Intown Concord, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting vibrancy in downtown Concord, is proud to announce that they have been awarded a $5,100 Arts for Community Engagement (ACE) project grant. This grant will go to support the local artists who perform at Market Days, a 3-day street festival that takes place on Main Street from June 22-24, 2023.

The ACE project grant supports community-based organizations, Main Street programs, and municipalities in providing access to high-quality arts performances, activities, and programs. This grant category supports a wide range of activities including performances, concerts, exhibits, workshops, community arts programming, and collaborative public art projects that engage the arts and artists for the benefit of New Hampshire residents and communities.

"We are thrilled to receive this grant and grateful to the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for their support," said Jessica Martin, Executive Director of Intown Concord. "This grant will help us compensate local musicians who have been performing for free at Market Days for over a decade. We believe that these talented musicians deserve to be recognized and compensated for their contributions to our community."

This grant, combined with the organization's fundraising campaign, will help ensure that all musicians who perform at Market Days receive fair and equitable compensation for their time and talent.

Market Days is an annual event that attracts over 50,000 visitors to the area and showcases the best that downtown Concord has to offer. The festival features over 150 vendors selling everything from clothes to food to jewelry and offers three stages of live music featuring both local and national talent.

"We are committed to supporting the arts and artists in our community," said Martin. "We believe that the arts are essential to the cultural and economic vitality of Concord, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support our local artists through this grant."

For more information about Market Days or to donate to the fundraising campaign, visit the Market Days website at www.marketdaysfestival.com.