Skip Navigation
Grants

Past Grants Awarded

Did your organization receive a relief grant from Mass Humanities? Click on the buttons below for relief grant recipient lists.

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.  

 
 
Discussion: Civil Rights Grant
Brockton, MA, Plymouth County (Southeast)

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?"

Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Association
Brockton, MA, Plymouth County (Southeast)

project director: Madeline M. Smith
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $500
Discussion: Open Grant
Lenox, MA, Berkshire County (Berkshire)

Poetry and the Active CitizenEdith Wharton Restoration, Inc.more

A forum on the role of poetry during times of cultural and political crisis.

Edith Wharton Restoration, Inc.
Lenox, MA, Berkshire County (Berkshire)

project director: Abbie Wilson
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $3,000
Discussion: Open Grant
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

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 Interfaith
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

project director: Lucia Knoles
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $2,812
Discussion: Open Grant
Aquinnah, MA, Dukes County (Cape & Islands)

Our Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag HistoryAquinnah Cultural Centermore

A series of three discussions moderated by Linda Coombs and Paula Peters based on the interactive "Our Story" exhibit of Wampanoag history, along with the Mashpee Nine book/film.

Aquinnah Cultural Center
Aquinnah, MA, Dukes County (Cape & Islands)

project director: Linda Coombs
awarded on: 2017-05-08
amount: $1,618
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)

The New American SongbookThe Ground Truth Projectmore

A series of audio documentaries using live radio broadcasts and listening events provoking discussion on the value of immigrant music, culture, and experience for the social life of the Commonwealth.

The Ground Truth Project
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)

project director: Charles Sennott
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $15,000
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Springfield, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)

Stories from New Voices: NEPR Media LabNew England Public Radiomore

Three sessions of a free after-school program in journalism, radio/web production, and storytelling for high-school students in Springfield and Holyoke.

New England Public Radio
Springfield, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)

project director: Carlos McBride
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $15,000
Project Grant
Lawrence, MA, Essex County (Northeast)

Photos de NosotrosLawrence Community Worksmore

A youth-led community development project investigating identities in Lawrence through research, photography, and documentation.

Lawrence Community Works
Lawrence, MA, Essex County (Northeast)

project director: Anna Elzer
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $6,095
Project: Negotiating Social Contract Grant
Longmeadow, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)

Transforming this MomentCritical Connectionsmore

A series of conversations exploring threats to civil rights and liberties of vulnerable communities, effective responses, and how such threats affect the country's social fabric.

Critical Connections
Longmeadow, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)

project director: Mehlaqa Samdani
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $5,000
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

Hip History NBCommunity Foundation of Southeastern MAmore

A local history and interpretation project using creative approaches like hip-hop for students at three area middle schools.

Community Foundation of Southeastern MA
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

project director: Candace L. Heald
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $9,115

A project including a summer camp for middle-school students and professional development workshops for Springfield teachers,

Western Masssachusetts Writing Project at UMass Amherst
Amherst, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)

project director: Bruce Penniman
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $7,500
Project: Negotiating Social Contract Grant
Concord, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)

The Robbins House, Inc.: The Long Civil Rights MovementThe Robbins Housemore

Development of a multimedia, interactive educational program about civil rights from slavery to the present day,

The Robbins House
Concord, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)

project director: Linda Ziemba
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $15,000

An exhibition, a lecture series, and a series of Community Conversations related to the impact of labor, servitude, and slavery over four centuries.

House of the Seven Gables
Salem, MA, Essex County (Northeast)

project director: Julie Arrison-Bishop
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $5,000
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

Exploring Abolition, Activism and a Principled LifeRotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museummore

Research, historic documentation, interpretative writing about the house museum and its inhabitants.

Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

project director: Kate Corkum
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $5,000
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)

International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its AbolitionMuseum of African American Historymore

A series of events in observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition.

Museum of African American History
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)

project director: Marita Rivero
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $7,500
Project: Media Grant
Chicago, IL, Cook County

Loyalty By Another NameKartemquin Educational Filmsmore

Pre-production of the one-hour documentary Loyalty By Another Name.

