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Past ACAC Grant Committee Grants

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2017 Grant Recipients

ACAC Grant Committee is thrilled to announce 17 grantees for 2017! The total awarded was $12,300, ACAC Grant Committee’s full allotment from Massachusetts Cultural Council, the state agency that funds us and 328 other Local Cultural Councils.

Arlington Center for the Arts

  • Arlington Porchfest- June 2017 at front porches & lawns in Arlington

Porchfest is an outdoor community music festival, where local bands play on porches in a day-long celebration of music and community. Last year, the Arlington Center for the Arts produced the first Arlington Porchfest as an experiment and it was a resounding success, with 120 bands playing on 50 porches. Music included bluegrass, folk, classical, rock & roll, jazz & blues, world music & more. Above all, Arlington Porchfest was a community celebration, with neighbors out and about, walking, biking, following a printed map, or just following their ears, meeting neighbors, and making musical discoveries around each corner. This year, the aim is to build an infrastructure to sustain Porchfest as an annual event on Arlington’s cultural calendar.

Porchfest is presented by the Arlington Center for the Arts, which produces other major community arts events, including Open Studios and Shakespeare in the Park. Co-producer Bruce Hoppe is an organizational management consultant, jazz drummer and member the Arlington band Spy Pond Groove. Hoppe has produced a major music series for Steinway in Boston. Porchfest participation is open to all – last year’s line-up included first-time performers, long-time pros, and everything in between.

Arlington Children’s Theatre

  • ACT’s Summer Season 2017 Actor Financial Aid– August 3-6, 2017, The Regent Theatre

Arlington Children’s Theatre produces (9) full-length plays every year, with the cost of participation changing from production to production. In August 2017, ACT will produce (2) musical productions and the cost of participation is ($250) per show. ACT understands not all actors will be able to pay the participation fee, and we offer a financial aid program to cover the cost of the registration fee. The project is for the financial aid program for ACT’s August productions. The grant money will be used to assist Arlington child actors in need of financial assistant to participate in the production.

Matthew Lundeen will direct the production of Mary Poppins, and has worked with ACT for over 10 years. Mr. Lundeen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance, and a Master’s Degree in Education. The production will also include choreographer and Arlington resident, Jaimie Joseph, as well as music director and Arlington music teacher James Ham. Aspects of the production will be led by up to 100 parent volunteers working on sets, costumes and more. 

Arlington Commission on the Arts and Culture

  • Pathways-April thru June on the Minuteman Bike Path in Arlington

ACAC and Arlington Public Art will collaborate to commission 2 artists to create temporary public artwork along the Minuteman Bike Path between Swan Place & Linwood Street in spring of 2017. This will support the Town’s application (to the MCC) to establish a designated cultural district stretching from East Arlington to Arlington Center. An MCC guideline for designation is a walkable route with cultural opportunities or assets. Developing an ongoing program of public art along this scenic bike path will offer an alternative bike & pedestrian friendly connective corridor – enhancing travel between Arlington Center & E Arlington – and a new outdoor exhibition venue.

2 town organizations focused on supporting & expanding the arts & culture will lead the project in consultation – at all phases – with the town’s Bike Advisory Committee. APA has a strong track record in public art & will enlist Cecily Miller, leader of E Arlington Story Project, as project director. ACAC is a leader in shaping a new cultural district. Artists are C. Ravaschiere & M. Moss, a highly regarded collaborative team, & Adria Arch, an accomplished painter & leading public art activist.

Belmont World Film

  • Belmont World Film Family Festival– January 13-16, 2017 Regent Theater, Arlington, Studio Cinema, Belmont & Brattle Theater, Cambridge
  • A talk and autograph signing by Wallace & Gromit’s Creative Director Merlin Crossingham following a screening of WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT Friday, January 13, 7:00 PM Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street, Arlington

Fifteen programs of animated and live action short and feature length film programs from countries around the world, geared toward children age 3-12 and their parents during Martin Luther King Day weekend; many films espouse his values and ideals The highlight is two model making and animation workshops led by the creative director of Aardman; Merlin Crossingham, Creative Director at Aardman Animation (creators of WALLACE AND GROMIT and CHICKEN RUN), will speak and sign autographs after a screening of the Wallace and Gromit film THE CURSE OF THE WERE RABBIT and two Oscar-winning Aardman shorts on opening night at the Regent Theater. He will also lead two model making and animation workshops on Saturday at the Belmont Media Center that will hold 40 attendees each (for a total of 80). He will also answer questions and sign autographs. As always, many of the films are based on children’s books to help reinforce a love of books and reading. One of these programs will be completely in Spanish to reinforce Spanish literacy. $1 discount offered to anyone who brings at least one child’s winter coat to donate to Cradles to Crayons.

Cantilena-.

