The Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council has announced this year’s grant recipients, which range from Shakespeare performances to National Fossil Day.

The winners will be honored in a reception on Tuesday, May 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center in Vineyard Haven.

The celebration will feature a special preview of scenes from the new documentary by Liz Witham and Ken Wentworth, Keepers of the Light: The History of the Gay Head Lighthouse. The presentation will include a conversation with the filmmakers. Light refreshments prepared by Uma Datta will be available, and other donors include Chilmark Chocolates, Cronig’s Market, Grey Barn Farm, Our Market, Scottish Bakehouse, Stop & Shop and Vineyard Cash and Carry. The event is free and open to all.

This year the cultural council awarded 42 grants totaling $41,000, with each recipient chosen because of public benefit to Island residents.

Among those receiving grants this year are Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse for Shakespeare for the Masses, revised, condensed, and updated performances of Shakespeare’s canon; Abby Bender for the annual Built on Stilts dance festival, Martha’s Vineyard Film Society for the International Film Festival, Nathan Luce for the Oak Bluffs African-American Literature and Cultural Festival, the Aquinnah Cultural Center for the annual Native American Artisans Festival, and Emma Young for her project The Book: From Scratch.

The Marine & Paleobiological Research Institute received a grant for the National Fossil Day Celebration, and the Martha’s Vineyard Environmental Educators Alliance also received a grant this year.

The MVCC chairman, Robert Hauck, said in a press release that the cultural council is excited about the range and quality of this year’s projects. The council is part of a state program that supports community-based projects. The program receives annual funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council as well as funding from each of the six Island towns.

Applications for next year’s grants are due Oct. 16. For more information visit massculturalcouncil.org.

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