Barr Foundation Awards $14.2 Million in Q2 Grants

The Barr Foundation has announced second-quarter grants totaling $14.2 million in the areas of arts and creativity, climate, education, cross-program initiatives, and special initiatives. The foundation awarded seven grants totaling nearly $400,000 through its Arts and Creativity program, including a grant of $150,000 to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation in support of an effort aimed at "activating" downtown North Adams and leveraging the audiences and excitement generated by the recent opening of MASS MoCA's Building 6. Through its Climate program, the foundation awarded eleven grants totaling more than $3.5 million, including $100,000 to Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), Inc., and $400,000 to Community Labor United, Inc., both members of the Green Justice Coalition, which is working to help low-income residents and communities of color access solar energy and expanding renewable energy procurement requirements in the state.