  • Concert – Sunday, May 7, 2017 UU Church of Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Avenue

Cantilena will be performing a spring concert entitled “Radiant Sister” on May 7, 2017. For this concert, Cantilena is featuring a newly commissioned work by Ellen Gilson Voth. The work is based s a poem by Eleanor White called “Of a Sun She Can Remember” about Helen Keller’ remembering the sun after learning the “word” for water. It is part of their mission to commission and perform unique

works for the treble voice, and it will be a special opportunity for residents of Arlington to hear this new work.

Cantilena provides high quality performances of music. Their 2017 Spring concert will focus on contemporary classical music that has never been performed or is rarely performed.

Creek River String Band-

  • Concert at the Old Schwamb Mill

Creek River String Band (CRSB) will perform a public concert (TBA)with the dual purpose of (a) providing the general public with a live musical performance while, (b) simultaneously helping the Old Schwamb Mill, a valuable non-profit, to attract newcomers to one of its events, resulting in greater public exposure, new members, donations, and possibly new volunteers.

CRSB specializes in Americana and has been performing as a sextet in New England for over six years. Performances have included many community-based events such as town concerts, farmers’ markets, Earth Day festivals, and benefits for numerous worthy non-profits and causes. Our members are all accomplished professional musicians, and one in particular, Kara Kulpa, has a degree in Music Therapy and works regularly with local schoolchildren

Nayda A. Cuevas-

  • Pop Up art show- Puerto Rico and the United States March 11, 2017 Art Lounge 1346 Mass Ave Arlington

Immigration is an immediate issue in the United States and with it comes discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping. As a means of negotiating alienation and the absence of familiar people and places I turned to the arts to explore my identity. Pop Up Art Show Puerto Rico and the History of its relationship with the United States will be an all day event. It will aim to extend dialogue and educate participants about Puerto Rico and its relationship with the United States in two ways. First, through Family engaging art activities where children and parents can create art while learning about Puerto Rico and its rich culture. Second with an evening event including an artist talk by Nayda Cuevas and music by Berklee College Latino graduate.

Nayda A. Cuevas holds an MFA Graduate, Lesley University College of Art and Design, and a BFA from Stetson University. Singer Song writer and performer, Ms Cuevas graduated from Berklee college of Music and performs locally throughout the Boston area, New York and Puerto Rico.

Delvena Theatre Company

  • Truly Eleanor- Performance at Robbins Library (TBA)

Eleanor Roosevelt was so remarkable that she was called First Lady of the World. In this 3-person, live performance, Eleanor shares some of her most private and meaningful moments – her lonely childhood; her joyous courtship/marriage with her fifth cousin, Franklin; her devastation at Franklin’s love affair with her social secretary; her resolve to make him president after his polio diagnosis; her involvement in his presidency; and her eventual triumph at the United Nations. “Eleanor” takes a candid look at our greatest First Lady’s courage and at her great contributions to human rights and liberty for all. The cast will open up for discussion of the subject matter after the performance.

Lynne Moulton, has 30+ years acting experience, received her acting training at Trinity Rep Conservatory and performed in many theatrical productions in New England and London, England. Joseph Zamparelli, a graduate of Boston Collegeand Circle of Square Theatre, is a professional actor, director and producer Fran Baron received her acting training with Karen Shepard, appearing in many productions in the New England area and is also a playwright, producer and theatre manager.

Claudia Donnet– LCC Application Summary

  • Middle Eastern Dance Performance in Spring (TBA) at the Arlington Center for the Arts

Sarab-Mirage Dance Company, under the direction of Seyyide Sultan, will present a staged dance performance consisting of dances of the Middle East. Performers will be about 6 dancers members of the company, Seyyide as the first dancer and to include another professional guest dancer. The group dances presented are choreographed by Seyyide..

The director of the company, Seyyide, is a firm believer in art as a way to bridge different cultures. The dancers’ ethnicities are diverse, representing this and other continents, while the dance that will be presented is rooted in the traditions and folklore of Arabic countries, with emphasis in Egypt and Lebanon. The exposure of our community to art from other countries should foster understanding and a celebration of cultural diversity.

Dan Fox

  • 6th Annual Arlington Jazz Festival-April 17-30 at various Arlington venues

The Arlington Jazz Festival, previously the A-Town Jazz Festival, is going into its 6th season and has grown into one of Arlington’s signature annual events. For 2017 it will expand to cover 4 days, at a variety of venues and will include free and ticketed events featuring professional musicians, as well as adult amateurs and students from AHS.

As the director of Morningside Studios, Dan Fox has 10 years of experience in connecting community members to music through performance. This will be the 3rd award from the Arlington Arts Council. Last year, he received a grant to support the A-Town Brass Band with a very successful performance as part of the annual Jazz Festival.

