LOWELL – The City of Lowell is thrilled to announce the recipients of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Cultural Organizations and Public Art grant programs. These initiatives are one-time grant programs overseen by the Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (CASE). The awards aim to support and uplift local cultural organizations and artists in their endeavors to enhance and enrich the cultural landscape of the community.

“We are excited to support our local cultural organizations and artists through this funding,” said Thomas A. Golden, Jr., City Manager. “These grants are a testament to the City Council’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and diverse cultural scene in Lowell, a scene we believe will continue to play a vital role in our community’s recovery from the pandemic.”

“These grants are a vital investment in our cultural ecosystem,” said Peter Crewe, Director of CASE. “We congratulate the grant recipients and look forward to seeing how their creativity and innovation will enhance the cultural fabric of Lowell and quality of life for all residents.”

The City of Lowell allocated $300,000 for the Cultural Organization Recovery program and $300,000 for the Public Art program. In a combined total, the City received 28 applications requesting nearly $900,000 in funds.

The recipients were selected through a rigorous application and review process, evaluating their proposals for creativity, community impact, and alignment with the City’s cultural goals.

The Cultural Organization Recovery grants are as follows:

• Arts League of Lowell – $1,837.50
• Angkor Dance Troupe – $30,000
• Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association – $19,500
• DIY Lowell – $30,000
• Friends of the Lowell Council on Aging – $17,285
• Latinx Community Center for Empowerment – $11,250
• Lowell Festival Foundation – $30,000
• Lowell Makes – $31,500
• Lowell Poetry Wheel – $23,220
• Merrimack Repertory Theatre – $30,000
• Mill City Grows – $26,000
• New England Quilt Museum – $4,000
• Refuge Lowell – $33,000
• Whistler House Museum – $13,000

The Public Art grants are as follows:

• Action Acre: New North Common Mural – $45,466
• ArtUp Lowell: Public Art and Culture Trail – $100,000
• CNAG: Welcome to Centralville Sign – $40,275.40
• Jay Hungate: WaterDragon Sculpture – $2,695
• Kit Collins: Let’s Dance Lowell Neighborhood Murals – $32,000
• My Beautiful Mind Mural and Canvas Painting – $50,000
• Ryan Horton: Kinetic Prism Sculpture – $11,000

A reception for the awardees will be held Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 5:45PM, in the Mayor’s Reception Room at City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell.

The City of Lowell was awarded over $75 million by the federal government to assist with the ongoing pandemic recovery effort. A dedicated ARPA team, functioning through the City Manager’s Finance Department, is managing the City’s ARPA funding with a focus on community, compliance, and transparency to residents through the online ARPA Dashboard:  https://city-lowell-ma-budget-book.cleargov.com/8250. As they become available, you can access new online grant applications in English, Khmer, Portuguese, and Spanish on the City’s ARPA Grants Opportunities page: https://www.lowellma.gov/1755/ARPA-Grant-Opportunities-Page.