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GRAFTON, Mass. - Apple Tree Arts was awarded $250,000 in a Mass Cultural Facilities Fund grant to help restore the historic Grafton Town House, Gov. Deval Patrick announced Thursday.
The grant was the largest awarded from a total of $7.4 million in grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund to support building projects for nonprofit arts, heritage, and science organizations across the state.
“The Cultural Facilities Fund has affirmed the project, our business plan and the support we have from the community,” said Donna Q. Blanchard, executive director of Apple Tree Arts. “One of the criteria is that the project must revitalize the economy and benefit tourism in the local area. The Town House location is stunning and the area is quintessential New England. The Grafton common will become a tourist destination."
The grant will fund the procurement and the installation of the limited use/limited access elevator according to Paul A. Scarlett, president of Apple Tree Arts board of directors and clerk of the Grafton Town House Oversight Committee. The third phase of the restoration of the nearly 150-year old building, which includes adding the elevator, is part of an overall effort to make the structure accessible for people with disabilities.
In the fall of 2008, the Town House Oversight Committee recommended forming a public and private partnership between the town and Apple Tree Arts for purposes of restoring the historic building and creating a performing arts center within its walls. The partnership allows access to funding sources only available to arts-based institutions like Apple Tree Arts, a nonprofit music and theatre arts school based in Grafton.
“In the past six months, Apple Tree Arts has received three grants in the amount of $425,000 from two private foundations and the latest one from the CFF which is administered through MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council,” Scarlett said.
“We have spent a great deal of time and effort doing research, grant writing, promoting the project and working with various local and state boards and commissions in order to get the necessary approvals for the project," he added. "The broad support and assistance we have received from both state and local government officials, including Representative George Peterson, State Senator Michael Moore, Grafton’s Community Preservation Committee, Historic District Commission, Historical Commission and the Board of Selectmen, as well as letters of support from individuals, businesses and town committees has been a tremendous help."
The award puts Apple Tree Arts almost half way to the total estimated project cost of $2.8 million, with about $1.3 million of funding generated. Out-of-town funding resources account for 44 percent of the money raised, of which 75 percent represents arts-related funding.
“It’s wonderful, an opportunity for Apple Tree Arts and the community to continue the restoration of One Grafton Common to benefit all the citizens of Grafton,” said state Rep. George N. Peterson, R-Grafton.
Apple Tree Arts continues to work on securing funding from cultural organizations and private foundations as well as corporate contributions and some key private contributions according to Ms. Blanchard. The organization is in the quiet phase of its capital campaign with the public phase planned to begin sometime next year.
“Now the organization is getting to the point that we can see how the renovated space will assist with the growth of the organization," Blanchard said. "We will be able to strengthen the breadth of our theatre arts programs and provide the community with more musical talent."
Congrats to ATA - I would hazard a guess that without ATA's involvement in this project, the town would not have received the $250k grant - seems like the $1 lease has already paid for itself