MA250 grant program expands to support Revolutionary storytelling

The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism today announced a second round of funding through the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program, with $2 million going to 59 organizations across the state.

The competitive grant program supports projects that commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in dynamic, inclusive and regionally meaningful ways. Funded initiatives reflect key themes such as revolution and independence, celebrate the state’s many historic firsts, and employ creative storytelling to engage residents and visitors in the state’s lasting legacy.

This second-round builds on the program’s launch last year, when $1.5 million was awarded to 37 organizations.

The grants are helping communities bring forward untold stories, elevate local voices, and spotlight Massachusetts’s role in shaping America. From historical reenactments and exhibitions to education programs and cultural festivals, the MA250 Grant Program is supporting a wide range of efforts that inspire reflection, participation and celebration across Massachusetts.

Of the 59 projects funded this round, 10 are located in Gateway Cities.

Grantees include:
• Springfield Performing Arts Ventures, which will receive $16,000 for Revolutionary Love Community Theater’s Saving the Revolution, a musical drama and video series highlighting Henry Knox’s 300-mile cannon trek and love letters
• Discover Central MA, which will receive $50,000 for its Central MA250 Revolutionary Firsts Trail campaign highlighting the region’s Revolutionary history through digital content, trail maps, and event promotion
• New Bedford Whaling Museum, which will receive $25,000 for “When New Bedford Lit the World: Revolutionary Innovation and Culture in a Port City,” a multi-part project exploring the city’s revolutionary contributions to innovation and culture

The Massachusetts 250 campaign celebrates 250 years of the country’s independence and the state’s revolutionary spirit. The statewide campaign highlights often-told stories like Paul Revere’s ride while uplifting underrepresented voices and unveiling untold stories with hundreds of events across the Bay State.

For more information, visit massachusetts250.org.

• Link to full list of MA250 Grant awards