In the News

National Endowment of the Humanities grants totaling $135,000 for 26 organizations in Greater Springfield and the Berkshires were announced on Friday.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, who represents 87 cities and towns that make up the First Congressional District, announced the grants with Mass Humanities Executive Director Brian Boyles.

Fourteen grants were earmarked to cultural organizations in Berkshire County and totaled $72,500.

The funding was made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law in late March.

“As one of the authors of the CARES Act where this important funding originated, I could not be more proud of the success Berkshire County organizations, and those across western and central Massachusetts, had with their applications,” Neal said. “This is what the CARES Act was meant to do – give businesses the means to get back to work and give members of the American family the means to support them.”

Boyles called the humanities institutions “critical to the recovery efforts in the region.”

The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge was one of the recipients, receiving $10,000.

“We are enormously appreciative to Congressman Neal’s leadership to ensure that not-for-profit cultural and arts organizations could have access to these crucial funding sources,” said Laurie Norton Moffatt, director and CEO of Norman Rockwell Museum, who hosted Neal and grant recipients for a conversation on the impacts of COVID on the cultural community.

Grant recipients in the 1st Congressional District included:

• Art for the Soul Gallery, Springfield — $2,500
• Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield — $10,000
• Berkshire Community Radio Alliance, Inc., Great Barrington — $2,500
• Berkshire County Historical Society, Pittsfield — $2,500
• Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield — $10,000
• Blues to Green, Inc., Springfield — $2,500
• Clinton Church Restoration, Inc., Great Barrington — $2,500
• Double Edge Theatre, Ashfield — $10,000
• Gaylord Memorial Library, South Hadley — $2,500
• Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield — $10,000
• Historic Holyoke at Wistariahurst, Holyoke — $2,500
• Holyoke Volleyball Hall of Fame, Inc., Holyoke — $2,500
• Longmeadow Historical Society, Longmeadow — $2,500
• Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge — $10,000
• Old Sturbridge Inc., Sturbridge — $10,000
• Polish Center of Discovery & Learning, Chicopee — $2,500
• Springfield Museums, Springfield — $10,000
• Stockbridge Library Association, Stockbridge — $5,000
• Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, Adams — $2,500
• Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center, Windsor — $2,500
• The Artist Book Foundation, North Adams — $2,500
• The Drama Studio, Inc., Springfield — $5,000
• Ventfort Hall Association Inc., Lenox — $5,000
• WAM Theatre , Lee — $5,000
• West Stockbridge Historical Society, West Stockbridge — $2,500
• Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield — $10,000