DALTON, Mass. — The Cultural Council tentatively approved 15 partially funded and fully funded grant applications for local events and initiatives. 

 

The town received 41 applications from venues across the Berkshires, including organizations in Becket, Sheffield, Pittsfield, and, of course, Dalton. 

 

The state Cultural Council awarded the town council $8,000 for the 2026 fiscal year, however, the council also has a carryover of $1,000 from last year. 

 

The council tentatively approved requests from Grow Dalton Inc., the Community Recreation Association, Craneville Parent Teacher Organization, Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center, and more. 

 

Although the council approved these grant applications, the decisions are not final for two weeks as applicants have a chance to appeal. 

 

After independently ranking each event and a lengthy discussion, councilors decided to fund 15 events and initiatives including concerts, art programming, educational programs and events, a festival for seniors, and more. 

 

The members ranked each of the application with a scoring matrix that had the following criteria: whether the program or event ties in with the town’s Community Health Needs Assessment, if there are measurable outcome, whether it focuses on one or more target populations, if they have financial support from other nonprofits or community organizations, whether the event takes place in Dalton, and whether the event benefits Dalton residents.