Beverly, Salem Programs Awarded $22K State Art Grants

BEVERLY, MA — Two North Shore organizations were awarded state grants to develop arts programs as part of the Mass Cultural Council's YouthReach grant program.

State Sen. Joan Lovely's (D-Salem) office said the $22,000 grants were awarded to the YMCA of the North Shore and Beverly-based Express Yourself.

The YMCA of the North Shore will use its grant for the VIBE Creative Arts after-school program at the Salem YMCA. VIBE offers a safe, supportive space for youth to explore their creativity, build confidence, and develop teamwork in an inclusive environment where they can be themselves.

Express Yourself will use its funding for the Year Long Immersion in the Arts program, which brings together young people from the community and the Department of Mental Health to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary and culturally diverse arts program that brings 17 isolated communities together to perform at the Citi Wang Theater.

"The YouthReach program is a shining example of how the arts can enrich the lives of our young people," Lovely said. "I'm proud to see these two organizations recognized for their work fostering creativity and inclusion."

YouthReach supports innovative, youth-focused programs that integrate arts, humanities, and sciences with a focus on social justice and collaboration between cultural organizations and nonprofits.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)