Norwood Cultural Council Holds Reception For Grant Winners

The following was submitted by marypaz, a community contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

NORWOOD, MA - The Norwood Cultural Council (NCC) celebrated a successful grant cycle by hosting a reception for the recipients of the 2022-2023 grants at Julie Vecchio’s Custom Art Framing shop on Central Street in Norwood. The weather outside turned chilly, but inside the shop the atmosphere was warm and the mood upbeat.

A slide show prepared by NCC Secretary Arati Paranjpe listed the grantees and upcoming NCC events and opportunities. The Mass Cultural Council’s Community Program Officer, Timothea Pham, congratulated the Council and grantees on a successful grant cycle, and NCC Chair Ieshia Karasik gave the guests an overview of the Council’s work and plans for expanded outreach. NCC Grants Coordinator Amy Pfingston prepared an amazing spread of various crudities and other delights.

“As new chair, I look forward to collaborating with each Board member to continue the great work that has been done, and to expand our programs and community involvement,” said Karasik during her presentation to the group. “The Norwood 150th Committee is providing financial assistance for our electric light box painting competition, mural project, and day-long cultural festival. In addition to these large projects, we will be hosting grant writing workshops, feature local artists in ‘Pop-Up’ Art Exhibits, and work with other art and history organizations, such as assisting with the Norwood Art Association’s ‘Art in the Park’, and Friends of the Visual Arts ‘Public Art’ experience.”

She described NCC’s process for determining priorities for each grant cycle.

“We choose our priorities based on input from the community, input that we get from the annual survey distributed in the summer," said Karasik. "We strongly encourage Norwood residents to take the time to complete the survey to tell us what cultural, visual and performing arts, science, history, and humanities-based programs or events that they want us to provide. We then tally the results, and ask applicants to propose an event or program that fulfills the priority or priorities determined by community input. The survey is important for the audience as well as for the performers and organizations that want to share their knowledge and talents.”

The grantees for the 2022-2023 cycle are:

Attleboro Arts Museum, Inc.: “High Art” Exhibition: Reflections

Easton Children’s Museum, Inc.: Science Fun at the Campsite

Friends of Visual Arts: Norwood Yard Art

Sean Fullerton: Acoustic Memories for Seniors

marypaz: Norwood’s First Annual Art Walk

Mass Audubon’s Museum of American Bird Art: Nature in Your Neighborhood

Morrill Memorial Library: Morrill Memorial Library Artist in Residence

MUSIC dance.edu: I Am Autistic, I Am Fantastic

Norwood Art Association: Art in the Park; art demonstrations

Norwood Historical Society: Neighborhood Walking Tours

Parkway Concert Orchestra: Music Helps!; Holiday Pops; Our Town

Tommy Rull: A Musical Journey Through the Years

Roger Thicknell: Ireland to America

Balch Elementary: Jarrett Lerner, Children’s Book Author; Motoko, Folktales From Asia

F.A. Cleveland Elementary: Enrichment Programs for Cleveland Elementary students

Coakley Middle School: Rhode Island Black Storytellers

Oldham Elementary PTO: Painting the Playground

George F. Willett School: Music With Sarah; Discovery Museum Traveling Science Workshop; Wingmasters: The World of Owls; Grooversity

The Norwood Cultural Council would like to thank Vecchio for providing the venue for the reception; the grantees who were able to attend; Pham for her ongoing support; artist Don Swanson for demonstrating his painting techniques; and special guests Selectmen Amanda Grow and Bob Donnelly.

Funding for the grants is possible through the support of the Town of Norwood, donations and the Mass Cultural Council.

The mission of the Norwood Cultural Council is to promote excellence, access and education in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences in order to improve the quality of life for residents of Norwood. Comprised of committed volunteer residents, the NCC meets monthly with the purpose of supporting events and programs via grants from the Town of Norwood and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For more information, please contact board members at culturalcouncil@norwoodma.gov.