Marc Gurton

  • Día de los Muertos artist residency- October at 29 4-6pm at Forest Gallery

13FOREST Gallery seeks local artists to participate in a residency resulting in the construction of a window installation at 13FOREST, timed to coincide with National Hispanic Heritage Month and Capitol Square’s annual celebration of Day of the Dead . Día de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Mexico and beyond with traditions that honor departed loved ones in a number of lively, colorful ways. This project endeavors to highlight the cultural significance of Hispanic artists and histories, which are often underrepresented in Boston-area communities. 13FOREST will design and implement programming around the selected artist(s) and his/her work, to further emphasize the public learning/engagement component of this residency.

13FOREST Gallery recognizes that a canonical approach to art & history leaves many problematic gaps. This project addresses one such gap: the underrepresentation of Hispanic artists & their work. The Día de los Muertos project will allow Boston area, and especially Arlington, residents to encounter art that celebrates this dynamic holiday and the traditions associated with it. This project will transform an already-existing community event into a broader learning experience for the public.

Steve Henderson –

  • Mabel and Jerry – a play February 13, 2017 at 1:00 p.m Arlington Council on Aging

Actress Jaime Taber and Steve Henderson will deliver a live 45 minute performance for seniors, guests, COA Members and volunteers , at no cost. This original performance is a hilarious, warm and exciting love story. Think- Romeo and Juliet meet Burns and Allen. Jerry and Mabel are two hysterically comical people with a lust for life, determined to find excitement, humor and especially love anyway they can.

Mr. Henderson is the writer & plays “Jerry” in the piece. He is an award-winning playwright (R. Lehan Award 2004, CTA 2002, 1998) with work performed in professional theater & published in Geriatric Nursing and by the UMASS Renaissance Center. He has a BA in playwriting., is an award winning, professional actor with 40+ years stage experience. Jaime Taber is a talented actor with professional & community acting experience.

Laura A. Kiesel

  • Writing for Survival “Where I Come From and Where I am Going” – expressive writing sessions at Young Adult Vocational Program in Arlington Heights and Wayside Youth’s STEP program in Arlington Center this Winter and early Spring

Laura Kiesel will offer one-on-one expressive writing coaching sessions and a few small workshops to young adults participating in Wayside Youth’s STEPS program and the Young Adult Vocational Program, both of which are located in Arlington. These coaching sessions will focus on the broad topic of transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood. Participants will create poems, essays, and fiction. She will then collate these works and make them available in an online journal and limited print edition that will be available at select venues throughout the town.

Ms. Kiesel holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and journalism. As an undergraduate, she worked for several years as a Freshman Composition tutor. Since relocating to the Boston area in 2009, she has taught writing workshops for adults, adolescents and upper elementary school children. As a freelance writer, her articles and essays have appeared in The Atlantic, The Guardian, Al-Jazeera America, Salon, Washington Post, Narratively, The Manifest Station, Modern Loss and many other publications.

Andrea Nicolay

  • Arlington Author Salons- quarterly at the Kickstand Café

Organized by a group of community and literary-minded Arlington residents and employees, the Arlington Author Salon hosts a free quarterly literary event on a Thursday evening at Kickstand Café. Each event features three different local authors (from Arlington and surrounding towns) around a specific, varying theme. The authors read and discuss their work and provide time for Q&A with the audience. Local bookseller The Book Rack conducts sales of the authors’ books for those who wish to purchase them. Each presentation includes an innovative use of props—slides, music, dance, etc.—to make for a fuller experience. Works presented include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, journalism, etc. Each of these events draws a crowd of 70-100 people.

The project is run by a group of professionals with long-term involvement in the literary arts. Presenters are established writers with strong credentials such as published books and established portfolios of articles in major media outlets. Many are also professors or writing instructors. In addition to Andrea Nicolay (Arlington’s Director of Libraries) and Maura Deedy (Assistant Director), committed planners who have been involved since the project’s inception include Arlington residents Anjali Mitter Duva (author), Whitney Scharer (former marketing director of Grub Street Writers), and Amy Yelin (journalist), as well as Lexington resident Marjan Kamali (author).

Old Schwamb Mill-

  • Musical Storytelling Programs Saturday, September 30

At the Old Schwamb Mill’s Annual Fall Open House, members of the Arlington area community have the opportunity to enjoy the many varied aspects of the Mill-Museum in appreciation of its history as the oldest continuously-operating mill site in the United States. Named to the National Register of Historic Places, the Mill offers visitors a look inside the 1860s-era building, which houses the same equipment that is used today to create unique hand-turned wooden oval picture frames. The Open House will feature continuous Mill Tours, featuring the Mill’s Wood Turner David W. Graf.

2:00–3:30 p.m., Music by The Seasmoke Trio

3:30–5:00 p.m. Opening Reception for the Fall Art Exhibit, featuring artists from the Kittery Point Art Association

Increasingly, the Old Schwamb Mill is becoming known as a center for culture. In addition to our core purpose as a 19th century woodworking museum that still produces fine picture frames, we also offer tours, talks, art exhibits and music. They have developed a loyal following made up of both Arlington-wide residents as well as members of surrounding communities. Their Open Houses and special events typically offer a rich mix of picture frame making demonstrations, art and music.

