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The Marblehead Cultural Council has awarded nine grants for 2026 to support community programming in the arts, humanities and science education, funding projects that range from live music and theater to public history, marine science and public art.
The council, one of 351 local cultural councils funded through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, said the awards will underwrite events and exhibits in venues across town, including Abbot Public Library, Marblehead High School, Crocker Park and the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as a new exhibit at the Marblehead Museum and Historical Society.
Jeanie Stahl, chair of the Marblehead Cultural Council, said members reviewed 20 applications before selecting nine projects.
"Our council enjoyed reviewing 20 broad and varied applications from members of our local arts and culture community," Stahl said. "We are pleased to announce that we have awarded nine inspirational grants to enliven, enrich and deepen Marblehead's creative arts scene throughout 2026."
Local cultural councils typically support community-based cultural, artistic, scientific and historical activities intended to be accessible to residents. The Marblehead Cultural Council said it emphasizes support for new, emerging and established artists and programs in local venues, as well as racially and culturally diverse programming.
Family and educational programs
Several of the 2026 awards focus on hands-on learning and family programming.
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary received funding for "Nature in your neighborhood — All about birds in Marblehead," a two-hour nature walk planned for May at the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary. A Mass Audubon teacher-naturalist will lead the program, highlighting the birds that live in the neighborhood, according to the grant description.
Salem Sound 2000 Inc., operating as Salem Sound Coastwatch, was awarded support for "School to Sea: Connecting Marblehead Families to Salem Sound," a series of family-friendly marine science programs designed for preschool and elementary-aged children and their families. Through partnerships with Marblehead Recreation and Abbot Public Library, the program will offer sessions where participants explore intertidal habitats, encounter live marine animals such as crabs and sea stars and take part in age-appropriate stewardship activities, the grant description said. Programs are planned for various dates in 2026 at the Marblehead Community Center and Abbot Public Library.
Windy Pham, founder of Little Ant World, received a grant for "Voices of Heritage: AAPI Art & Education Workshops," an event intended to highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander culture through bilingual book readings, free book giveaways, live cultural performances, hands-on arts and crafts and food tastings. The program is planned for Abbot Public Library, with the date to be announced.
Friends of North Shore Children's Museum Inc. received support for "Marblehead Free Days," offering several admission-free sessions for Marblehead residents at the North Shore Children's Museum at 10 Main St. in Peabody. The free days will be held on various dates in 2026, the council said.
History and performance projects
Other projects center on public history and performance.
The Marblehead Museum and Historical Society received funding for "Resistance and Resilience: Slavery and Freedom in Marblehead," an inaugural, semi-permanent exhibit expected to be on display for three years or more in the Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen & Slave Quarters building at 157 Washington St. The exhibit will examine the stories of people enslaved in Marblehead during the colonial period through stories, artifacts, images and documents, the grant description said. The museum plans to open the exhibit June 1, 2026, and keep it on view beyond that date.
Donna Cottereel received funding for "Three Heroic Revolutionary Captains from Marblehead," a three-part public history lecture series led by Marblehead Town Historian Don Doliber. The monthly programs planned for April through June will highlight Capt. Michael Corbett and the Pitt Packet incident, Capt. James Mugford's early Revolutionary War heroism and Capt. Samuel Trevett's leadership at the Battle of Bunker Hill, according to the program description. The April program will include selected readings from a companion play by Cottereel. Events are planned at the Gerry 5/VFW and Abbot Public Library.
Lanes Coven Theater Company received support for a residency and performance tied to Marblehead High School's "Romeo & Juliet" unit. The actor-driven professional theater company will bring guest teaching artists into high school English classes in February and March and present a professional performance of the play in the school auditorium, according to the grant description. Lanes Coven produces Shakespeare and classical plays for Cape Ann and the North Shore.
The Marblehead Festival of Arts received a grant to support the live music portion of its weeklong festival. The all-volunteer nonprofit, founded in 1962, hosts a summer arts festival with activities for all ages. Organizers said the live music program showcases more than 20 bands over four days and nights at Crocker Park. The 2026 festival is scheduled for July 2-6.
Public art for seniors
A separate award supports public art designed to brighten a shared outdoor space for older residents.
AgeSpan Inc. received funding for "Community Murals for senior residents of Marblehead Public Housing," a communal mural project at Farrell Court Apartments, a Marblehead Housing Authority property. The project will focus on revitalizing concrete planters in the common green space with public art, the grant description said. SPUR North Shore will contribute in-kind support by preparing the planters for painting. The project is planned for April.
Additional programming
In addition to the 2026 grants, the council noted that one event funded through last year's awards is now scheduled. Arts journalist Nick Zaino will present "The 80s Comedy Boom: A Boston Comedy History" on Feb. 25, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Abbot Public Library. The program will trace Boston's comedy scene from the late 1970s into the 1980s and is expected to include discussion of comedians such as Steven Wright, Lenny Clarke, Jimmy Tingle, Steve Sweeney, Barry Crimmins, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, Janeane Garofalo, Marc Maron and David Cross.
More information about the Marblehead Cultural Council is available through the Massachusetts Cultural Council's local council listings. The council can also be reached at MarbleheadCulturalCouncil@gmail.com.
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