HOLYOKE — Holyoke Art recently announced that it has been awarded a $20,000 Flexible Funding grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for 2025.
This funding will support Holyoke Art’s mission to foster creativity, collaboration and cultural enrichment within the community. A portion of this grant, along with other funds raised, has been committed to unlocking a MassDevelopment Collaborative Workspace grant.
Executive Director Kathy McKean said receiving this grant was a great way to start 2025.
“It was wonderful validation of what we’re trying to do here in the community. Having the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, a well-known funder choose us for this grant was really a wonderful to start 2025. I can’t describe it, it’s just wonderful,” McKean said.
The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Pioneer Valley by supporting local nonprofits, students and community initiatives. Through grantmaking, scholarships and partnerships, CFWM fosters a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable region for all.
Holyoke Art is a new nonprofit that has been in business since July 2023 and is dedicated to supporting artists, makers and entrepreneurs through affordable workspaces, educational programming and community-driven initiatives. By fostering creative expression and economic opportunities, Holyoke Art plays a vital role in the cultural and economic revitalization of Holyoke.
McKean said this funding will be a boost to expand and help the many components of the organization.
Thanks to the generosity of private donors and the Florence Bank Foundation, Holyoke Art successfully reached its $15,000 fundraising goal, enabling it to unlock the full $30,000 needed to fit out the Print Shop makerspace and classroom at 62 Main Street.
This funding will allow the Print Shop to acquire new computers and state-of-the-art printing technology, including a direct-to-film printer and other essential equipment.
The Print Shop at 62 Main St. is a makerspace and classroom designed to empower artists and small businesses with access to high-quality printing equipment and digital design tools. The space encourages collaboration and skill-building, offering workshops and resources that help creatives bring their ideas to life.
The Print Shop will serve as a dynamic hub for artists, designers and entrepreneurs, providing access to professional-grade tools and fostering a vibrant, creative ecosystem.
McKean talked more about the Print Shop and said, “We have great members and community partners so it’s being able to work with them to get new machinery in here. It’s essentially all of the things you could possibly use to make T-shirts and mugs and banners and lawn signs and any of those things print-wise that you would like to do for your small business or for personal use or candidates for public office, all kind of things.”
The remaining CFWM Flexible Funding grant will support Holyoke Art’s operational costs, ensuring the continued success of its initiatives, including the ARTery gallery and marketplace at 289 High St.
The ARTery is a curated gallery and marketplace that showcases original works by local artists and artisans. It serves as a cultural hub for the Holyoke community, providing opportunities for artists to connect with audiences and sustain their creative practices through retail sales and exhibitions. It also serves as a platform for local and regional artists to showcase and sell their work, strengthening the creative economy in downtown Holyoke.
When talking about the ARTery, McKean said, “We have been able in the last two and a half years to create a marketplace for artists throughout the valley to show their work and sell. It’s a wonderful spot to get all kinds of great arts; specialty cards, buttons, all kinds of things. That’s really helped in helping to drive traffic to downtown.”
Additionally, funds will support placemaking and programming projects, such as La Plaza, an innovative vacant lot activation project at 400 High St., aimed at transforming underutilized spaces into vibrant community gathering places.
McKean said a goal this year is to get artists involved with a storefront art project. The plan is for the artists’ work to be hung in vacant storefront windows to work on bringing people together around the arts.
Holyoke Art extends its deepest gratitude to the private donors and the Florence Bank Foundation for their generosity and commitment to the arts. Their contributions have been instrumental in reaching this milestone and making the Print Shop expansion a reality.
