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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2009

Shelly Angers, N.H. Department of Cultural Resources
(603) 271-3136
shelly.angers@dcr.nh.gov

Cassandra Erickson, Chief Grants Officer, N.H. State Council on the Arts
(603) 271-7926
cassandra.erickson@dcr.nh.gov

State Arts Council Announces Cultural Conservation Grants

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts has announced the awarding of its Fiscal Year 2010 Cultural Conservation grants.

Funded through New Hampshire’s Conservation License Plate program—commonly referred to as the “Moose Plates” program—the State Arts Council grants awards for the conservation of publicly owned, historic buildings and artifacts that contribute to New Hampshire’s culture.

“When these projects are completed, we trust that these enhanced cultural assets will be valued by generations to come,” said Rebecca Lawrence, director of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. “Collectively, these projects and those the program has previously funded highlight New Hampshire’s rich artistic heritage, making the public more aware of how this program is conserving that heritage.”

The following projects received Fiscal Year 2010 Cultural Conservation grants:

• Town of Gorham—restoration of balcony and railing for historic renovated Community Theater in Gorham Town Hall
• The Players’ Ring (Portsmouth)—installation of gutters and downspouts for this 1830s building—which was originally built by Portsmouth Marine Railway—in order to divert water to a sub-surface drain system
• League of NH Craftsmen (Concord)—preservation project to increase public access to the League’s archives and permanent collection through a database and website

In 1998, the State Legislature established the Conservation License Plate Trust Fund, to be funded from the sales of special license plates. The Trust supplements existing state environmental and cultural conservation and preservation programs. The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is one division of the Department of Cultural Resources that awards grants from “Moose Plate” funds; the others are the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources and the New Hampshire State Library.

“Buying a Moose Plate for your automobile is one of the easiest ways to support New Hampshire culture,” said Department of Cultural Resources Commissioner Van McLeod. “We are pleased to direct back to New Hampshire’s communities a majority of the Moose Plate funds that are allotted to our department.”

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts serves as the policy making board for the Division of the Arts within the Department of Cultural Resources. It was established in 1965 as the official state arts agency with legislation (RSA 19-A) designed “to insure that the role of the arts in the life of our communities will continue to grow and play an ever more significant part in the welfare and educational experience of our citizens.” The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts receives support from the State of New Hampshire and the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more at www.nh.gov/nharts/.

New Hampshire’s Department of Cultural Resources includes the State Council on the Arts, the Film and Television Office, the Division of Historical Resources, the State Library and the American Canadian French Cultural Exchange Commission. The Department strives to nurture the cultural well-being of our state. From the covered bridges and traditional music of our past to the avant-garde performances and technological resources of today and tomorrow, New Hampshire’s culture is as varied as its geography and its people. This strong cultural base—which truly has something for everyone—attracts businesses looking for engaged workforces, provides outstanding educational opportunities and creates communities worth living in. Learn more at www.nh.gov/nhculture/.

 Last updated: September 22, 2009