By Lauren Gniazdowski
Daily News Correspondent
October 7, 2007

Newton --
The Suzuki School of Newton does not have a permanent performance space. The school holds shows at a local church and rents a piano for those performances, costing about $1,500 per concert. Sachiko Isihara, the school's director, said the money used to rent pianos could be applied to purchase one - if they had a hall. "If we had a real auditorium or recital space, we could be paying off instruments year after year," Isihara said.

Isihara's hopes for a permanent performance space in Newton may be realized thanks to grants announced last week for the Suzuki School and 61 other nonprofit organizations around the state. At the Museum of African-American History in Boston, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Mass Development, officially recognized the grant recipients on Oct. 4, 2007.

The Suzuki School serves as an umbrella organization for multiple cultural arts organizations in Newton and for the Newton Cultural Alliance. The grant of $18,750 from the cultural council must be matched 1-to-1. State Rep. Kay Khan, D-Newton, said the grant is a step forward for arts in her city. "There is a long history of cultural richness in the city that could have the opportunity to flourish more, and provide tremendous enrichment for the city and region," Khan said.

The grants are distributed by the Cultural Facilities Fund established in 2006 as part of an economic stimulus bill to support the planning and development of cultural facilities. The facilities fund had $16.7 million to award applicants who applied for the grant this year. The grant will fund capital projects or feasibility and planning studies for each organization.

"With the grant and with the pledges, we will proceed doing the feasibility study," Khan said. Khan said the study will help assess the possibilities of a project to create a cultural center for the groups in Newton.

Adrienne Hartzell, executive director of the New Philharmonia Orchestra in Newton, said many cultural organizations are looking for a space in the city. "I think in this day and age, collaboration is the key to success of small organizations," Hartzell said. She said the collaboration to get the grant will allow the organization to see how the community could use a new cultural arts center and if it would be sustainable over time.

Andris Vizulis, the president of the board of directors for the Newton Symphony Orchestra, said the city needs a central performance space for the various cultural groups. "In Newton, with all its love for culture, it seems a shame not to have a good performance hall," he said. "The objective really is to have a nice performance space where there could be a variety of good entertainment and serve various arts organizations."

Dan Hunter, executive director of Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities, said the state has an important role in investing in art infrastructure. "It's very intense because part of the competitive advantage with other states rests with cultural institutions," Hunter said. Still, he said cultural groups are locally important as well.