The Seekonk Cultural Council has awarded 19 grants totaling $8,950.

Grants include funding for the Seekonk High School and Kevin Hurly Middle School band festivals, and a multicultural concert for Aitken Elementary School.

The grants also fund a few events for the town's 200th anniversary celebration, including a traveling exhibit of Wyland murals to be displayed in the high school from April 9-13 and an original song about Seekonk written by two time Grammy award winner Bill Harley, to be performed on April 9.

The Seekonk Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 local cultural councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

Decisions about which activities receive grant support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers. The SCC membership includes: Debbie Block, Bill Clark, Patti Dalton, Maria Holme and Martha Torrance.

The SCC received 32 requests for funding this year, eight fewer than last year. Last year’s available funds totaled $3,850 with $6,945 available in 2010. The SCC welcomes individual or corporate donations to increase the funds available for grants.

State Representative Steven Howitt (R, Fourth Bristol District) offered congratulations to the group again this year.

“Enhancing arts in the community and supporting the efforts of local artists is a wonderful benefit offered to Seekonk through the Seekonk Cultural Council. As a member of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, I have the opportunity to learn about the ‘state of the arts’ throughout the commonwealth,” Rep. Howitt said.

Full List of SCC Grants:

• John Porcino- Celebration in Story, Song, and Music - $425

• Seekonk Bicentennial Composition/Middle School (April 9)- $350

• Middle School Band Festival (June 6 - 8)- $400

• High School Band Festival (May 18) - $400

• High School Symphonic Band Bicentennial Composition - $1,000

• Wyland Traveling Mural Exhibit/High School (April 9 - 13)- $250

• Scott Jameson – Juggler - $495

• Attleboro Art Museum – High Art Exhibit (Mayy 22 - June 6) - $130

• Mark Cartier – Beatlemania - $350

• Song of Seekonk – Bill Harley (April 9) - $750

• Quintessential Brass Band Concert (August 8)- $650

• Middle School – Engineers Teaching Algebra - $500

• Middle School – Pianist for Alice in Wonderland Jr. Play (May 11 - 12) - $500

• Blues Brothers Concert and Dance - $1,200

• Seekonk Historical Commission Webpage - $15

• The Silly Laughing Musical Fun Poetry Show (July 23) - $500