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Explore the Mass Humanities funded projects awarded from 2000 to the present. Browse by grant type, city, region or keyword. Subscribe to our newsletter and receive news when grants are awarded.
Exploring the Historical Context of Plays Through Merrimack Repertory Theatre's Cohort ClubMerrimack Repertory Theatremore
An audience immersion pilot program for about 100 community residents to explore how historical theater is produced-through lenses of dramaturgy, cultural studies, and history.
Lowell, MA, Middlesex County (Northeast)
project director: Sean Daniels
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $14,750
Dialoguing with Indigenous Americans in our Community through Peter PanOakmont Regional High Schoolmore
Scholarly consulting, the creation of informative playbills, and a post-performance discussion of a student production of Peter Pan.
Ashburnham, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Jeffrey Aubuchon
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $4,615
Activate the ArboretumAuburn Public Schoolsmore
An environmental history project for Auburn Public School students that is led by a humanities scholar and includes lessons, a photography project, an exhibit, and a tour.
Auburn, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Sarah Connell
awarded on: 2017-12-08
amount: $7,500
Processing and Making Available Archival Material Related to William Madison WoodAndover Historical Societymore
Inventory and make public their William Wood collection of photographs, maps, and publications.
Andover, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Elaine Clements
awarded on: 2017-11-09
amount: $2,000
Susanna Rowson in Medford 1799-1803Medford Historical Societymore
Research on and transcription of their Swan Collection of letters, along with two public lectures on the material.
Medford, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Kyna Hamill
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,500
Douglas Historical InitiativeSimon Fairfield Public Librarymore
Inventory and processing of the Douglas Historical Society's Coppola Collection.
Douglas, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Justin Snook
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,000
Sharon Public Library Newspaper Digitization ProjectSharon Public Librarymore
Digitization of the local Sharon Advocate Newspaper archive and make it available online to patrons.
Sharon, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)
project director: Lee Ann Amend
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,000
Black Holyoke: Uncovering the History of Black Peoples in Holyoke, MAHistoric Holyoke at Wistariahurstmore
Inventory and scanning of Wistariahurst Museum's Holyoke and Carlos Vegas/Latino History Collections in order to provide a searchable documentation of Holyoke's black populations.
Holyoke, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Penni Martorell
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,000
STCC Stands Social Justice ForumSpringfield Technical Community Collegemore
A film-and-discussion series-with "Hidden Figure", "I Am Not Your Negro", and "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"..
Springfield, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Vonetta Lightfoot
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $2,453
Teens, Bodies, and Identities in Global LiteraturePrimary Sourcemore
A reading-and-discussion series for Boston-area teachers and librarians focusing on global literature about teenagers' relationships with their bodies.
Watertown, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Deborah L. Cunningham
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,500
Spotlight Symposium Series: "Lonely Planet" and "Statements"New Repertory Theatremore
Two post-production moderated conversations around the history of intolerance and how art from the past can bring up questions from the present.
Watertown, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Leila Ghaemi
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,000
Manjiro and the Americans - Unlocking the Mystery of Japan Through the ArtsNew Bedford Balletmore
A project allowing fifth-grade students in New Bedford and Fairhaven to view and discuss a performance about overcoming cultural barriers and the role of exploration and commerce in New Bedford's whaling history.
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)
project director: Joanne Gracia
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,100
Protest and Citizenship in AmericaMassachusetts Historical Societymore
A panel discussion and public conversation exploring the history of citizenship and protest in America.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Gavin Kleespies
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,000
Discussion Event with MA History Teacher of the YearHistoric Somervillemore
A moderated discussion with 2017 Mass History Teacher of the Year Kevin Dua and historian Dan Breen addressing the roles of patriotism, freedom, individuality, and collectivism in the United States both historically and in the present.
Somerville, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Eileen Schofield
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $1,350
Discover Danvers Round-tableDanvers Historical Societymore
Moderated round-table sessions allowing participants to handle historical objects while learning about them and posing their own questions.
Danvers, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Sheila Cooke-Kayser
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,500
Central Conversations - Guards at the TajCentral Square Theatermore
Two symposia, one exploring contemporary connections to the history, politics, and meaning of great monuments, and the other exploring dynamics between the disciplines of history and theater.
Cambridge, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Debra Wise
awarded on: 2017-11-06
amount: $3,000
Who Are We? Literature & Medicine at BaystateBaystate Health Systemsmore
A six-session reading and discussion series for health professionals to support the social and emotional aspects of patient care.
Springfield, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Bridget Gunn
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $1,800
Evolution of American Music, Courage and Resistance: A Multi-generational ConversationBlues to Green, Inc.more
A panel discussion-on racial justice as it relates to the evolution of American music-at the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival that will be recorded and presented in local high schools.
Huntington, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Kristin Neville
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $3,000
Let Freedom Sing: The Songs and The Song-MakersThe Highlands Coalitionmore
A scholar-led discussion of civil rights, especially as reflected in American jazz.
Lynn, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Michael Palter
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $500
Activating Communication through Public ArtPow! Wow! Worcestermore
A film screening and discussion event on Worcester's history and the role of public art in community development.
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Che Anderson
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $3,500
Sustainable Oceans Open DiscussionSeaport Art Walkmore
A discussion program-taking place during New Bedford's Seaport Art Walk-on the history and future of sustainable fisheries, questions of ethical responsibility, and the role of art in prompting action.
