New Bedford Creative to Receive $70,000 Award from the National Endowment for the Arts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Edwina Klünder eakluender@gmail.com 617-888-5859

NEW BEDFORD, MA – The New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC) is proud to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $70,000. This funding will support New Bedford Creative grant initiatives, including the Wicked Cool Places and Art is Everywhere programs, further advancing the City’s vibrant arts and culture scene.

The Art is Everywhere program supports projects that utilize creative approaches to address pressing issues for City residents, businesses and visitors, while the Wicked Cool Places grant program benefits projects that create or sustain vibrant, welcoming spaces that bring people together.

“New Bedford’s creative scene is thriving, and a big part of its success is the vibrancy artists bring to our public spaces,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “I am grateful to the NEA for supporting New Bedford Creative and the City’s overall arts and culture ecosystem.”

Through the New Bedford Creative program, the NBEDC is tasked by the City of New Bedford with implementing its comprehensive arts and culture plan. This plan is largely funded by the City’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund and other leveraged resources. Its vision declares: “In New Bedford, the creative community is an engaged and powerful partner, inspiring social, economic, and cultural growth. In this authentic seaport city, each and every person enjoys an opportunity to experience a diversity of cultures. Art is everywhere, encouraging fun, provoking thought, and nurturing the soul.”

The NEA’s support will bolster New Bedford Creative’s primary goals:

• Integrating Arts into Economic Development: Embedding arts, culture, and the creativesector into larger economic initiatives that benefit the city and the region.
• Increasing Arts Funding and Collaboration: Enhancing resource sharing and collaborationamong organizations and artists to expand operational capacity.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including the work being done by New Bedford Creative.”

The NEA’s recent fiscal year 2025 announcement includes 1,127 Grants for Arts Projects awards nationwide, totaling more than $31.8 million in funding.

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news, and to learn more about New Bedford Creative and its programs, 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. Funding is provided by the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund, with additional funding by the Barr Foundation, Bristol County Savings Bank, Mass Cultural Council, National Endowment for the Arts, New Bedford Cultural Council, Schrafft Charitable Trust, and SouthCoast Community Foundation. This work is led by a 28-member volunteer 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: The creative community of New Bedford gathers on Cuttyhunk Ferry Pier, holding signs promoting the arts on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

Photo credit: Ethan de Aguiar