American composer Lewis Spratlan won an Artist Fellowship the first year the grants were offered, in 1975. He had just begun working on an opera, Life Is a Dream, whose journey spanned five decades, from near-abandonment to the one of the highest honors in American music. Mass Cultural Council is celebrating 40 Years of Fellowships by sharing video interviews with some … [Read more...]
Choreographers Diane Arvanites and Tommy Neblett: A Prolific Collaboration
We're celebrating 40 Years of Fellowships by sharing video interviews with some of the extraordinary artists who have received Artist Fellowships since the program's inception in 1975. Many "perfect match" collaborations have helped Diane Arvanites and Tommy Neblett, aka Prometheus Dance, receive six Artist Fellowships since 1994, making them the most highly awarded artists … [Read more...]
Melinda Lopez: A Soaring Theatrical Voice
We're celebrating 40 Years of Fellowships by sharing video interviews with some of the extraordinary artists who have received Artist Fellowships since the program's inception in 1975. For playwright Melinda Lopez (Dramatic Writing Fellow '03), several opportunities came together in short succession, which opened doors, which led to other opportunities... All the while, her … [Read more...]
Merli V. Guerra on the Movement and Light of Luminarium Dance
Luminarium Dance received funding from the Arlington Cultural Council for "Night at the Tower," which transformed the Arlington's Park Circle water tower through film projections and live dance. That project subsequently received a prestigious Gold Star Award from MCC's Local Cultural Council Program. Luminarium will be presented with the award at the 5th Annual Gala and … [Read more...]
Celebrating 40 Years of Fellowships
In 1975, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded its first Artist Fellowships for excellence. This year marks the 40th anniversary of those initial state-funded grants to artists. We at the Massachusetts Cultural Council are pleased to say that the program is still going strong. Why does that matter? Forty years of public support of artists is worth noting not just because … [Read more...]