Kartemquin Educational Films
Chicago, IL, Cook County

project director: David Washburn
awarded on: 2017-03-17
amount: $10,000
Discussion: Open Grant
Lowell, MA, Middlesex County (Northeast)

Browsing Through Birke'sBoott Cotton Mills Museummore

A film screening of a documentary film about a family, a clothing business, & the legacies of genocide and discussion on the nature and meaning of immigrant and refugee resiliency.

Boott Cotton Mills Museum
Lowell, MA, Middlesex County (Northeast)

project director: Sheila Kirschbaum
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $3,280
Research Inventory Grant
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)

Preserving and Digitizing the John Quinn AIDS Memorial Books CollectionThe History Projectmore

A project inventorying, processing, and digitizing the John Quinn AIDS Memorial Books in preparation for public programming and an online exhibit honoring people in the Boston area who died from HIV/AIDS related illnesses.

The History Project
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)

project director: Andrew Elder
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $2,000
Discussion: FAIR Grant
Lawrence, MA, Essex County (Northeast)

Family Adventures in Reading at Community DayThe Community Groupmore

A six-session FAIR series with storyteller Nicolette Nordin Heavey.

The Community Group
Lawrence, MA, Essex County (Northeast)

project director: Manuela Su
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $3,000
Discussion: Open Grant
Somerville, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)

Exploring Somerville's Economic History/Union Square at WorkSomerville Museummore

A series of five discussion events on Somerville's economic history held in public spaces like bars and social service nonprofits.

Somerville Museum
Somerville, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)

project director: Charan Devereaux
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $3,485
Discussion: FAIR Grant
Plainville, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)

Plainville Library and Bookstore FAIR TogetherPlainville Public Librarymore

A four-session FAIR series in partnership with a local bookstore.

Plainville Public Library
Plainville, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)

project director: Laura Brillant-Giangrande
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $2,150
Research Inventory Grant
Greenfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)

A Century of Work: Greenfield Employers and EmployeesGreenfield Historical Societymore

An inventory of artifacts from three local businesses and explore connections between skilled labor and buying power.

Greenfield Historical Society
Greenfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)

project director: Robin Yerkes
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $1,500

A communal and choreographed reading of Frederick Douglass' speech, followed by conversation and musical performance in partnership with Double Edge Theatre.

Charlemont Federated Church
Charlemont, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)

project director: Susan S. Purdy
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $1,935

Creation of a catalog their collection of carriages and sleighs as part of establishing a professional framework for their collection and developing an interpretive focus on the material culture of Amesbury.

Amesbury Carriage Museum
Amesbury, MA, Essex County (Northeast)

project director: John W. Mayer
awarded on: 2017-02-06
amount: $2,000
Discussion: Open Grant
Walpole, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)

Birth of a MovementCenter For Independent Documentarymore

Boston premiere of the film Birth of a Movement: The Battle over America's First Blockbuster and community panel discussion.

Center For Independent Documentary
Walpole, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)

project director: Susan Gray
awarded on: 2016-12-19
amount: $3,000
Discussion: Open Grant
Waltham, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)

Migration Stories: Reading and Writing Across BordersBentley College Center for Business Ethicsmore

A three-session migration-themed discussion project for recent Central American immigrants in Waltham.

Bentley College Center for Business Ethics
Waltham, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)

project director: Jane De Leon Griffin
awarded on: 2016-12-19
amount: $1,868
Discussion: Open Grant
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

Bringing History to Life Through the ArtsNew Bedford Balletmore

A facilitated discussion, live ballet performance of Esther's Journey, and solo performance a Frederick Douglass impersonator for 85 fifth graders from the Alfred Gomes Elementary School.

New Bedford Ballet
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

project director: Joanne Gracia
awarded on: 2016-12-19
amount: $3,100
Discussion: Common Good Reads Grant
Greenfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)

Changing Lives Through Literature Reading GroupGreenfield Community Collegemore

Ten Common Good Reads sessions of a weekly reading-and-writing group for probationers, probation officers, and judges on the subject of reentering society from prison.

