EcoTarium, Antiquarian Society among eight to split $947K in cultural funding

Grant Welker Worcester's American Antiquarian Society received $225,000 to help pay for an $18-million renovation.

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Eight destinations in Central Massachusetts, including Old Sturbridge Village and Worcester's EcoTarium, were among those receiving funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Those entities combined received just under $1 million.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council's grants have been announced at various events across the state recently. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito was in Worcester last week to announce the area's grant recipients.

In all, the cultural council gave $9.3 million to dozens of projects across the state.

In Central Massachusetts, the grants went to the following:

- American Antiquarian Society in Worcester received $225,000 to help pay for an $18-million renovation with a new conservation lab, public space and other upgrades.

- Apple Tree Arts in Grafton received $219,000 for equipment upgrades, including audio and light systems, state curtains, mechanical shade and curtain treatments for the Grafton Town House's performance hall.

- Bolton Conservation Trust in Bolton received $96,000 to build an outdoor performance pavilion in Bolton Town Common.

- EcoTarium in Worcester received $122,000 to replace two sections of the museum's roof and to begin work on a new wild cat exhibition in a repurposing of a vacant polar bear exhibit.

- Fitchburg Art Museum in Fitchburg received $30,000 for planning an on-site art storage facility.

- Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge received $125,000 for exhibit space renovations at the visitors center and upgrades to the collection storage facility.

- Pakachoag Music School in Auburn received $5,200 for a feasibility study to determine plans for a new facility.

- Worcester Center for the Performing Arts in Worcester received $125,000 to install a new elevator, new lighting and signs at the Hanover Theatre.

The Baker Administration said in May it has placed $10 million in its fiscal 2018 capital budget proposal for the next annual list of cultural grant recipients.