Powers Music School-

  • Musical Storytelling Programs in Arlington February 11 Robbins Library and March 18, 2017 Arlington Center for the Arts

Music has the unique ability to enhance the rhythmic nature of language and imprint these patterns on the brain. At a Musical Storytelling Program, professional musicians present a children’s book using familiar and new music to deliver a memorable and exciting performance to young children. Our goal is to promote literacy through education, participation, and exposure. This season Powers Music School is excited to add a second concert in Arlington, returning to Robbins Library and also Arlington Center for the Arts with two books by Doreen Cronin: “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type” and “Click, Clack, Surprise!” which was released earlier this year. These concerts are a part of our seven concert series in Belmont, Arlington, and Watertown

Musical Story performers are Powers faculty members and esteemed educators. Helen Clapp Stevenson, narrator, has been an arts leader for more than 20 years and Vanessa Schukis, vocalist, has over 30 years experience in opera, musical theater, and teaching, and is also published. Yas Ishibashi, pianist/vocalist, is a highly trained early childhood teacher and Todd Brunel, clarinetist and saxophonist, holds a Master of Music. They have both performed and recorded throughout Boston and the world.

True Story Theater

  • Protecting our loved ones- Spring (TBA) at Robbins library community room & AYCC Room

True Story Theater is planning four events on how to recognize and address abuse in intimate relationships: one for teenagers, one for parents of teens, one for adults, and one for elderly and their caretakers. In True Story Theater performances, audience volunteers tell important moments from their lives. Four actors and a musician then bring their stories to life through dialogue, movement, music, and metaphor. Audience members often get new insights, cry, laugh, and bond. Post-show workshops will then help people take action.

This project builds on similar performance+workshops they have done for Arlington’s First Step domestic violence group and Elder Abuse Task Force.

True Story Theater has performed in Arlington since 2001. In recent years, the highly trained ensemble of 22 artists has worked extensively in partnership with Arlington town committees to bring to life the experiences of local seniors, people with disabilities, environmental activists, LGBTQ+ youth, and more. In the past 12 months alone, the company has done 65 performances and 22 workshops. This project continues important community work began on issues of domestic abuse.

2015

The Arlington Cultural Council awarded nineteen grants in 2015, totaling $12,500 (ranging from $200 to $1,200).  

Arlington Art Hunt (Karen Dillon) – An updated version of the original Arlington Art Hunt (2006) and the Bicentenial Art Hunt (2007), both of which highlight Arlington’s landscape, architecture and artistic elements. 

“Art. Food. Community.” (Eileen de Rosas and Melody Wolfe Thomas) – These two ceramic artists and educators will produce an integration and enrichment project for the Thompson Elementary School, beginning January 2015. Collaborating with teachers to develop individualized workshops using ceramic arts to deepen understanding of other curriculum areas, each class of the school will take both ceramic-bowl-making and glazing workshops. Of the two bowls created, students will keep one, donating the other to “Arlington EATS,” a nonprofit that works to alleviate food insecurity in Arlington. 

A-Town Teen Video Contest (Eric Segal) – Eleven videos produced by Arlington teens were screened at the first A-Town’s 2014 Teen Video Contest in 2014 held at the Regent Theatre for 100 attendees. The two-hour program is emceed by a local official, attended by a panel of “celebrity” judges, and includes an awards ceremony. Teens submit videos by a publicized deadline, that meet published criteria. Grant funds will help increase both participation by teens, and outreach for a larger audience. 

Belmont World Film’s 12th Annual Family Festival – For children under ten, a multi-day film festival featuring extraordinary films from around the world, many with English subtitles. Funds will be used for the first night of the film festival (January 16), held at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, to have a professional voiceover artist read the subtitles aloud. 

“A Chance to Dress” (Alice Bouvrie) – A film about Dr. John Southard, a respected geologist and Professor at MIT, who is an open cross-dresser. The film explores the various dimensions of identity and the diversity of gender expression, puts a human face on the phenomenon of cross-dressing and neutralizes the stigma against cross-dressers. 

Creek River String Band (Stroker Rogovin) – The Band will perform two concerts at events sponsored by Old Schwamb Mill and Spy Pond Environmental Task Group. 

Dallin Art Museum-Arlington Public School Days – a program developed in partnership with the Arlington School District to enrich the elementary curriculum through engaging, family-oriented activities at the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum in spring 2015. Schools will be invited to the Museum for age-appropriate tours, scavenger hunts and a dream catcher art project. 

“Elemental – Art Rocks Spy Pond Park” (Arlington Public Art, Adria Arch) – an exhibition of temporary public art at Spy Pond Park, featuring up to ten sculpture and site-specific installations by local and regional artists that address humans’ relationship to the natural world. 