Greenfield Community College
Greenfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)

project director: Leo Hwang
awarded on: 2016-12-19
amount: $1,500
Discussion: Literature & Medicine Grant
Amherst, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)

Literature & MedicineVeterans Education Projectmore

A six-month Literature & Medicine series at the VA Central Western MA Healthcare System in Leeds.

Veterans Education Project
Amherst, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)

project director: Susan Leary
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $2,410

Screening of the documentary film The Man in the Cowboy Hat-chronicling the life of Carlos Arredondo, the Boston Marathon bombing hero-and a post-screening discussion.

Center For Independent Documentary
Walpole, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)

project director: Janice Rogovin
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $3,000
Discussion: Open Grant
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

Communicating Through Art: Engaging People with Alzheimer'sNew Bedford Art Museummore

A morning-long event with facilitated discussion on the uses of art for communication with people with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia.

New Bedford Art Museum
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

project director: Noelle Foye
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $1,300
Discussion: Open Grant
Waltham, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)

Boston's Hidden Secret SpacesBrandeis Universitymore

Facilitation of an art and architectural history program for 20-35 residents and staff at retirement/assisted living facilities in Dedham, Concord, and Jamaica Plain on the subject of the hidden sacred spaces of Greater Boston.

Brandeis University
Waltham, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)

project director: Wendy Cadge
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $3,000
Discussion: Open Grant
Springfield, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)

Nursing Ethics at the Heart of HealthcareBaystate Health Systemsmore

A seven-month, ethics-based reading-and-discussion group for bedside care providers on the theme of patient-centered care.

Baystate Health Systems
Springfield, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)

project director: Sarah B. Romain
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $2,810
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

Documenting the History of New Bedford's Central American Immigrant WorkersCentro Communitario de Trabajadoresmore

A project that will create oral histories with about forty Central American immigrant workers, some documented.

Centro Communitario de Trabajadores
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)

project director: Lisa Maya Knauer
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $7,500

Transition of the interpretation of the Bradford House Museum to focus on the daughters who inhabited the house and were socially and politically active yet underrepresented in the house's history.

Duxbury Rural and Historical Society
Duxbury, MA, Plymouth County (Southeast)

project director: Erin McGough
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $7,500
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

William Bullard: Reimagining an American Community of ColorWorcester Art Museummore

An exhibit of photographs left by a local photographer that capture issues of African-American migration after the Civil War, citizenship and community membership, and historic race relations in Worcester.

Worcester Art Museum
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

project director: Nancy Burns
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $15,000
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Ashfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)

The Town Spectacle: Engaging the Heart and History of AshfieldDouble Edge Theatremore

A project that seeks to engage the public about the history of the town meeting and identity formation through community readings of a related text and a weekend-long cultural fair and theatrical spectacle.

Double Edge Theatre
Ashfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)

project director: Stacy Klein
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $15,000
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

New City Dreams ProjectPreservation Worcestermore

Day trips to historically important local urban landscapes with students of the University Park Campus school in Worcester.

Preservation Worcester
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

project director: Susan M. Ceccacci
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $1,670
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

In the Time of the ButterfliesCasa Cultural Dominicana of Worcestermore

An original theatrical production about the Dominican Republic and Dominican immigrants in the United States based on the Julia Alvarez novel "In the Time of the Butterflies."

Casa Cultural Dominicana of Worcester
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

project director: Maury Ramirez
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $15,000
Project: Media Grant
Watertown, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)

Made Here: Rebuilding America's Apparel Manufacturing IndustryDocumentary Educational Resourcesmore

Preproduction work on a film that will document current efforts to revive the apparel industry in the United States, including in the textile cities of Massachusetts.

Documentary Educational Resources
Watertown, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)

project director: Judith Laster
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $15,000
Project: Engaging New Audiences Grant
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

In Our Own WordsClark Universitymore

An after-school poetry program-involving translation, history, literary analysis, and discussion, along with a thematic focus on migration-for low-income, multilingual middle-school students.

Clark University
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)

project director: Sarah Michaels
awarded on: 2016-12-09
amount: $6,500

Stay in touch with Mass Humanities

Sign up for our Newsletter