Mass Humanities, the Commonwealth’s leading funder of humanities programs, announced that 35 organizations from Cape Cod to the Berkshires will receive grants totaling over $1.2 million, marking the largest single grant line in the history of the organization.
The 2023 Staffing Recovery Grants deliver funding to non-profit organizations to sustain and expand the hours of current staff or to hire new staff in order to create, restore and grow humanities programs across the state. Awards ranged between $16,000 and $40,000 and benefit organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less and five or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
Among the local organizations are: In Boston/Greater Boston, the League of Women for Community Service, Roxbury Cultural District, History Cambridge, Network for Social Justice, Gibson House Museum, Slave Legacy History Coalition and Partnership of the Historic Bostons received grants.
Back in February, Mass Cultural Council announced a $2.5 million grant to Mass Humanities as part of the state agency’s Cultural Sector Pandemic Recovery Grants. Mass Humanities immediately began soliciting grant applications from organizations through the newly launched Staffing Recovery Grant initiative.
“Grassroots humanities organizations drive positive change and a sense of belonging in Massachusetts communities,” said Brian Boyles, Executive Director of Mass Humanities. “We are grateful to our partners at MCC for making these grants possible. This funding provides an influx of support for jobs and programs at a crucial point in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to celebrating the successes of these museums, cultural centers, and education providers.”
On December 13, 2021, then-Governor Charlie Baker signed An Act Relative to Immediate COVID-19 Recovery Needs into law. This multi-billion-dollar pandemic recovery spending plan invests both federal ARPA and state surplus revenue dollars into key economic sectors to spur activity and growth.
The Act provided $60.1 million to Mass Cultural Council and directed the state arts agency to develop and implement new, one-time grant programs to assist Massachusetts creative and cultural organizations with their pandemic recovery.
“Last year Mass Cultural Council designed and implemented two historic, one-time recovery grants to assist Massachusetts artists, creatives, cultural workers, and cultural organizations with their ongoing efforts to economically rebound from the pandemic,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “A major priority of the Agency was to ensure these funds were distributed equitably and throughout the entire creative and cultural sector. We were pleased to partner with Mass Humanities, who has a proven track record of stewarding programs for the Commonwealth’s humanities-based organizations, and direct $2.5 million for regranting purposes to ensure recovery in every corner of our field. Congratulations to today’s grant recipients, we look forward to watching your new initiatives develop!”
Grant dollars reached every region of the state. Mass Humanities reports that 46 percent were first-time grantees, while 43 percent of organizations are led by people of color. The foundation targeted communities with high levels of poverty, providing 48 percent of funds to these areas.
Since the outset of the pandemic, Mass Humanities has awarded more than $4 million in grants to non-profits, including $2 million in funding made possible by the CARES Act and ARPA.