Family Dance at Robbins Farm (Folk Arts Center of New England) – an outdoor folk dance gathering at Robbins Farm during summer 2015, led by accomplished folk dance educator Marcie Van Cleave for beginners, children and participants of all ages, including many older Arlington residents who are active folk dancers, as well as young parents and their children. Marcie has international experience and will use it to increase appreciation of traditional dance and music through active participation. 

“I am Arlington” (Nilou Moochhala) – a community and public art project that seeks to highlight the diversity and uniqueness of this town, through interviews to collect the “voices” of a wide swath of community members. The project launch will be a window installation of cards at Maxima Art Center in Spring 2015, and will include installations at different venues. 

Images of Arlington: #myArlington [Arlington Center for the Arts (ACA)] – a community photography project that will take ACA’s annual “Images of Arlington” exhibit in a new direction: interactive, crowd-curated and social media-driven. A call for photos will ask folks to document their daily haunts, personal landmarks, local characters, etc.; the photos will be post to an online gallery; the public will crowd-curate the exhibit by “liking” their favorite images; the top 100 will become part of a physical exhibition at ACA. 

Legendary Locals of Arlington (Barbara Goodman and Marjorie Howard) – a 128-page book telling the stories of both the famous and the unsung heroes of Arlington. It will include both historic and contemporary figures such as Alan Hovhaness, Cyrus E. Dallin and James McGough, as well as community activists, sports figures and military heroes. The project will include public presentations to a variety of audiences. 

The Marble Collection (TMC) – TMC creates a publication that cultivates creativity and excellence in the arts by engaging teen artists and writers in a process that affirms their voices and deepens learning. The only statewide print and online magazine featuring artwork, photography, poetry and writing by students in grades 8-12, the Massachusetts High School Magazine of the Arts is juried and of professional quality. Students are offered one-on-one College-level e-Mentors. 

“Meeting of Generations: Arlington Youth Perform Jazz for Seniors” (Dan Fox) – Part of the weekend Fourth Annual A-Town Jazz Festival, run by Dan Fox from Morningside Music Studio, this performance will be free, open to the public and held at the Senior Center. The up-to-eight student ensemble will consist of high school, middle school, and home-schooled jazz musicians performing swing music from the 1930’s and ‘40’s. Assembled and coached by Dan Fox, the group will have two rehearsals. Tom Ferrante will be special guest clarinetist. 

Philharmonic Society of Arlington Outdoor Summer Concert – In collaboration with the Friends of Robbins Farm Park, for their annual free performance series, this classical music concert for all ages will run from 6 pm until dusk. The program will include works by R. Strauss, Verdi, Joplin and Gershwin. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic supper. 

Seniors to Kids and Back Again (Joseph Porcino) –The goal of this three-part workshop is to facilitate a sharing of those little and funny moments of our lives with seniors and children, so they may truly see and enjoy each other’s humanity.
Part 1: A third grade class learns storytelling games that help them remember and tell stories from their 9 years. Next, they imagine the thousands of stories seniors must have from all their years of living and brainstorm questions to ask seniors to help elicit those memories.
Part 2: At the Arlington Senior Center later that day, these questions start a workshop on remembering and shaping memories into engaging stories for children.
Part 3: A week later, the class visits the seniors to hear them regale their listeners with their life stories. 

Sharing a New Song Chorus Concert (SANS) (Louise Grasmere) – The 90-voice chorus of members from Greater Boston uses choral music to reach across social and political boundaries in the U.S. and other countries to promote intercultural understanding and lasting relationships. They will sing a concert at Arlington First Parish in the Spring of 2015, featuring repertoire for SANS’ upcoming May 2015 Cuba trip. The program will include a diverse selection of music from America and other countries where SANS has traveled. Chorus members will offer reflections on their experiences through a slide show before the concert. 

True Stories of Environmental Citizen Action [True Story Theater (TST), Christopher Ellinger] – TST and Arlington’s Vision 2020 Sustainable Arlington (SA) will partner to vividly tell the story of what citizens are doing to sustain the environment. They aim to inspire people to get involved in SA through four ways:
– TST storytelling skills workshop for SA (and local allies) on how to be more effective spokespeople;
– Coaching for up to 6 people to further strengthen the application of these skills;
– Public performance 3/14/15 at the Senior Center, dramatizing SA’s successes, challenges and needs;
– ACMI training of a group of participants to film and edit the performance, broadcast it on local cable TV, and post it on Vision 2020’s website as a “Living Brochure.” 

Two to Tango (Richard Clark) – A one hour, two-person play in two acts: Scenes from “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman and “Visitor from New York” by Neil Simon, at the Arlington Senior Center. Two contrasting scenes take the audience on a bittersweet tour of life, love, marriage and loss. From Henry II’s 12th-century England, to contemporary bi-coastal cultures, this is a journey into the sometimes “foul rag and bone shop” of the human heart. The production’s minimal set/props provide rich content and drama. The characters uplift us with the message that love, even bruised and broken, remains a splendid thing. 

