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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.
Schools and Society: The Current Debate on Education ReformCambridge Forummore
A series of public forums to be held at the First Parish in Harvard Square, Cambridge, on issues of education reform, the goals of which will be to explore the larger social issues that underlie the current crises of confidence in public education and to examine contemporary efforts to improve school performance with respect to their effectiveness in achieving broad-based education reform.
Cambridge, MA, Middlesex County (Greater Boston)
project director: Patricia Suhrcke
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $5,000
Perspectives on "The Ave"ArtWorks! Partners for the Art & Community, Inc.more
A collaborative, multidisciplinary humanities project involving a painter in residence at ArtWorks in New Bedford as well as local city experts, exploring the character of Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford's North End, a thoroughfare that has changed little over the last several decades.
New Bedford, MA, Bristol County (Southeast)
project director: Karin G. Oen
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $1,500
Loaded Gun: Life, and Death and DickinsonCenter For Independent Documentarymore
Distribution funds and scholar honoraria and travel expenses for scholar/panelists at screenings of "Loaded Gun," a semi-comical film exploring Emily Dickinson's life and work. Funds may be used to establish the film as a teaching tool.
Walpole, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)
project director: Steve Gentile
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,500
Talking to the Wall: The Story of An American BargainPocumtuck Valley Memorial Associationmore
Distribution funds for a one-hour documentary that examines, over a five year period, the impacts and struggles of two rural New England towns that have confronted large-scale retail developments and the clash between national corporate interests and community needs. The proposed distribution plan includes public tv broadcasts, a local premiere, entry in film festivals, and preparing for non-broadcast educational distribution.
Deerfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)
project director: Steven Alves
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $5,000
"Vineyard Voices, American Stories" Pre-Production ProjectMartha's Vineyard Historical Societymore
Media pre-production project consisting of oral history interviews with eight elderly Vineyard residents as resource material for the documentary film, Vineyard Voices, American Stories.
Edgartown, MA, Dukes County (Cape & Islands)
project director: Linsey Lee
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,500
Sacco and VanzettiNew York Foundation for the Artsmore
Production phase of a video documentary about the lives and legal case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrant anarchists who were executed in Boston in 1927 after a famous and controversial trial. (MFH funded the pre-production phase of the project as well.)
New York, NY, New York County
project director: Peter Miller
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $5,000
The Banjo ProjectCenter For Independent Documentarymore
Pre-production grant of $5000 to complete a treatment and promotional videotape for a national public television documentary about the social history of America's quintessential musical instrument - the banjo.
Walpole, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)
project director: Marc Fields
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $5,000
Encounter in Norumbega: The Hidden Story of Early New England MapsWestwood Public Librarymore
Reading & Discussion program at the Westwood Library
Westwood, MA, Norfolk County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Thomas P. Viti
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $800
Northeastern Native American Basketry SymposiumOld Sturbridge Villagemore
One day public symposium on Native American basketry.
Sturbridge, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Ed Hood
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,500
Celebrating HawthorneShakespeare & Companymore
Shakespeare & Company, a performance and education center, produces a series of historical and interpretive events celebrating Hawthorne's bicentennial.
Lenox, MA, Berkshire County (Berkshire)
project director: Gordon Hyatt
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $5,000
Voices of Diversity: Literature Connecting Worcester Teachers to the Cultures of Their StudentsWorcester Public Schoolsmore
Professional development initiative to expose Worcester teachers to their students' varied cultures through the study of literature.
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Gale Nigrosh
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $4,848
Young Adult Literature Reading and Discussion GroupGaylord Memorial Librarymore
Reading & Discussion group exploring young adult literature.
South Hadley, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Megan Lambert
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $949
Consider the Source: Old Tales RetoldWilbraham Public Librarymore
Reading & discussion group
Wilbraham, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Ardie McEathron
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $300
Native American Public Interpretation ProgramHistoric Deerfield, Inc.more
Free public walking tours of past archaeological dig sites at UMass' Summer Field School in Anthropology for three weeks in June.
Deerfield, MA, Franklin County (CT Valley)
project director: Elizabeth Chilton
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,880
Exhibition and accompanying catalogue of THE CHAIR at WCC, concentrating on the historical context and meaning of the chair's place within culture.
Worcester, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Maryon Attwood
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,750
Teachers As Scholars/Boston Public Schools Humanities Seminars, Summer 2002Teachers As Scholars, Inc.more
A series of humanities seminars offered to BPS teachers to enrich curriculum and humanities pedagogy.
Newton, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: William Holinger
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $4,779
Desperate JourneysWilbraham Public Librarymore
Reading & Discussion Series
Wilbraham, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Karen Demers
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $200
Egyptian art and artifacts on exhibit at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, 1/15/03 - 1/6/04, with related humanities programming.
Springfield, MA, Hampden County (CT Valley)
project director: Kay Simpson
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $15,000
Northampton's Living History Community Heritage ProjectFlorence Associationmore
Short documentary of portraits of people and institutions that reflect Northampton's diverse 350-year history.
Florence, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: James Ault
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $10,000
Distribution of "Someone Sang for Me: Jane Sapp, Cultural Activist"Fund For Women Artistsmore
The Fund for Women Artists will distribute a one hour documentary about Jane Sapp, a leader in cultural activism and music education workshops for 'at-risk' youth.
San Francisco, CA, San Francisco County
project director: Julie Akeret
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $10,000
Planning Grant for Creation of Literary Map of MassachusettsMassachusetts Center For The Bookmore
Massachusetts Center for the Book will plan a two-phase literary map of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, both in-print and on-line.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Sharon Shaloo
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $15,000
Dante at the GardnerIsabella Stewart Gardner Museummore
Five public readings and discussions of Dante's Inferno plus an unspecified 'day-long event.'