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)
project director: Jessica Bregoli
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $850
"Sharing the Thronged and Common Road" - What Jane Addams Means TodayTraprock Center for Peace & Justicemore
A one-day public forum on the legacy and contemporary relevance of Jane Addams, social justice advocate and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Greenfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)
project director: Rutherford Platt
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $3,000
Documenting Art, Education, Cultural Heritage, and Community in BostonUniversity of Massachusetts Bostonmore
An inventory of the papers of Theresa-India Young, noted fiber artist, educator, community organizer, and activist.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Meghan Bailey
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $2,000
Medfield Slumbers: An Inventory of the 18th Century Gravestones in Vine Lake CemeteryVine Lake Preservation Trustmore
Photographing and inventory of 260 eighteenth?century gravestones in Medfield's Vine Lake Cemetery.
Medfield, MA, Norfolk County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Elise M. Ciregna
awarded on: 2017-07-17
amount: $2,000
On Equal Terms - VirtualBrandeis Universitymore
Creation and presentation of a web-based exhibition about gender-based segregation in the construction industry, a re-envisioning of the successful 2008 physical exhibition On Equal Terms.
Waltham, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Susan Eisenberg
awarded on: 2017-06-18
amount: $15,000
Our Mockingbird Curriculum GuideDocumentary Educational Resourcesmore
Creation of a Teacher's Guide and three companion short films which tell the stories of Native child removal, forced assimilation, and the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Native Americans in the country. Creation of a curriculum to accompany the documentary film "Our Mockingbird," exploring individual and group identities, American history, jurisprudence, and ethics in Harper Lee's novel.
Watertown, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Sandra Jaffe
awarded on: 2017-06-16
amount: $7,500
Dexter and the DinosaursFractured Atlasmore
An original history-based theatre production created and performed by students and residents of Greenfield in the context of a celebration of Greenfield's 19th-century history.
New York, NY, New York County
project director: Jonathan Mirin
awarded on: 2017-06-16
amount: $4,750
The Downfall of Despots: Julius CaesarActors' Shakespeare Projectmore
A series of public educational programs for the upcoming all-female production of Julius Caesar.
Somerville, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Mara Sidmore
awarded on: 2017-06-16
amount: $15,000
Museum of Russian Icons Audio Tour RevisionMuseum of Russian Iconsmore
A revamp of the museum's audio folklore tour with re-recorded content, new content, images, and professional translations in Russian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Clinton, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Tara Young
awarded on: 2017-06-16
amount: $7,500
Exploring the Mill River Disaster, 1874 and TodayTown of Williamsburg - Woodland Trailsmore
Creation of three permanent low-profile interpretive wayside signs, a self-guided brochure, and a digital online "story map" for the site of the 1874 Williamsburg Reservoir Dam disaster.
Haydenville, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Paul Jahnige
awarded on: 2017-06-16
amount: $7,500
Boston and the Irish Language: Fifty Years of Cultural Connection in Oral HistoryIrish Language Society of Bostonmore
Support for an oral history project exploring the importance of the Irish language among Irish immigrants in the Boston area.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Brian Frykenberg
awarded on: 2017-06-16
amount: $7,500
Dawnland Teacher's GuideCenter For Independent Documentarymore
Creation of a Teacher's Guide and three companion short films which tell the stories of Native child removal, forced assimilation, and the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Native Americans in the country.
Walpole, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)
project director: Adam Mazo
awarded on: 2017-06-16
amount: $15,000
Frederick Douglass Communal ReadingFuture Focus Mediamore
A scripted mock trial and post-performance discussion and the seventh annual communal reading of Douglass's 1852 speech on the Worcester Commons.
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Cedric Arno
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $500
Family Adventures in ReadingSharon Public Librarymore
A six-session Family Adventures in Reading series using the syllabus on Relationships with storyteller Karen Chace.
Sharon, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)
project director: Jessica Henderson
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $3,000
Reading Frederick Douglass at High Rock TowerNew Lynn Coalitionmore
The 7th annual communal reading of "What is the Fourth of July to the Slave?" on July 4th. Evening entertainment will include musical and dance performances, spoken word, and fireworks.
Lynn, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Wendy Joseph
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $500
Reading Frederick Douglass in the Age of TrumpNew Bedford Historical Societymore
A facilitated reading of Douglass's speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" with poet Everett Hoagland as the discussion leader.
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)
project director: Loretta D. Blake
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $500
Inside the Porter & McLeod Machine Shop: Precision Manufacturing on Hatfield's Mill RiverHatfield Historical Societymore
Research on the Society's collection of business records, photos, and artifacts from the local machine shop to develop a better understanding of how and why a small precision manufacturing shop, with global connections, grew and prospered in a small agricultural community in western Massachusetts
Hatfield, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Kathie Gow
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $3,500
We Read Frederick Douglass Together as OneFrederick Douglass Neighborhood Associationmore
The third annual public reading and moderated discussion of Douglass's "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"
Brockton, MA, Plymouth County (Southeast)
project director: Madeline M. Smith
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $500
Poetry and the Active CitizenEdith Wharton Restoration, Inc.more
A forum on the role of poetry during times of cultural and political crisis.
Lenox, MA, Berkshire County (Berkshire)
project director: Abbie Wilson
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $3,000
No Human is Illegal: A Conversation on Immigrants and the American IdeaWorcester Interfaithmore
Part of the city's Clemente Course in the Humanities to sponsor a public poetry reading and conversation with poet Naomi Shihab Nye on defining the place of immigrants in the American idea.
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Lucia Knoles
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $2,812