The grants must be matched by local contributions.
AMHERST – The Amherst Cinema Center and the Eric Carle Museum both received cultural facilities capital projects grants, the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund announced Monday.
The fund awarded Amherst Cinema Arts Center $74,000 to install solar panels on the facility’s roof to generate electricity and solar renewable energy credits, reducing electric utility costs.
The facilities fund also awarded the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art $103,000 to install a high efficiency condensing boiler system and a humidifier, upgrade gallery and cafe lighting and repair entrance overhangs and drainage in the second floor mechanical room.
Both projects must raise matching funds.
The cinema center has been conducting a fund-raiser and has raised $40,000 toward its matching costs, executive director Carol Johnson said in an email.
The two grants are among 68 awarded totaling $8.9 million in funding, according to a press release from State Sen. President Stanley Rosenberg’s office.
“Supporting our local creative economy is essential for Western Massachusetts to continue promoting a healthy arts and tourism industry,” Rosenberg said in a statement.
“The grants fuel our vibrant arts community by ensuring that there is ample space for artists to thrive,” Rosenberg said. “These investments reaffirm our commitment to supporting both the local arts and tourism industries, and I thank Mass Development and the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their work.”