FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 3, 2025
Contact: Edwina Klünder eakluender@gmail.com 617-888-5859
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Click here for full list of 2025 grant recipients.
New Bedford Creative Announces 31 Projects Awarded
Art is Everywhere! and Wicked Cool Places Grants for 2025
NEW BEDFORD, MA – New Bedford Creative at the New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC) is proud to announce that 31 projects have been awarded funding through the Art is Everywhere! and Wicked Cool Places grant programs for 2025. These grants will support local artists, cultural projects, and creative placemaking and placekeeping efforts throughout the city, further cementing New Bedford’s reputation as a thriving arts and culture hub.
Nine of the 31 grants have been awarded directly to individual artists, with additional projects fostering artistic collaboration and supporting community-driven cultural initiatives. The selected projects showcase the diversity, authenticity, and expansive reach of New Bedford’s arts community, spanning the entire city from the far south end to the far north end.
“New Bedford is a canvas for hundreds of artists,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “Their creativity continues to enrich our City, and the support from NB Creative opens opportunity for more of it still.”
Highlighted Projects
Among the awarded projects are two initiatives that exemplify the program’s mission to create engaging, inclusive, and inspiring public conversations and spaces:
- Manifest Voice Intercultural Writing Club – Led by Paula Robinson Deare at the Low Tide Yacht Club in the city’s south end, this 10-week program will provide a supportive space for multicultural writers to develop their voices, engage in cultural storytelling, and contribute to an annual anthology. The program will emphasize representation and cross-cultural engagement, culminating in a published collection of participants’ work.
- Flora B. Peirce Nature Trail Revitalization – At the other end of the city, artist and landscape designer Jessica Bregoli will lead a project to breathe new life into New Bedford’s first public nature trail. The initiative includes the creation of five wayfinding sculptures, a new trailhead marker, and extensive trail restoration. The sculptures will highlight native plants, animals, and the historical significance of Flora Belle Peirce, a pioneer in New Bedford’s conservation movement. By combining public art, ecological restoration, and community engagement, the revitalized trail will serve as an accessible, vibrant green space for all.
About the Grant Programs
- Art is Everywhere! – Launched in 2020, this grant program funds innovative projects that weave the arts into everyday spaces, fostering neighborhood vitality and resilience while enhancing equity, celebrating diversity, and promoting open access to the arts.
- Wicked Cool Places – This initiative supports projects that enliven public spaces, celebrate cultural expression, and strengthen New Bedford’s neighborhoods, ensuring the arts remain a key part of the city’s fabric.
“The creativity and dedication of New Bedford’s arts and cultural leaders continue to enrich our city,” said Anthony Sapienza, President of New Bedford Economic Development Council. “These grant programs help ensure that the arts remain an integral part of our community’s identity, fostering engagement, education, and a deep sense of place for all who live and visit here.”
An independent committee of New Bedford residents and community groups reviewed and selected the grant recipients based on criteria including project quality, community impact, artistic excellence, strength of partnerships, and budget feasibility.
Funding and Support
The New Bedford Creative grant programs are made possible through funding from the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture & Tourism Fund, the Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural District Initiative, and the National Endowment for the Arts’ Grants for Arts Projects program. Additional funding is provided by the Barr Foundation, Bristol County Savings Bank, The Leonard and Hilda Kaplan Charitable Foundation, Schrafft Charitable Trust, and SouthCoast Community Foundation. For a full list of funded projects and more information about New Bedford Creative, visit NewBedfordCreative.org.
About New Bedford Creative
New Bedford Creative, an initiative housed at the New Bedford Economic Development Council, strives to amplify the city’s cultural and creative sector, supporting projects that contribute to New Bedford’s vibrant artistic community. Implementing the City of New Bedford’s strategic arts and culture plan, New Bedford Creative: Our Art, Our Culture, Our Future (2018), this work is led by a 28-member Creative Consortium, with staff support from the NBEDC and Departments of City Planning, Tourism & Marketing, Parks, Recreation & Beaches, and the Mayor’s Office.
Photo description: Recipients of New Bedford Creative’s 2025 grants gather at the New Bedford Free Public Library on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Josh Souza