State Grants Apple Tree Arts $250,000

MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council have provided a $250,000 Cultural Facilities Fund Capital Grant to in Grafton, a nonprofit community school for the arts.

The organization will use the grant to restore the Old Grafton Town House at 1 Grafton Common, creating a performing arts center on the second and third floors. The center will serve as a venue for community and children’s theater productions, and concerts. Apple Tree Arts has moved its business office to newly renovated space in the building.

“This beautiful and historic space has a second chance to become a central gathering place for Grafton,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones in a prepared statement. “Apple Tree Arts has a vision for the town house, filling it with music and theater, and we look forward to hearing and seeing the organization’s work come to fruition.”

In recent years, restoration work on the building included renovating the roof, chimneys, dormers, gutters, and fire escapes. The project’s most recent phase improved the building’s accessibility.

“Apple Tree Arts is thrilled that MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council have honored this organization’s vital mission to ‘Create Culture and Community on the Common,’” said Apple Tree Arts Executive Director Donna Blanchard in a prepared statement. “The inspiration and direction we give our community’s youth today will create the ideas that lead the world tomorrow.”

Founded in 1989, Apple Tree Arts serves more than 3,000 people of all ages annually throughout south central Worcester County. The organization provides a wide range of performances, along with community musical and theater arts events, throughout the year. Educational programs include music for children as well as private instrumental and voice instruction.

MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council administer the Cultural Facilities Fund, an initiative of the Commonwealth to increase public and private investment in cultural facilities throughout the state. For more information, visit the MassDevelopment and Massachusetts Cultural Council websites.