HCC chair Ilana Casady introduced the Diversity Mural last fall. FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

The Hopkinton Cultural Council, which supports community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities, recently announced its grant recipients for 2021.

Recipients are: Amazing Things Art Center, Discovery Museum, Sean Fullerton, an acoustic concert for Seniors, Hopkinton Center for the Arts, Hopkinton Freedom Team, Hopkinton Garden Club, John Root, a nature class on birds, butterflies and bees, Janet Schwartz, a pastel class, and the South Asian Circle of Hopkinton.

Additionally, the HCC will continue the Diversity Mural project, which was initially unveiled this past fall, and revive Art on the Trail as hosted initiatives. The mural project will be led by HCC chair Ilana Casady. Art on the Trail will be led by Darlene Hayes and Meena Kaushik.

“In a year like no other, the mural project was a bright light in our community,” Casady stated in an HCC press release. “When so much was canceled, HCC decided to create this project with support from the Hopkinton Parks and Recreation Department. It was inspiring and already receiving interest from artists for 2021.”

The recipients were selected at the HCC’s Jan. 15 meeting.

“As in previous years, requests for grants exceed funds available, and choosing among many wonderful initiatives can be a challenge,” Casady said.

The HCC receives grant funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, sciences and humanities to improve the community’s economics and quality of life. The HCC prioritizes funding local artists as well as artists who reflect the diverse cultures within the Town of Hopkinton. The HCC actively seeks opportunities to increase visibility to groups of different cultures to promote diverse grant opportunities within Hopkinton and our local region.

“I am thrilled to see the continued expansion of diversity and inclusion programs in the arts to be among the grant recipients from the Hopkinton Cultural Council,” state Rep. Carolyn Dykema said. “The HCC’s commitment to continue the 2020 Diversity Mural, supporting the efforts of the Hopkinton Freedom Team’s theatrical bystander training program, HCA’s Artists series on diversity and the HCC reviving Art on the Trail as a passive safe recreation with visual arts displays reflects this community’s hope, positivity and appreciation of local arts as we go into 2021.”