The Groove Fund: Supporting the Connective Power of Art
Matt Popoli ’98, P’23, and his wife, Paula Popoli P’23 established the Groove Fund to put some muscle behind their belief in the power of art and the unique opportunities it offers for collaboration, community and diverse forms of expression.
The Fund, which promotes the study of dance, theater and the humanities, has had a dynamic impact at the College. It has brought guest artists to campus for workshops, lectures and performance series. It has helped to establish the Amherst College Dance Ensemble, a course modeled on a professional dance company that offers students the experience of working within a creative collective led by a visiting choreographer. It has supported a tour of the Ensemble to Boston, New York and schools and performance spaces within the Pioneer Valley.
“We sometimes take for granted that arts and humanities will always be accessible,” Matt said. “In 2016, there was genuine concern that the National Arts and Humanities endowments could be eliminated. It is vital for society to keep creating and maintaining support and access to all forms of art, artists and culture. Paula and I made this gift with the hope that the Groove Fund will help provide resources to generations of future Amherst students to carry this torch.”