Mass Cultural Council Staff
Each month Mass Cultural Council shares a round-up of grants, trainings, technical assistance resources, and opportunities for creative and cultural organizations (a companion to our Useful Links page). This list is not meant to be exhaustive but a glimpse of what is on offer in the coming weeks. (We also publish a weekly Artist Opportunities listing.)
Funding
TD Charitable Foundation’s next regional grant deadline is August 23, 2024, and funds local programs making an impact in the communities that meet one of the their Ready Commitments.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s new Massachusetts 250 Grant Program funds projects that highlight historic themes of revolution and independence, or take a creative or innovative approach to commemorating the state’s past 250 years. Register for an info session on August 6, 2024. Application deadline: August 26, 2024 at 3pm.
Smith Family Foundation’s Small Capital Grants offers $10,000-$50,000 grants for one-time capital expenses for nonprofits in the Greater Boston area (roughly defined as within Route 128) or in the Eastern Massachusetts Gateway Cities of Brockton, Chelsea, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, or New Bedford. The next deadline is September 5, 2024 at 5pm.
The American Theatre Wing’s National Theatre Company Grants program is now accepting applications. Five grants of $100,000 will be awarded to regional theaters in order to support projects that represent visionary approaches to presenting new work. Deadline: September 6, 2024.
The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation is offering grants to support inclusive and accessible outdoor recreation events. Their grants are intended to support grassroots, local, and regional organizations and their partners in creating or expanding outdoor recreation events across the state. Funding of up to $10,000 is available to non-profits, municipalities, tribal governments, state agencies, and partnerships between grantees and private organizations. Project proposals are due September 13, 2024.
The Community Foundation of Western MA’s Flexible Funding Eligibility Quiz opens on August 5, 2024. Flexible Funding aims to provide unrestricted financial support to sustain day-to-day operations of organizations, enabling you to focus on your mission. Organizations in CFWM’s strategic focus areas can serve Franklin, Hampden, and/or Hampshire Counties.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Technical Assistance Program is a funding program that enables and assists cities and towns in implementing projects that are beneficial to the community. Applications from municipalities are accepted on a rolling basis. Funding is typically awarded in early spring and fall.
Things to Attend
The American Association for State and Local History presents Next Practices: Discussions on the Future of Interpretation, a virtual summit from August 6-7, 2024. Investigate new and developing models of history and museum interpretation, considering all sides of the big questions facing teams and organizations. Registration: $60 AASLH Members / $75 Nonmembers. Registration includes access to all live sessions and session recordings.
Massachusetts Nonprofit Network presents Nonprofit Employment Law Basics (Virtual), which will cover the basics of employment law for nonprofits. August 7, 2024, from 9– 10:30am.
The American Alliance of Museums presents Future Chat: Coping with Climate Risk, a discussion on how museums can stay up to date on climate risk and climate action and reduce their own climate impact, while helping their communities adapt. Virtual on August 14, 2024, from 3-4pm.
Registrations are now open for Art-Reach’s 2024-25 Cohort, a year-long virtual professional development course focused on accessibility and the arts. All sessions will be hosted in zoom. Registration is $1,200. A 15% discount is available for organizations registering two or more staff members.
Candid presents Introduction to Measuring your Impact (virtual) on August 29, 2024, 2-3:00pm. In this introductory course for beginners, learn the basics of shifting focus from your nonprofit’s activities to its outcomes.
Save the date for the Berkshires/Columbia County Pay Equity Coalition’s 2024 Summit on September 25, 2024 from 5-7pm. This free event will present the research process and strategies the coalition has found to overcome and change the current challenges around pay equity for entry- and mid-level arts and culture workers.
Grantmakers in the Arts’ is taking registrations for its Capitalization and Nonprofit Financial Health Workshop online on October 30, 2024. As we face new challenges, how do funders ensure that cultural organizations will thrive? How do funders assess the financial health of their applicants and grantees to support each responsively? How can funders assess and respond to organizations’ financial health through the lens of racial equity?
Other
As part of our equity work, Mass Cultural Council has launched a d/Deaf & Disability Equity Plan outlining our next steps to support and encourage an accessible and inclusive cultural sector in the Commonwealth.
WATCH: SMU DataArts recently hosted a webinar on how data is helping to shift workplace culture and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Did you know that through New England Foundation for the Art’s CreativeGround you can find and list venues to rent? More than 400 venues are listed across New England so far.
Mass Cultural Council has a Useful Links page highlighting institutions, organizations, and groups that offer resources and supports for people looking to better their cultural organization.
Read Previous Months’ Listings
If you have an opportunity or resource for cultural organizations that you’d like to pitch for our monthly round-up, please email us. Efforts to submit the opportunity in a format similar to our standard (see listings above) are deeply appreciated. Because space is limited, the best submissions are 60 words or fewer and include links to web pages with more information.