“Artists are doing incredible work in every neighborhood of our city, and it’s important that we continue to recognize and support their efforts,” said Mayor Walsh this week in announcing what some of the 2018 Opportunity Fund fourth-round grantees had done with their awards. “I look forward to seeing Boston’s artists advance their careers and improve our communities through this program.”

The Opportunity Fund was launched in August 2016 with the goal of supporting individual artists in activities that help them share their work with the public, teach others, continue their professional development and hone their skills. Through the fund, artists and educators are provided grants of up to $1,000 for meaningful, one-time opportunities.

The Opportunity Fund reopened in October 2017 with double the amount of funding and a modified structure. Overall, the fund has helped support 252 artists.Following is a sampling of what grantees from Dorchester did with their awards:

Ngoc-Tran Vu used a grant to facilitate ten weekly outdoor arts activities on the bench of Hero Square in Fields Corner from August to October; Eradicate Childhood Obesity Foundation, Inc. (EChO) used grant money to fund marketing materials for “A Sweet Fairy Tale,” a free concert at the Codman Square Health Center that taught children and families the dangers of added sugar and promoted healthier eating habits; Willie Pleasants used his grant to hold a meet and greet with local artists participating in Dorchester Open Studios at the Uphams Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library; the Cape Verdean Association of Boston used its grant to help fund the Cape Verdean Independence Celebration at City Hall Plaza this past summer, which featured performances by local musicians, Cape Verdean food, and local vendors and Matthew Parker of Dorchester will use the grant to purchase photography equipment to continue working as a photographer of black heritage in the City.