               
|
Weathervane Newsletter Fall 2001
Humanities Foundation Finds New Home at Historic Northampton
The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities has moved into their new headquarters in the historic Shepard House on the grounds of Historic Northampton. The foundation, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, provides about 80 grants annually, for a total of about $500,000 a year.
For 15 years, the foundation had been located at Mount Holyoke College. After the college decided recently it needed the office space, the foundation reached an agreement with Historic Northampton. The move took place on September 24th.
"I can't think of a more appropriate setting for us to carry on our work," said David Tebaldi, executive director of the foundation. Four full-time employees and one part-timer will work in the Northampton office. The 66 Bridge St. site is the main headquarters for the foundation, which also has an office in Boston.
The foundation's offices will occupy the rear portion of the Shepherd House first floor and the entire second floor. The front first floor, including the Shepherd parlor, library and dining room will remain a historic house museum and will be open to the public on weekends.
Kerry Buckley director of the Historic Northampton said he is pleased to have the foundation on the campus of Historic Northampton. "It's an honor and a privilege to have partners with whom we share the same goals and mission. We are looking forward to having them as part of the community in Northampton," he said, "It speaks to the significance of Northampton as a cultural center and we're pleased they're part of that picture. They'll be a real asset to the cultural life of our community."
The foundation awards grants ranging from $500 to $25,000 to humanities related projects, including lecture series, library programs, theater productions and documentaries. Grant information and applications are available at the new office. Locally the foundation has funded renovation of the Calvin Coolidge Room in Forbes Library, several history projects at Smith College and many lectures, exhibits and programs throughout the community. Hayley Wood, administrative assistant at the foundation, said she hopes the move will attract more visitors. "We think being in the cultural hub of western Massachusetts will increase our visibility and get more people to use our resources," she said. For more information, call the foundation at 413-584-8440 or visit their web site at: www.mfh.org.
Contents Historic Northampton.