2014

In 2014, the Arlington Cultural Council Awarded $12,000 to 17 Recipients 

January – Gail McCormick’s “Workshops for the Adventurous: Craftily Repurposed” – a winter craft workshop augmented 2014 EcoFest: Involving local arts/culture groups, demonstrating how to reuse, repurpose and revitalize artistically. 

February – Leslie Havens and the Solstice Sackbuts – This chamber trio ensemble performed music from the Renaissance to the present at Robbins Library.http://www.solsticesackbuts.com 

March – Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) – AIFF and Arlington High School co-presented a 5-day artist-in-residency with hand-tooled leathercrafter Winfred Rembert. The project promoted dialogue about the relationship between visual art, current events and political change. The inspiring documentary “All Me: The Life and Times of Winfred Rembert” tells the remarkable story of Rembert and his art. http://www.allmethemovie.com 

March – Todd Brunel’s “Opal Ensemble Live at Town Hall” – a one-hour lunch-time concert that showcased music of the 20th and 21st centuries, to reach community members with business in the area, who might be new to classical music, and/or who might not otherwise have been able to attend a concert.http://www.clarinetconspiracy.com 

March – Ethan Kaczowka presents Marcell Camargo Silva: “Brasil Meets Jazz” – an ensemble of Brazilian jazz vocalist and other Boston musicians performed a fusion of Brazilian folk, samba and swing. The concert was presented at Robbins Library.http://www.ethankmusic.com 

April, June and one more performance in the Fall tba – Scott Samenfeld’s “Eulipia Jazz Concert Series” – Aiming to become an annual event, the series is presenting local ensembles in concert at the Arlington Center for the Arts.http://www.eulipiajazz.com 

April and September 23 – True Story Theater’s “True Stories of Arlington’s Seniors”– True Story Theater collaborated with the Arlington Council on Aging to stage participatory theater for seniors in a private show, a public performance, and a series of workshops. http://www.truestorytheater.org 

May – Delvena Theater’s “All the Presidents’ Women” at Arlington Senior Center – A live performance which examined the lives (sometimes behind closed doors!) of some of our United States presidents’ wives. http://www.delvenatheatre.org 

June-August – Arlington Public Art’s “Transformer Box Murals” – Local artists are painting selected transformer boxes on Massachusetts Avenue. These artistically reimagined boxes will then be celebrated with an art walk and artist talks.http://arlingtonpublicart.blogspot.com 

Summer 2014 – Arlington Children’s Theater’s “ACT scholarship program” – This needs-based program is designed to supplement payment of registration fees for some of the participating actors. http://www.act.arlington.ma.us 

Summer 2014 – Arlington Tourism & Economic Development (A-TED)’s “Arlington Alive Summer Arts” – For a part-time consultant to provide operational support and develop a sustainable model for the event, while offering the “Arlington Alive” brand and resources to other Summer 2014 events. 

September 6, 7-9 pm  – Luminarium Dance Company’s “Night at the Tower” – to transform the water tower at Park Circle into a breathing work of art, through dance and artistic film projections onto the building, accentuating the architecture of this local landmark. http://www.luminariumdance.org 

September 6 – Kevin Duffy’s “Granite Animal Sculpture” – in the likeness of an animal indigenous to Spy Pond, will to be installed in the Spy Pond Park Recreation Area. http://www.duffysculpture.net 

Fall (date tba) – Linda Shoemaker’s “TEDxArlington Branding Buildup Contest” – To kick off a TEDx event, this project will engage the community and its artists by requesting submission of designs for a poster and a stage/set. 

December (date tba) – Samantha Fleishman’s “Stop Requested” – An original play by an 11th grade Arlington High School student, this multi-media theatrical presentation raised awareness about mental health. It will be performed at the school, featuring Arlington High School students. 

December (date tba) – Kendall Dudley’s “Arlington Writes!” – a multi-generational, community-wide program that encourages residents to write about a certain topic for which everyone has something to say. 

Ongoing throughout 2014 – Marc Gurton/Opera On Tap (OOT) – The Boston chapter of a national non-profit, three to six singers and a pianist perform bi-monthly concerts at 13Forest Gallery to foster greater approachability to the arts. http://www.13forest.com/

2013

In 2013, Arlington Cultural Council granted over $12,930 to 15 grant recipients: 

