The Tewksbury Cultural Council has set an October 15, 2012 postmark deadline for organizations, schools and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities in the community.

For public information, the Tewksbury Cultural Council will host a meeting held at the Tewksbury Public Library on Saturday, October 13^th, 2012, from 10am to 12noon.

According to Council spokesperson Jackie Stone, these grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Tewksbury -- including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies or performances in schools, workshops and lectures.

The Tewksbury Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

This year, the Tewksbury Cultural Council will distribute about $6,400 in grants. Previously funded projects include: Tewksbury’s Festival of Trees, Tewksbury Community of Artists’ 18^th Annual Art Show, The Mass Brass Band at the Memorial Day Parade, Shawsheen Tech HS field trip to the Decordova Museum, and several artist performances and programs for children and adults hosted in Tewksbury locations including the public library and senior center.

For specific guidelines and complete information on the Tewksbury Cultural Council, contact Jackie Stone at 978-851-9296 or jackiestone1@verizon.net.  Application forms and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org/lcc_public.asp.  Application forms are also available at the Tewksbury town hall.