate to be able to use this grant to leverage additional support for our projects.”
MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council administer the Cultural Facilities Fund, an initiative of the Commonwealth to increase public and private investment in cultural facilities throughout the state. Created by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006, the Fund offers capital, feasibility, technical assistance, and systems replacement grants for eligible nonprofits engaged in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. The Fund has awarded more than $55 million in grants to cultural organizations across Massachusetts. For more information, visit the MassDevelopment and Massachusetts Cultural Council websites.
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2013, MassDevelopment financed or managed 350 projects generating investment of more than $2.4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create more than 7,000 jobs and build or rehabilitate 800 residential units.
