Above: In February, the Southborough Cultural Arts Council gave out grants supporting a number of concerts and other arts programs. (contributed photo)
Promoting upcoming events sponsored by SCAC reminded me that I never shared information when their last round of grants were awarded. The “2019 Grant” awards made possible several arts/cultural programs as far back as December. They continue to support more arts through September.
The awards add up to support for 14 performances, 5 lessons, and a summer long art exhibit. Here are details on what the Southborough Cultural Arts Council sponsored through the $4,560 in grants.
So that you can mark your calendars, I’m starting with the events still to come:
Annual Southborough Summer Concert Series
Grant awarded to Southborough Recreation for $1,328
The Southborough Summer Concert Series is now entering it’s 7th year. Every summer Southborough Recreation and Youth & Family Services offers 5 music concerts of all different genres. The concerts happen in the evening from 6- 8, on a grassy area (school grounds) surrounded by a playground, tennis courts, basketball court and baseball diamonds. There are so many things for families to do while attending the concert. We also invite a different food truck to each concert.
Save the dates for five bi-weekly free concerts on Wednesdays beginning June 12th (with rain dates the following week). Stay tuned for more details.
Art on the Trails 2019
Grant awarded to Catherine Weber for $500
We are requesting funding for the 2019 Art on the Trails program, held at the Elaine & Philip Beals Preserve. The program includes a juried exhibition of artwork, a poetry program that responds to the art, a published catalog/poetry chapbook, an opening and closing event, and ongoing walking tours.
Save the date for the June 13th opening reception (5:30 – 7:30 pm) with the exhibit open for free exploration through September 22nd. For more details, see dedicated post and stay tuned.
Nava Shakthi Dance Production
Grant awarded to AmudhaSri Dance School for $300
Nava Shakthi is a dance drama in the Indian classical style of dance called Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam originated in South India and is practiced all over Asia. Nava Shakthi is a performance highlighting the empowerment of women through storytelling. It is the story of the nine avatars or manifestations of Shakthi the embodiment of the divine/cosmic feminine energy and how she fights to overcome evil. The three hour choreographed performance will include 90+ experienced dancers from our school and is directed by founder/artistic director of AmudhaSri Dance School, Guru Kalaimangai Anbalagan. The event will be a ticketed performance to serve also a fundraiser to raise money for The Genesis Foundation which is a non-profit organization, based in Boston, helping children with genetic disorders, rare diseases and disabilities.
Save the date for September 8th at the J. Everett Collins Center in Andover with doors opening at 2:00 pm. Click here for details.
World House; 7 Continents = 1 World
Grant awarded to Labyrinth Choir for $500
Because of the rampant divisiveness in our government and country, Labyrinth Choir would like to present a musical alternative by performing two concerts of songs that facilitate common ground among all peoples in May/June 2019. We are planning to represent the 7 continents of the world through song: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Antarctica. The inspiration for our theme of world unity comes from a quote by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “We have inherited a large house, a great ‘world house’ in which we have to live together—black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Moslem and Hindu”. Photographer Martin Jernberg will create a slideshow to complement the music and visually enhance our theme.
Coming June 2nd – see dedicated post for details
Ballroom Dancing Lessons
Grant awarded to Southborough Library for $600
After a successful pilot in August 2018, the Southborough Library would like to host a series of four successive Ballroom Dance instructional programs. The programs are informal but will be taught be Carole Ann Baer, the instructor who led the initial program on the library’s Main Floor. Many people missed the initial pilot night due a conflict with the last summer concert series from Southborough Recreation. . . . Residents/patrons could come to one of these event, or all of them, depending on their availability.
Starting June 5th – see dedicated post for details.
The latest round of grants also made possible the programs below that already took place over the winter and spring:
VisionBoard: Inspirational Collage
Grant awarded to Southborough Library for $332
Kim Larkin will lead library patrons in a project to create a personalized vision board using a variety of materials she will bring with her. Kim Larkin’s program description: “A soulful art program using mixed media (handmade papers metal, beads, inspirational text) to assemble a 10″ x 20″ Vision Board that is a personalized expression of each artist hopes and dreams.” Materials used includes: paper, fabric, metal, handmade paper, beads. All supplies are included by Kim.
The program was held on May 11th.
Symphony Pro Musica 36th Season
Grant awarded to Symphony Pro Musica for $250
Symphony Pro Musica is a local volunteer nonprofit orchestra providing the community with the full range of high quality orchestral music. We promote young musicians, visit schools to supplement the music program by teaching about the historical and cultural background of our program, offer pre-concert lectures, provide free tickets to students, first-time concertgoers, and also distribute free tickets to local Councils on Aging. We are naturally a place for talented musicians, young and old, to practice their craft. This year we’ll perform four concerts at St. Mark’s School–our first year performing in Southborough, led by Mark Churchill, our gifted conductor.
Funding supported the following concerts in town: Nov 4th Melody and Mastery, Jan 20th Knights and Wizardry, March 17 Sacred and Profane, and May 5 Virtuosity
American Folk Songs concert
Grant awarded to Assabet Valley Mastersingers for $250
AVM continues its 40th anniversary season in March of 2019 with a concert at St. Mark’s School in Southborough of American Folk Songs. The excitement and creativity of folk music arrangements will make performers and audience alike smile and want to dance as AVM explores the world of American folk music. Gwyneth Walker’s River Songs was commissioned by AVM in 1996 and is constructed around familiar folk songs about rivers. They are based on traditional American spirituals (“Deep River”) and folk songs (“A Mule Named Sal” and “The Water is Wide”). But new material is woven in as part of the ongoing evolution of this repertoire. AVM will also reprise Aaron Copland’s American Folk Songs which are based upon early American folk tunes. Finally, lively arrangements by Mack Wilberg, conductor and principal arranger for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for many years will be a delight to all.
The concert took place on March 10th.
ICB Winter Concert
Grant awarded to Interboro Community Band for $250
The Interboro Community Band (ICB) is a volunteer ensemble that performs regularly in the Central Massachusetts area. Up until recently, the ICB was under the auspices of the Southborough Recreation Department. In 2017, we moved our rehearsals and concerts to Algonquin Regional HS. As a result, we are now a self-funding organization. We are applying for this grant to help cover the costs (Algonquin Regional High School facility fees, printed programs, flyers and music director stipend) of our annual winter concert.
The winter concert took place on December 16th.
Messiah Community Chorus – Presentation of Handel
Grant awarded to Messiah Community Chorus for $250
The annual Handel’s Messiah Concert has been presented by the Messiah Community Chorus each December for 47 years. It has become a holiday tradition within the town attracting an audience of over 250 people from Southborough and surrounding towns. The chorus of approximately 40-50 voices consists of Pilgrim Church choir members and singers from other churches and the local area. Other performers include a paid 20 piece orchestra and 4 paid soloists. The conductor this year will be Grace Choi, the Minister of Music at Pilgrim Church. The concert is performed in the Pilgrim Church sanctuary followed by a reception in the church’s Fellowship Hall.
The annual concert was held on December 11th.
SCAC is a part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program. The 209 roung of grants was awarded at a ceremony in February. Stay tuned for news from them in the fall on how to apply for 2020 grants.
