As reported last month by WHAV, the Greater Haverhill Community Arts and Education Foundation formally announced the award of a grant of $9,000 from the MassDevelopment, the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s partner in the administration of the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF). This grant was awarded through the MCC’s Cultural Facilities Fund Program and it will support the feasibility of acquiring and renovating Cogswell School, a vacant municipal building located at 351 South Main Street in Haverhill, into a community art center.
According to a press release, the grant signifies that Greater Haverhill Community Arts and Education Foundation provides a high level of public value through its programs and community service. In 2014 the Foundation administered the application of the newly designated Riverfront Cultural District in downtown Haverhill and this feasibility award continues its dedication to the arts and cultural community of the city.
“An art center at Cogswell School would benefit the entire Haverhill community by providing a program of multidisciplinary arts educational courses, dynamic exhibitions, and annual artist-in-residence projects,” said Jaime DeSimone.
The Cogswell Art Center Initiative is the brainchild of DeSimone, Danielle Smida, Tina Fuller and Leota Spero Sarrette, who submitted the grant application on behalf of the Arts and Education Foundation. They will donate their time to implement the feasibility study over the next six months.