Two Lowell organizations awarded funding through the FY25 Gaming Mitigation Fund to promote local entertainment
tate Senator Edward J. Kennedy and State Representative Vanna Howard are proud to share that the Lowell Festival Foundation and the Lowell Memorial Auditorium have been awarded grants through the Mass Cultural Council’s FY25 Gaming Mitigation Fund.
The Lowell Festival Foundation was awarded $94,700 and the Lowell Memorial Auditorium was awarded $144,900. In total, the Mass Cultural Council awarded $3.57 million in grants to 57 cultural organizations across the Commonwealth.
“I am pleased that the Massachusetts Cultural Council has selected the Lowell Festival Foundation and the Lowell Memorial Auditorium to receive grants from the Gaming Mitigation Fund,” said State Senator Ed Kennedy. “The Lowell Festival Foundation and the Lowell Memorial Auditorium provide artistic and cultural experiences to the Greater Lowell community and bolster the economy in Downtown Lowell.”
“This funding will not only support the Lowell Festival Foundation and Lowell Memorial Auditorium’s ability to bring in top-tier performances, but also boost our local economy by increasing foot traffic to downtown small businesses and restaurants,” said State Representative Vanna Howard. “These grants, being awarded through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, are designed to support community and municipal arts, and I am proud to see these funds going to such worthy causes.”
Both recipients have received funding consistent with the Mass Cultural Council’s Gaming Mitigation Fund’s mission of helping nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers pay for rising costs of touring shows and artists fees, which the agency says have risen due to the increased buying power of casinos. The agency said fiscal 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $200,000 and the amount awarded is based on a formula that considers the percentage of performances featuring touring artists and the amount of fees paid to those artists.
The Mass Cultural Council’s Gaming Mitigation Fund was established by the Legislature in 2011 with the passage of the Expanded Gaming Act. It is funded through two percent of state casino tax revenues.
“In short, the awarding of this grant from the MCC Gaming Mitigation Fund to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium is both deeply appreciated by our board and critically necessary for venues like the LMA to remain competitive in the ever-changing regional entertainment industry,” said Jim O’Donnell, Chairman of the Lowell Memorial Board of Trustees. “This grant allows the Lowell Memorial Auditorium the opportunity to compete with the many casino venues for top tier talent to bring to our community. In addition, these shows, and their attendees help contribute to Greater Lowell’s economic engine. Thank you, Senator Kennedy, Representative Howard, and the entire legislature for your continued support.”
“Thank you to Representative Howard, Senator Kennedy, and the Mass Cultural Council for awarding the Lowell Festival Foundation with this funding. Between the Lowell Folk Festival and the Summer Music Series, the Lowell Festival Foundation has a proven history of driving economic activity in downtown Lowell and bringing people of all ages together to share in culture and fun for all ages. We look forward to another summer of incredible performances this year and for many more to come,” said Arthur Sutcliffe, Chairman of the Lowell Festival Foundation.
The Lowell Festival Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 and is responsible for hosting the annual Lowell Folk Festival. The event began in 1987 and is now the longest-running and second-largest free folk festival anywhere in the United States. The annual event began in 1987, and this year’s festival will take place from July 25 to July 27.
The Lowell Memorial Auditorium is located at 50 E. Merrimack Street in Lowell and opened its doors to the public in 1922. Over 100 years later, it remains a destination for concerts, family friendly performances, conferences, conventions, trade shows, corporate seminars, and the annual Golden Gloves boxing tournament.
To learn more about the Mass Cultural Council’s Gaming Mitigation Fund, visit https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/gaming-mitigation/.