The Hudson Schools Arts and Humanities Endowment Fund was established in 2009 with the help of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation and the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The purpose of the Fund is to provide Hudson City School District (HCSD) public school students of all grade levels with exceptional educational opportunities in the Arts and Humanities. The Fund supports HCSD teachers and staff in providing exceptional education projects for their students in the arts, music, history, character education, culture, media and more. It provides grants for visiting artists, performances, workshops, field trips, special projects, independent projects, special materials and supplies, and teacher professional development. These are programs that are above and beyond the core programs supported by state and local funds.
In 2009, the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation graciously donated $200,000 to the Hudson City School District to establish the Hudson Schools Arts and Humanities Endowment Fund. To launch the fund, the donor required a $100,000 matching amount from the community. The Hudson community successfully raised that amount. In May of 2013, The Ellsworth Kelly Foundation gifted another $50,000 to the Fund to celebrate and honor the 90th birthday of Mr. Kelly. The Hudson community continues to be overwhelmed by the generosity of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation. This Fund offers a stepping stone to expand the hearts and minds of the children of Hudson.
The Fund is an endowment fund which will allow for earnings to be distributed in grants on a yearly basis while ensuring that the Fund grows in perpetuity. For five years, the donor is directing $20,000 in grants for Arts and Humanities projects to transitional grade levels 2, 6, 8 and 11. Each grade will receive up to $5,000 in projects each year for five years.
Teachers, community members, artists, educators and cultural institutions are invited to apply for funding for grant projects that support the goal of the Fund. Applicants not affiliated with the District Community are required to obtain a sign off on the grant application with a representative of the school in which the project is proposed. Please see the Grants section for the link to which you can apply for funding to carry out an Arts or Humanities educational project within the Hudson City School District.
The assets of the Fund are managed by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization located in Sheffield, MA. BTCF has its own Board of Governors who perform solicitations and oversee grant-making activities. The fund is in place solely to enhance the educational experience of the school district’s students.