The Addison Gallery will be alive with the sound of music — and other forms of art and culture — on May 1 as the Andover Cultural Council hosts a reception for its 2008 grant recipients.

All Andover residents are invited to the "Andover Mass-terpieces" event, featuring live music, refreshments and discussion by grant recipients about their plans for art and culture projects.

This year, the Andover Cultural Council will fund 18 grants totaling $5,450, said Jennifer Cullen-Struhl, publicity chairwoman for the council.

The council had more than $50,000 in requests from various applicants, Cullen-Struhl said, and had only $5,450 to award — half of the budget they've had in past years. The council had to turn down applicants it has supported for many years, she said.

"We had a very small amount of money this year, and we felt we should continue to fund some of the smaller organizations," said Alan Michel, Andover Cultural Council chairman. "All of the applications were very worthy this year and it was very difficult to say no."

The council has also talked about doing a fundraiser for next year, to add to the money they receive from the state Cultural Council, he said.

At the "Mass-terpieces" reception, Anita Walker, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, will speak on the positive effect the arts have on local economies.

"She will be speaking about the arts as an economic engine. The Massachusetts Cultural Council has taken the lead in the Merrimack Valley with economic stimulus projects in the arts in Lawrence and Lowell and the commissioning of major art installations to draw attention to revitalization initiatives," he said.

Live music will be played by sixth- to ninth-graders in the Intermezzo Orchestra of the North Shore Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Exhibits at the Addison Gallery will be open for the reception, and attendees may enjoy the artwork throughout the evening.

Refreshments for the evening will be provided by Andover businesses Wine Sense, Atria Marland Place, the Cupcake Boutique and Bakery, I Dream of Jeanne Cakes and Sweet Mimi's Chocolates.

Michel said he is especially excited about having Walker to speak at the event.

"Walker's study of the arts and economic development, completed under her tenure as director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, was hailed by economist Richard Florida, author of 'The Rise of the Creative Class,' as a significant advance on his work in this area, and resulted in several key regions of the state incorporating arts and culture in economic planning efforts. So I think this short address should be enlightening and thoughtful in regards to some of the planning the town is doing," he said in an e-mail.

The Andover Cultural Council is a part of a network of 329 local cultural councils administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The MCC provides allocations to each of Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns to support cultural activities. This program is the largest volunteer-run arts funding program in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences annually, according to Cullen-Struhl.

Applications for the next round of cultural council grants will be available in the fall.

IF YOU GO

— "Andover Mass-terpieces," a celebration of 2008 Andover Cultural Council grant recipients

— May 1, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

— Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, 180 Main St.

— Anita Walker, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, will be guest speaker

— Discussions by grant recipients about their funded projects, live music and light refreshments

— Free and open to Andover residents

— For information for applying for a future cultural council grant, visit www.massculturalcouncil.org

Members of the Andover Cultural Council

— Alan Michel, chairman

— Denise Johnson, treasurer

— Linda Kirk, secretary

— Jennifer Cullen-Struhl, publicity

— Susie Novick, John Riley, Don Robb and Shelley Selwyn

Arts and cultural and arts organizations receiving 2008 grants include:

— Andover Chinese Cultural Exchange

— Bancroft Elementary School

— Davis Bates and Roger Tincknell

— Berkshire Hills Music Academy

— Delvena Theater Company

— Denise Doucette

— Sandra Dukeshire

— Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative

— Ruth Harcovitz

— Harvard Pro Musica

— High Plain Elementary School

— Scott Jameson

— Gina Murray

— Quintessential Brass

— John Root

— Society for Historically Informed Performances

— West Elementary School

— Young Opera Company