DALTON, Mass. — The Cultural Council tentatively approved partially funding various grant applications for local events and initiatives during its meeting on Monday. 

 

The council's priorities are improving residents' quality of life by promoting access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. 

 

The state Cultural Council awarded the town council $8,000 for the 2025 fiscal year; however, last year, the committee approved $1,000 for traffic control boxes at the Town Hall. 

 

These funds could not be spent because the state Department of Transportation placed permit applications on hold while the application and review process was being revised. 

 

These funds contributed to the total amount the Cultural Council had to allocate this year. The initiative was tentatively approved again but not for the same amount due to the high number of funding requests. 

 

Following a call for applications in September, the organization received applications from 41 organizations and residents requesting funding for local events and initiatives amounting to $45,075.

 

Of that, 18 applications were tentatively approved for partial funding. 

 

Because of the large amount of funding requests, the council prioritized those that directly benefited or will take place in Dalton.

 

After that, the number of requests amounted to more than $30,000, so the committee decided to cut projects that exceeded its total budget. Another 20 percent was cut from the $15,900 in remaining requests, but the amount was still above what was available. 

 

The council decided to reduce funding for larger organizations with more access to alternative funds and partially approve funding for initiatives that would make a more tangible impact on the town. 

 

The decisions are not final for two weeks, during which time applicants have a chance to appeal. 

 

The council tentatively approved partially funded grant requests for events at the Dalton Library, Community Recreation Association, Grow Dalton, Greenagers, Berkshire Music School, among others. 

 

It also partially approved funding requests for initiatives such as live music events, educational and senior programming, a LBGTQIA-plus history and culture celebration, and more. 

 

Last year, the council helped fund 14 initiatives for organizations including the Dalton Senior Center, Dalton Library, Sugar Hill, the Community Recreation Association, and Dalton schools.