This summer, the Boston Public Library Fund introduced the “Branching Out – Creative Catalyst Mini-Grant” program for FY’24, designed to provide financial support for programming at the Boston Public Library branches. With generous grant funding of $50,000 available, this program aims to empower branch staff to creatively engage patrons within their communities as well as cultivate an inclusive environment that fosters learning, discovery, and community building.
We are pleased to share that 21 branches provided grant applications, requesting support for 29 different projects. This was a wonderful process, and we were really amazed by the thoughtful grant applications to support creative programs geared specifically toward branch communities.
The Fund and the mini-grant review committee decided, given the thoughtful ideas and opportunities presented in the grants, to increase our award amount this year to $63,107 in total.
See below for the branches and programs that received funding!
| Branch | Program Title |
| Fields Corner | Dragon Dance Program |
| Chinatown | Play Reading Club and Mini Makerspace |
| Charlestown | Children’s Performances and History Lectures |
| Uphams Corner | Fiber Arts Classes |
| Codman Square | Hip Hop Party Block Celebration and Robotics Club |
| Faneuil | Comics Camp and Spring into Creativity |
| Egleston | Teens Inspire, Theater Games, and Connecting with Creators |
| Parker Hill | Mission Hill Mediation |
| South End | Let’s Move and Showcase for South End |
| Jamaica Plain | Intergenerational Fiber Crafts Club |
| Brighton | Brighton Makes Workshop Series |
| Connolly | Poetry Walk |
| Roslindale | Haitian Dance Performance and Workshop |
| South Boston | Ukulele Project |
| Honan Allston | Creating Art: Older Adults Learn Relief Printing Project |
| Grove Hall | Building Community Through Creative Arts & Sciences |
| Hyde Park | Indigenous Lifeways Project |
| East Boston | Hobbies for All Ages Project |
| Lower Mills | Lower Mills Art Series |
| West Roxbury | Chess Program |
| Adams Street | Our Voices Project |
We congratulate the branches for all you do to support our communities! The BPLF looks forward to all the great programs that will be held this year.
