Salem, Peabody Schools Awarded Mass Cultural Council Grants

SALEM, MA — Salem and Peabody schools were each awarded $5,000 Mass Cultural Council to develop creative youth development programs for K-12 students, State Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) announced on Friday.

In Salem, Carlton Innovation School received $5,000 to support a school-based project that fosters creative learning experiences for students through partnerships with the school. Horace Mann Laboratory School also received $5,000 for an initiative emphasizing the importance of creative engagement in education.

Salem Public Schools secured $5,000 to enhance creative learning opportunities for K-12 students operated by or in partnership with Saltonstall School.

The Peabody Cultural Council was awarded $5,000 for a school-based creative project in collaboration with Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. West Memorial School PTO also received $5,000 to support creative experiences for students at West Memorial School.

"This funding from the Mass Cultural Council represents an important investment in the creativity and growth of our students," Lovely said. "These grants will foster enriching and inspiring creative learning opportunities for our young people. Thank you to the MCC for providing these opportunities for our students."

The Creative Youth Development program supports projects and programs that engage young people in the arts, sciences, and humanities, fostering critical thinking, self-expression, and collaboration.

Through the FY25 Creative Projects for Schools initiative, the Mass Cultural Council has invested $1.5 million statewide at more than 300 schools.

(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.)