Ventfort Hall Receives Grant from Mass Cultural Council

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LENOX, Mass — Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion & Museum has received a grant of $15,300 from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, through its Operating Grants for Organizations Program.
 
Operating Grants for Organizations will provide multi-year, unrestricted operating grants to nonprofit organizations that enrich Massachusetts' cultural life. These grants will work to strengthen a cultural sector that generates an economic impact of $28.6 billion, employs some 134,000 people, and constitutes 4.1 percent of the state economy.
 
"I am thrilled to see Ventfort Hall receive this well-deserved grant from the Mass Cultural Council," Former State Representative Smitty Pignatelli said. "As a treasured historic site, Ventfort Hall plays a vital role in educating our community, preserving our local heritage, and enriching our cultural landscape. This funding will provide critical support for their ongoing efforts to engage and inspire visitors, ensuring that future generations can experience the beauty and history of this remarkable landmark."
 
For this fiscal year, Mass Cultural Council has adopted a $34 million spending plan, allowing the Agency to award at least 2,500 grants totaling approximately $38 million to the Commonwealth's creative and cultural sector. This is funded primarily through public dollars, including the Agency's $26.7 million state budget appropriation and support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The agency also runs the Mass Cultural Facilities Fund in partnership with MassDevelopment.
 
"We are deeply honored to receive this generous grant from the Mass Cultural Council, which recognizes our ongoing efforts to preserve Ventfort Hall and the vibrant history it represents," Executive Director for Ventfort Hall, Wendy Healey, said. "This support is vital to our mission, which goes beyond restoring this magnificent Jacobean Revival Gilded Age mansion. It allows us to celebrate and honor the diverse individuals and eras whose stories are intertwined with this remarkable place. Thanks to the visionary generosity of organizations like the MCC, we are able to continue writing a new chapter in Ventfort Hall's legacy, ensuring that this once-exclusive Lenox "cottage" remains accessible and welcoming to all."  
 
For this fiscal year, Mass Cultural Council has adopted a $34 million spending plan, allowing the Agency to award at least 2,500 grants totaling approximately $38 million to the Commonwealth's creative and cultural sector. This is funded primarily through public dollars, including the Agency's $26.7 million state budget appropriation and support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The agency also runs the Mass Cultural Facilities Fund in partnership with MassDevelopment.
 
 
 

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Ventfort Hall Presents: A Cozy Evening For Children

LENOX, Mass. — On Dec. 15, Ventfort Hall will host a Children's Evening Story Hour the story hour will feature books: "The Hat" by Jan Brett, "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, and "Katy and the Big Snow" by Virginia Lee Burton.

The event, that starts at 5:30 p.m., features classic winter stories, hot cocoa, snacks, and activities. 

Attendees are encouraged to wear pajamas and bring blankets to the mansion library. Allergy-friendly food options are welcome if brought from home.

On Dec. 29, the story hour will feature these books: "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, "The Mitten," by Jan Brett, "Polar Express," by Chris Van Allsburg, and "The Tomten," by Astrid Lingren

Ventfort Hall intern, Sarah Briggs, organized the event. Briggs is a local to Berkshire County and currently a senior at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, interning at Ventfort Hall this semester. She is an Arts Management major and Art History minor, pursuing a career in museum programming and education. 

Admission to the reading is free, but reservations are required and limited to 40 total attendees. All children must be supervised by a parent or guardian for the entirety of the evening. Reserve at https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call us at (413) 637-3206.

Ventfort Hall is decorated for the holidays. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.

 

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