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Margaret Burchenal
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $8,000
The Skinned Lan: Connecticut River Log DrivesUniversity of Massachusetts Amherstmore
Pre-production grant for a documentary exploring the Connecticut River log drives, 1868-1915.
Amherst, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Ed Klekowski
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $10,000
Wayside Exhibit: Korean War Veterans MemorialKorean War Veterans Association Cape & Islands Chaptermore
Historic, interpretative installation to accompany the Korean War Memorial, extended until 10/31/02
Dennis, MA, Barnstable County (Cape & Islands)
project director: Sarah Brophy
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,550
Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center Oral History BookletGloucester Maritime Heritage Museummore
An oral history project documenting the lives of men who earned livings working at the oldest continuously operating marine railway in the country.
Gloucester, MA, Essex County (Northeast)
project director: Harriet Webster
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $4,925
American Jewish MusicZamir Chorale of Bostonmore
Lecture on American Jewish music, including presentations by three scholars of Jewish music and history. The Zamir Chorale will sing works to illustrate the speakers' points.
Newton, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Joshua Jacobson
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $1,150
Maverick Photography ProjectZumixmore
Youth residents of Maverick Gardens public housing will attend formal photography training and lab courses, in order to then document images of their community, slated for demolition within the next few years. Photos will be displayed at Maverick Gardens, and a public space TBD.
East Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Jennifer Gilbert
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $3,200
Images of Conflict: Films During the Times of International CrisisProvincetown International Film Festivalmore
A humanities panel discussion about the use of film in times of war.
Provincetown, MA, Barnstable County (Cape & Islands)
project director: P.J. Layng
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $3,000
Gertrude Lawrence CelebrationEventide Theatre Companymore
Script development for a play, "GEE!," to be written by Natalie Ross Miller and based on the life of Gertrude Lawrence, one of the most celebrated actresses of the twentieth century. The play will be performed on the Gertrude Lawrence Stage at the Dennis Union Church in late August 2002.
Dennis, MA, Barnstable County (Cape & Islands)
project director: Noel Tipton
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,500
Scribbling WomenPublic Media Foundationmore
Curriculum, lesson plans, and web site development relating to the radio play production of Sarah Orne Jewett's "The Flight of Betsey Lane", distributed by NPR in February/March 2002.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Valerie Henderson
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $5,000
Contemporary Massachusetts AuthorsFriends of the Lakeville Public Librarymore
Series featuring books by Massachusetts authors: _Murder at the Gardner_ by Janet Langdon, _Pagoda_ by Patricial Powell, _Family Orchard_ by Nomi Eve, _Fortune's Rocks_ by Anita Shreve.
Lakeville, MA, Plymouth County (Southeast)
project director: Donna Tibbetts
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $400
I'm Every Woman Symposium: Suffragettes and AbolitionistsHarmony Grove Research Centermore
A symposium with a featured speaker (Sylvia McDowell) on 19th century women activists. The event will focus on the visibility of diverse women activists in American history who varied in ideas and interests but helped to inspire positive social change.
Framingham, MA, Middlesex County (Metrowest Boston)
project director: Edwina Weston-Dyer
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,500
The Unfinished Symphony: Taking Responsibility in a Democratic SocietyNorthern Light Productionsmore
The completion of a one-hour documentary motion picture that examines the role of dissenting citizens as participants in the process of a democratic government. The film focuses on the Vietnam War veterans and Lexington townspeople who participated in an anti-war demonstration over the Memorial Dat weekend, May 1971.
Allston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Bestor Cram
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $15,000
Still Standing: Trapfishing in AmericaProvincetown Community Compact, Inc.more
A documentary that will explore the rich tradition of trapfishing along the Massachusetts coastline and consider the crisis of a fishery in jeopardy.
Provincetown, MA, Barnstable County (Cape & Islands)
project director: Seth Rolbein
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $15,000
The Last Place in the WorldHistoric Northamptonmore
An exhibition about the former Northampton State Hospital to be viewed at the Center for the Arts in Northampton. The exhibition will focus on the historical and artistic aspects of the hospital through the selected works of the scholars involved in the project.
Northampton, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Anna Schuleit
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $2,500
Keys to the Highway: The Big Bill Broonzy StoryEmerson Collegemore
The preproduction funding for the research and development of a four-part radio documentary and internet website on blues composer and singer William "Bog Bill" Broonzy. The project will explore the connections between African-American social, economic and cultural history, the codification of the country blues between 1925 and 1940, and the influence of the blues on American popular music.
Boston, MA, Suffolk County (Greater Boston)
project director: Roger House
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $9,030
Frontier Colonial House and Farm SiteFruitlands Museumsmore
A site interpretation of a frontier colonial house and farm site.
Harvard, MA, Worcester County (Central)
project director: Joanne Myers
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $15,000
Brazil at 500: Commemorating History and CultureCenter for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studiesmore
A series of talks and cultural events at the Du Bois Library at University of Massachusetts, Amherst in commemoration of the quincentenary of Brazil's discovery in 1500.
Amherst, MA, Hampshire County (CT Valley)
project director: Peter Stern
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $1,204
Epiphany in ProgressFilmmakers Collaborativemore
A documentary that focuses on the first year of the Epiphany School, a private, tuition free, full-service, faith based middle school for low-income children in Boston.
Melrose, MA, Middlesex County (Northeast)
project director: Michal Goldman
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $25,000
Ka Ding Dong!Center For Independent Documentarymore
Production grant for a 90-minute documentary about the G-Clefs, one of the few remaining rhythm and blues groups from the 1950s that is still performing with its original members.
Walpole, MA, Norfolk County (Southeast)
project director: Abby Freedman
awarded on: 1999-11-16
amount: $15,000