Congressman Neal Announces Mass Humanities Grant Recipients at Norman Rockwell Museum

Press Release

Today, Congressman Neal joined Mass Humanities Executive Director Brian Boyles, and Director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum Laurie Norton Moffatt for the announcement of 14 grants to organizations in Berkshire County from the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) totaling $72,500.

This funding was made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law at the end of March.

"As one of the authors of the CARES Act where this important funding originated, I could not be more proud of the success Berkshire County organizations, and those across western and central Massachusetts, had with their applications," said Congressman Neal. "This is what the CARES Act was meant to do -- give businesses the means to get back to work and give members of the American family the means to support them.

"The CARES Act grantees reflect the economic impact and unique cultural identity of the cultural communities in the Berkshires," said Boyles. "We believe these humanities institutions will be critical to the recovery efforts in the region."

"On behalf of all the Berkshire County cultural recipients of special Massachusetts Humanities grants, we are beyond grateful for the support to provide enriching humanities programs to our communities and citizens who were at home during the pandemic," said Norton Moffatt. "We are enormously appreciative to Congressman Neal's leadership to ensure that not-for-profit cultural and arts organizations could have access to these crucial funding sources," said Laurie Norton Moffatt, director/CEO of Norman Rockwell Museum, who hosted the Congressman and grant recipients for a conversation on the impacts of COVID on the cultural community.

Mass Humanities awarded grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to support operating expenses at museums, libraries, archives and other nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts impacted by COVID-19. Eligible organizations were evaluated on audiences served, budget size, the centrality of the humanities to their mission, and financial losses incurred by COVID-19. Priority was given to geographic diversity and organizations with annual budgets of less than $300,000.

More information about Mass Humanities and the CARES Act can be found HERE.

Across the 87 cities and towns that make up the First Congressional District of Massachusetts 26 organizations were awarded funding from Mass Humanities for a total of $135,000.

Source