As a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe on Martha’s Vineyard, Elizabeth James-Perry's artistry is drawn from her culture, community and the land her ancestors have lived on for thousands of years. A past grantee of Mass Cultural Council and a recipient of the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship award, Elizabeth’s artistic prowess lies in the traditional … [Read more...]
Apprenticeship Teams at Lowell Folk Festival
We are proud to share that eight Mass Cultural Council-funded apprenticeship teams will be demonstrating at the Lowell Folk Festival from July 28-30, 2023. Attendees to the free festival in Lowell, MA can experience traditions including Chinese papercutting, Nipmuc wampum and tanning, Dominican Carnaval mask-making, Uyghur calligraphy, and more. Mass Cultural Council Folk … [Read more...]
Traditional Arts Apprenticeships: Telling Their Stories
The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is a vital part of Mass Cultural Council's strategy to help the many diverse communities in Massachusetts preserve their cultural heritage. Through one-on-on mentorships, the Apprenticeships help strengthen traditional arts - especially those that may be endangered. We are pleased to share three new videos, telling the stories of … [Read more...]
Rep. Trahan Honors Young Artist
Recently, Congresswoman Lori Trahan, who represents Massachusetts' 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, hosted participants in the District's annual Art Competition. We are pleased to share that this year's competition winner, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School student Medhita Sinha, is a student of Sunanda Sahay. Sunanda, who was … [Read more...]
Ancient Dance, Virtual Teaching
Priya Bangal, a 2019 recipient of a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship award to work with master artist Shipra Mehrotra in Odissi dance, recently shared how their work together moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic. My daily practice moved from a large rented studio to a small area of the dining room at home... But the slowdown of pace and shift to the virtual realm opened … [Read more...]