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The Town of Dartmouth leases the Old Southworth Libary building, located at 404 Elm Street, to the Dartmouth Cultural Center. The group was originally formed in 2017 to support the building, which was built in 1889 to be a community library, this effort remains a key part of the Cultural Center’s mission.
Now, the group hosts galleries for local artists and larger exhibitions which can feature works from across the country.
Building Upgrades
In 2023 the Cultural Center was awarded a $160,000 matching grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. That grant was matched by Dartmouth Community Preservation Committee funds which were approved at the 2023 Fall Town Meeting. With this money, the Dartmouth Cultural Center plans to make the building handicap accessible.
As a part of this work, the group conducted a study to determine what upgrades are most needed to increase accessibility.
Architect group Studio2Sustain concluded that installing a handicap ramp, creating a new entrance and designating one of the two on-site parking spots as a handicap-only parking space is what the building needs to become more accessible.
The first phase of the design includes adding an additional exterior door which opens to the handicap accessible ramp and parking space, and moving the bathroom to the back corner of the building.
Future phases of this project may include converting to electric heat and ADA-compliant stairs to the basement.
The Town of Dartmouth leases the Old Southworth Libary building, located at 404 Elm Street, to the Dartmouth Cultural Center. The group was originally formed in 2017 to support the building, which was built in 1889 to be a community library, this effort remains a key part of the Cultural Center’s mission.
Now, the group hosts galleries for local artists and larger exhibitions which can feature works from across the country.
Building Upgrades
In 2023 the Cultural Center was awarded a $160,000 matching grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. That grant was matched by Dartmouth Community Preservation Committee funds which were approved at the 2023 Fall Town Meeting. With this money, the Dartmouth Cultural Center plans to make the building handicap accessible.
As a part of this work, the group conducted a study to determine what upgrades are most needed to increase accessibility.
Architect group Studio2Sustain concluded that installing a handicap ramp, creating a new entrance and designating one of the two on-site parking spots as a handicap-only parking space is what the building needs to become more accessible.
The first phase of the design includes adding an additional exterior door which opens to the handicap accessible ramp and parking space, and moving the bathroom to the back corner of the building.
Future phases of this project may include converting to electric heat and ADA-compliant stairs to the basement.
In 2023 the Cultural Center was awarded a $160,000 matching grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. That grant was matched by Dartmouth Community Preservation Committee funds which were approved at the 2023 Fall Town Meeting. With this money, the Dartmouth Cultural Center plans to make the building handicap accessible.