News

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How does one finance a chamber music festival? NCMF does it with a mix of about one-third individual donations; one-third income from tickets sales; and one third state, government, and foundation grants. While such diversification makes our lives more complicated, it also provides a measure of safety: if we lose any big chunk of one of these, as happened during the pandemic, we’ll be in serious trouble, but not ruined. (Spreading the risk also allows us room for some new and creative experimentation with ticket prices to assist those on a limited income, but more on that in a later post.)

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It is in this context that NCMF is delighted to be the recipient of a Cultural Sector Pandemic Recovery Grant awarded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). Covid steamrolled many cultural institutions and NCMF took a real haymaker. Thanks to the incredible Newburyport community stepping up, along with effective stewardship from the board, it wasn’t fatal. Now, this timely grant from Massachusetts Cultural Council (applied for by our Treasurer, John Moreland, and President, Beth Clary) has decidedly helped us get fully back on our feet.

“This is the largest grant announcement Mass Cultural Council has ever made,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council. “It is with great pleasure and pride that we celebrate more than $51 million in pandemic recovery monies being equitably distributed throughout the creative and cultural sector today. These awards will help propel the sector forward economically and chart the recipients’ paths towards growth.”

Thank you - to the good people of Newburyport, the individuals, foundations, banks, and local community cultural councils that support us, everyone who advocates for arts funding at the state and national level, and to the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

David Yang, Artistic Director

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