  • Capitol Square Business Association’s “Romancing the Square” – a Valentine’s Day celebration in East Arlington to include a poetry jam, poetry contest and art exhibit. The event is scheduled for February 9. Art will be displayed in local businesses through the month of February. 
  • Arlington Center for the Arts’ “Arlington Interactive”– Arlingtoninteractive.org transforms the town into a gallery without walls. The ACA plans to work with the MIT Media Lab to create an interactive digital arts and culture map, which can be populated by ACA and other organizations. 
  • Margaret Moody’s “Puppets at ACA”– Moody will present lively puppet shows for families on several winter and spring Saturdays at the Arlington Center for the Arts. After each show, children and parents will be invited to stay for puppet play and/or puppet-making activities. 
  • Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF) – AIFF will run its 3rdAnnual Poster Contest open to high school students in Arlington. At an awards ceremony, the top 10 posters are recognized and the winner is awarded a $500 scholarship and given national and international media exposure. 
  • True Story Theater’s “True Stories of Arlington” – True Story Theater plans to showcase several Arlington nonprofits through improvisational theater, song and movement. 
  • Friends of Waldo Park Tree Sculpture– The Friends have engaged artists to design and create a sculpture out of a tall tree stump in the Park. Lead Artist William Turville will oversee site preparation, carving and production of animal figures by other skilled Arlington artists. 
  • Anna Christina Lawrence “Opera Unplugged”– This program, part of the Menotomy Concert Series, is a one-night performance intended to introduce the audience to classical music and opera in particular. The program will consist of four short spoken sections and 4-5 sung sections. A question/answer section will conclude the performance. The event will be held on November 8, 2013 at Town Hall. 
  • New England Gilbert and Sullivan Society (NEGASS)– A combination of costumed singers and a pianist will present a program to 3rd and 4th graders to introduce the students to Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. 
  • Arlington Public Art “Chairful Where You Sit”– This is a pop-up installation on the Minuteman Bike Path that features artistically reinvented used chairs. The event is planned for the week of July 28 to August 2, 2013. 
  • Dan Fox’s A-Town Jazz Festival– the 2nd Annual A-Town Jazz Fest will be a community event featuring Arlington musicians. Performances/workshops are planned to be held at the Robbins Library, Jam ‘n Java, and the Arlington Center for the Arts April 6-7, 2013. 
  • Ruth Harcovitz– Soprano Ruth Harcovitz will present a program of Neapolitan songs, opera arias, and popular Italian songs in celebration of Italian-American month. The program will be performed at the Arlington Senior Center on October 15, 2013. 
  • Delvena Theater Company– Delvena Theater will bring history alive through a performance of Jack the Ripper. The target audience for this performance is 16 and above. 
  • Parul Vakani and Chris Brenne “Arlington Alive and Kicking”– Alive and Kicking is a one-day event at the Arlington Arts Center on April 20, 2013 featuring four musicians. This event is intended to promote community among professional Arlington-based musicians. 
  • Cyrus Dallin Art Museum and Arlington Historical Society “Arlington Cultural Heights: 1900-1925”– A collaborative research effort between the Dallin Museum and the Arlington Historical Society that will result in a publication highlighting the leading cultural figures in Arlington between 1900 and 1925, a time of significant cultural growth in Arlington, particularly in Arlington Heights and Crescent Hill. 
  • Arlington Tourism and Economic Development Committee’s (ATED) Arlington Alive Arts Festival – This block party on Broadway Plaza, planned for Saturday July 13, 2013, will be a free event that promotes the arts in Arlington. Music, dance, theater and the visual arts will share the street with local vendors and local businesses. 

 

2012

In 2012, the Arlington Cultural Council granted over $11,500 to 14 grant recipients: 

  • Arlington Enrichment Collaborative — a Zen garden at Ottoson Middle School that will be designed and installed by the youth, staff and community. 
  • Veronica Robles – a Celebration of Mexican Music and Dance by Veronica Robles and her mariachi. 
  • Richard W. Clark – a one-person performance to be held at the Arlington Senior Center presenting the life and times of early 20th century “bad boy” Hollywood actor, John Barrymore. 
  • Arlington Center for the Arts (ACA) – a Friday Night Creative Art Program for Teens 
  • Betsy Schramm and Pasquale Tassone – new musical compositions for the New England String Quartet that will be performed in May as part of the Menotomy Concert Series. The grant will also allow for a NE String Quartet performance and masterclass at Arlington High School. 
  • The EcoFest Committee/Rain Garden Committee – the design and installation of educational signage at the new Rain Garden at Spy Pond Park. 
  • Old Schwamb Mill – field trips for Ottoson 7th Grade Tech students to visit the Old Schwamb Mill, an intact 19th century mill, and to learn about the role of water power during Arlington’s Industrial Age. 
  • Cantilena, Inc. – production of a professionally recorded CD of Cantilena, the Arlington women’s choral group, featuring the music of local composers Kenneth Seitz and Daniel Pinkham. 
  • Center for Cancer Support and Education – the publication of a collection of poetry and prose by the Writers’ Group for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers. 
  • Chris Kolb – a presentation of Garden Under the Oak, a lecture and discussion of how to create gardens that protect our ecological heritage. 
  • Adria Arch – Arlington Windows Project, a program that selects local artists to display their work in empty Arlington storefronts that have been converted into street side gallery spaces. 
  • Delvena Theater Company – a live performance of Meet Julia Child! a production to be held at Robbins library that seeks to entertain as well as educate the audience about the life of the famous chef. 
  • Mark Sandman – promotion of the Jam ‘n Java Open Mic and Coffeehouse that provides a free, live music venue for area performers on the first Monday of every month. 
  • Don Daniel – the Just a Minute Festival, a competition of one-minute video shorts, in which submissions from Arlington participants will be separately judged. The grant will also allow for a partnership with Arlington Community Media Inc to teach high school students about video tools and techniques. 

