Sara Glidden, Program Manager
Our cultural life thrives because of the work of countless arts, humanities, and sciences organizations across the Commonwealth. Mass Cultural Council is honored to announce 394 grants in FY25 totaling $7.2 million to organizations throughout Massachusetts. These organizational support grants – ranging from $5,000 to $55,000 – were awarded across two Agency programs: Cultural Investment Portfolio and Operating Grants for Organizations.
These grants will work to strengthen a cultural sector that generates an economic impact of $28.6 billion, employs some 134,000 people, and constitutes 4.1 percent of the state economy.
239 organizational support grants are being awarded though the Cultural Investment Portfolio, a program which is being phased out over the next four years.
The remaining 155 organizational support grants come from Operating Grants for Organizations, our new, primary funding program to support cultural organizations. (A total of 480 eligible applications were received this cycle.) Of these grant recipients:
Operating Grants for Organizations incorporates aspects of past Mass Cultural Council organizational support programs and was designed following an evaluation of our funding for cultural organizations. It was developed in response to the Agency’s Racial Equity Plan, and is strongly linked to the values expressed in our strategic plan.
Operating Grants for Organizations were decided through a review process that included funding priorities, and scores from reviewers from the Massachusetts creative and cultural sector.
Reviewers prioritized applications based on the program’s values:
- Support of Massachusetts artists, humanists, and scientists
- Demonstration of equitable practices
- Advancement of the cultural sector
- Deep and authentic engagement with community
Mass Cultural Council anticipates the next round of Operating Grants for Organizations will open in February 2025, with an application deadline in April 2025.
Our unrestricted organizational support grants help cultural organizations innovate, take on new challenges, and expand access to previously underserved audiences. We invest in ambition and imagination, with returns that improve our quality of life, create economic opportunity, and engage more people in cultural participation.
Cultural Investment Portfolio Funding List
Operating Grants for Organizations Funding List
Mass Cultural Council is hosting a grants celebration and press event for this new round of grants at the Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich on December 2, 2024 at 11am. Please join us!