Portsmouth, NH--Officials from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation released figures for the two decades of grants support from the Papoutsy Arts Ventures Fund. Celina Adams, Senior Program Officer for the Piscataqua Region of the NHCF, detailed the grant history of the fund, reaching nearly one-half million in total grants. Created to "improve access to the arts in the Portsmouth and greater New Hampshire Seacoast region," the fund has aided a wide spectrum of artistic groups in the seacoast region. By strengthening smaller arts organizations and by supporting community projects of local artists, the fund has helped maintain the artistic diversity and vitality of the region. For a full list of grants offered by the endowment fund, click here.

A well-known philanthropist, Papoutsy reflected upon the success of the fund when asked to comment: "The arts bring us together and unify us with a language that touches our hearts and speaks to our souls." Mary Papoutsy was quick to quip, "Ars longa, vita brevis," summing up the Papoutsys feelings that art tranforms us and transcends our lives.

The fund has been involved in many exciting initiatives and artistic ventures. Among its most rewarding activities has been the "affiliation between artists and nonprofit organizations. Through these unique partnerships, artists are gaining greater visibility and recognition, and organizations are being served in new and exciting ways," indicated Elaine Krasker, former New Hampshire state senator.