 

2011

We are pleased to announce that the following artists and organizations have received funding in the 2011 Arlington Cultural Council grant cycle: 

Gina Sonder: Le Cafe Francais 

AEC: African Drum Project 

Robbins Library: The Silly Laughing Musical Fun Poetry Show 

Luke Jaffe: Tuba City Cultural Odysse 

Shunsuke Yamaguchi: Kamishibai (Japanese Puppet Theater)  

Shari Craig :Songs Off the Walls: CD and Concert 

Dallin Museum and Arlington Historical Society: Arlington and the Cultural Renaissance,  

Pasquale Tassone: A Master Class and Concerts  

Gail McCormick: Our Fragile Earth 

Arlington Seniors Association: Meet Eleanor Roosevelt 

Aine Minogue: Celtic Lullabies 

Jocelyn Willet: Author-in-Residence & Literary Festival at Peirce Elementary School 

Sudanese Education Fund: Our Village of South Suda 

Arlington Center for the Arts: Shakespeare in the Parks – Revitalized  

Simba Maasai Outreach Organization: Maasai Cultural Performance  

Sol y Canto Latin Music Ensemble: Performance at Town Hall, PASS Grant, Arlington Elem. PTOs, 

A Trip to the Japanese House at Boston Children’s Museum, PASS Grant, Thompson School PTO, 

 

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2009

ARLINGTON CULTURAL COUNCIL2009Grant Recipients 

This year, the Arlington Cultural Council granted $11,500 to 17 applicants, including: 

The Alan Hovhaness Commemorative Committee for the creation of a monument on the grounds of Arlington High School, honoring the achievements of a world-renowned symphonic composer and long-time Arlington resident. 

 

Arlington Center for the Arts for a residency program led by visual artist Jeff Mann who will work with local teenagers to make art using car tires. The process will culminate in a public exhibit at the Center, exploring the effect of cars on our environment. 

John Baynard for the production of a probing series of video portraits that tell the stories of homeless people whose lives have been impacted by a shortage of affordable housing, family violence, addiction, and mental illness. 

Berkshire Hills Music Academy for the presentation of a program on “Music and Geography,” featuring the talents of students with disabilities, at the Cyrus E. Dallin School. 

Rick Berry for the development of a graphic novel based on the 1927 silent film classic “Metropolis,” and for a corresponding studio demonstration/exhibit targeting young people. 

Dallin Art Museum for a town-wide exhibit, exploring the lives and civic contributions of the Dallin family, presented in collaboration with the Arlington Historic Society and the Old Schwamb Mill. 

Linda Chase for work with Arlington High School students to create an original interdisciplinary piece incorporating music, visual art, and creative writing. The project will culminate in a live public performance/exhibit at the Arlington Center for the Arts. 

Richard Clark for a theatrical presentation of Mark Twain’s life and works at the Arlington Senior Center. 

Delvena Theatre Company for an “edutainment” production exploring the life of Amelia Earhart at the Robbins Library. 

Dan Fox for a jazz performance by the Arlingtones, presented as part of the Menotomy Concert Series at Town Hall. 

Yetti Frenkel for a creative writing and book illustration workshop targeting children at the Robbins Library. 

Marie Elena Ricciotti for a video project charting the journeys of immigrants who are living in the Arlington area. The completed work will be aired on the town’s cable station and screened at local venues. Also, community discussions will be conducted at public sites to explore issues raised. 

Teryl Alden Smith for workshops at the Arlington Senior Center, The Children’s Room, and The Center for Cancer Support and Education that will culminate in the creation of an installation art piece exploring themes of unity, community, growth, and creative nourishment. The completed work will be publicly exhibited at the Arlington Center for the Arts. 

Joe Snodgrass for outreach efforts designed to engage community members in the Arlington Natural Connections project that promotes local participation in artistic and natural science activities. 

The Sudanese Education Fund for a video project focusing on the stories of Southern Sudanese women who are now living in the Boston area, and how their lives were impacted by the civil war in Sudan. 

The Thompson Elementary School for students to attend a professional performance of “The Nutcracker,” presented by Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre. 

Kate O’Connor for an interactive multicultural music and movement performance for children and families, exploring themes of inclusion, friendship, and appreciation of all people, at the Robbins Library.