Salem 'Faceless Dolls' Project Awarded $15K MassDevelopment Grant

The grant is part of $420K awarded statewide through the outdoor Commonwealth Places Program.

June 22, 2022 : Salem Patch, by Scott Souza

SALEM, MA — A Salem project designed to engage residents and visitors of Dominican heritage through workshops, local business promotion, activation of vacant parcels and the installation of sculptures will benefit from a $15,000 through MassDevelopment's Commonwealth Places Program.

The North Shore Community Development Coalition will use the funds for its Las Muñecas Sin Rostro — or "Faceless Dolls" — project, which is a concept derived from a ceramic doll created by Dominican artist Liliana Mera Lime in 1981.

The project is designed to serve the many residents of Dominican heritage that are the primary demographic of Salem's Point neighborhood.

The grant brings to $170,000 in grants that MassDevelopment has awarded for North Shore CDC projects. in the neighborhood.

"Community spaces, public art exhibits, and cultural events are at the heart of placemaking, and cities and towns across Massachusetts recognize the positive impact of these projects in supporting local economies and enhancing quality of life," MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera said. "MassDevelopment is pleased to award these Commonwealth Places grants to help organizations build capacity, engage residents and visitors, and implement projects that reimagine public spaces."

The award was among the 14 grants totaling more than $420,000 to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, such as new outdoor community spaces, public art exhibits, cultural events and more.

The funding was awarded through Commonwealth Places, a statewide initiative that leverages public support for placemaking projects in Massachusetts.