Against All Odds: Our NEA Grant Has Been Reinstated!

Just a few months ago, it felt like the future of the Lowell Folk Festival was hanging by a thread. When the National Endowment for the Arts rescinded our grant, we were heartbroken and uncertain. Today, we are overjoyed, and honestly a little stunned, to share that the National Endowment for the Arts has reinstated its grant to the Lowell Folk Festival after a long and uncertain appeals process.

This outcome would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our community. We turned to you for help, and you responded with an outpouring of support. Your voices, your letters, your donations, and your belief in this festival truly made the difference.

We owe a special thanks to Nancy L. Donahue, Rockland Trust Bank, and the Saab Family Foundation for going above and beyond to support us through this challenging moment. Our gratitude also goes to City Manager Tom Golden and the Lowell City Council, as well as State Representatives Vanna Howard, Rodney Elliott, and Tara Hong; State Senator Edward Kennedy; and U.S. Representative Lori Trahan, for their dedicated advocacy. We also acknowledge the support of U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, whose unwavering dedication to supporting the arts added to the chorus of voices that helped carry us through.

This victory does not mean our financial challenges are over, but it is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together. For 38 years, the Lowell Folk Festival has celebrated the community, music, and culture on the streets of our city. With your continued support, we will keep that legacy alive for another 38 years and beyond.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us and for proving that this festival truly belongs to all of us.

With profound gratitude,
Lee Viliesis
Executive Director
Lowell Folk Festival