Below is a press release from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation:
LOWELL, MA — The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the inaugural Arts Elevate: Arts Equity Grants. Nine nonprofit organizations serving Greater Lowell communities have been selected to receive $5,000 each to support projects that engage youth, reflect cultural identity, and promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being through the arts.
The 2025 Arts Elevate Equity Grant recipients are:
- Aaron’s Presents for Walk This Way: Arts, Identity, and Movement in Lowell
A youth-led public art initiative inviting Lowell Public Schools to collaborate on custom-designed crosswalk murals. Building on a successful 2025 pilot with five installed murals, this project turns everyday infrastructure into vibrant platforms for youth voice and cultural storytelling. - Angkor Dance Troupe for Confluence: Chakthok Pheloun
A collaborative project blending traditional Khmer classical dance with contemporary movements to tell stories from the Cambodian diaspora. Serving Khmer-American youth ages 14 to 30 across seven communities, the program addresses cultural identity, post-colonialism, and social change while promoting mental and emotional well-being. - Artysh Lab Inc. for Artysh Lab Family Concerts in Greater Lowell
An interactive classical music series introducing babies, toddlers, and families with children ages 0 to 5 to live music performances. Research-based programs designed by professional musicians and educators support early development, wellness, and cultural connection. - Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell for Salsa!
An arts-based initiative using dance to advance social-emotional skills and physical health. The program leverages the club’s new Dance Studio and Community Center to support youth ages 10 to 13 across seven communities in achieving positive health and well-being outcomes. - Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell (CMAA) for Empowering Youth, Culture and Wellness Through Artist Led Projects: Yary Livan
A twelve-class session program connecting Cambodian-American youth with the traditional art of Khmer ceramics. Working directly with artist Livan, participants strengthen their connection to cultural heritage while exploring identity, history, and cultural resilience. - The Cannon Theatre for Support for Youth Theater Programs
Two annual theatrical productions—a full musical in winter and original work in summer—engage youth ages 8 to 17 from Devens and surrounding communities. Grant funding enables reduced or eliminated participation fees, making professional theater accessible to all young people. - Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell for Our Place, Our Power
A collaborative mural-making project where girls ages 10 to 18 participate in brainstorming and guided art workshops to co-create a safe, empowering space. The permanent mural reflects the organization’s mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. - Project LEARN, Inc. for Students Making Change Arts Exhibition & Photo Book
A youth-led initiative featuring 25 Lowell High School students from diverse backgrounds collaborating to design antiracism trainings and community dialogues. The project culminates in a photobook featuring student portraits and personal statements on social justice topics. - Refuge Art School Inc. for Refuge Access Fund
A year-round arts education initiative serving students ages 9 to 27 across Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell, Tewksbury, and Tyngsboro. The program provides weekly classes blending rigorous technical training in visual arts and dance with individualized mentorship and student stipends.
“These projects exemplify the power of arts engagement to transform young lives,” shared Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs & Strategy. “From traditional Khmer ceramics to contemporary dance, from community murals to theater productions, each grantee is creating pathways for youth to discover their creative voice, connect with their cultural identity, and strengthen their wellness. We’re honored to support this diverse range of creative expressions.”
The Arts Elevate: Arts Equity Grants program supports nonprofit organizations partnering with Greater Lowell artists to create projects that engage youth, reflect cultural identity, and promote mental, emotional, or physical well-being through the arts. GLCF defines the arts broadly to include all artistic disciplines—visual arts, music, dance, theater, film, spoken word, poetry, literary arts, multimedia, craft, and folk/traditional arts.
Arts Elevate is part of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s participation in the Barr Foundation’s Creative Commonwealth Initiative, designed to build, support, and sustain the regional arts sector.
“As youth studies report rising levels of stress and isolation, the arts present a timely and accessible path toward wellness for young people across our region,” said Aradhya. “These grants invest directly in proven projects that help young people discover what they are capable of, who they are, how they belong, and how they contribute to their communities.”
For more information about Arts Elevate or to support this initiative, visit glcfoundation.org/arts-elevate.
About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of over $70 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.
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