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. 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
Mass Cultural Council’s complete list of FY24 grant opportunities for the creative and cultural sector are now available at a glance.
The Local Cultural Council Program provides grants for thousands of community-based arts and culture projects. Public programs to be supported in every community in Mass. Deadline: Oct. 17.
Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s (MAPC) Accelerating Climate Resilience Grant Program funds actionable resilience interventions that facilitate long-term, innovative changes leading to greater readiness for climate change. In particular, MAPC seeks to elevate projects that will advance climate equity, regional coordination, and social cohesion. Up to $50,000 per project. Deadline: Sept. 15 by 5pm.
Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Effectiveness Grant Program is designed to support a specific piece of an organization’s evolution that is focused on advancing structure, systems and/or processes to be more inclusive and impactful. Deadline: Sept. 8.
Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts’ Community Enrichment program supports activities that enhance the vitality of our communities, including activities that promote local arts, culture, creativity, civic engagement, and community development. Deadline: Sept. 8.
The Executive Office of Economic Development’s Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program seeks to develop, strengthen, and invest in community-led efforts to bring positive economic outcomes to communities that face historically disproportionate challenges to economic growth. The deadline for FY24-26 applications is Sept. 15 at 5pm.
Cambridge Community Foundation grants support community-based nonprofit organizations that address local challenges and foster opportunities across the community. Deadline: Sept. 25.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff grant application is open. A pre-recorded informational webinar will be available online in September. Application deadline: November 15, 2023.
The Schrafft Charitable Trust funds nonprofit institutions that are involved with the education and cultural enrichment of youth ages 6-18 in under-resourced neighborhoods of the city of Boston. They’ve recently expanded their grant programs to include the New Bedford area. Rolling applications.
The Dance/USA’s 2024 Archiving & Preservation program is open for submissions through Sept. 20. Dance artists & organizations are invited to submit letters of interest to work with archival fellows to complete archiving projects.
Resources for Finding Funding
Check out MassNonprofit News for a list of upcoming grant deadlines and foundations with rolling grant opportunities.
Candid is offering a webinar, Introduction to Finding Grants, on both Sept. 6 and Sept. 12.
On Sept. 19 and 20, nonprofits can get a one-year subscription to GrantStation for just $99. Great for smaller organizations that rely on grant-based funding and need help finding new sources. Learn more.
GrantWatch offers a robust directory of currently available grants. Subscription prices vary.
Find grants to fund nonprofits with Foundation Directory. Subscription prices vary. This online resource is also available at many public libraries (e.g., Boston Public Library).
Things to Attend
Access/VSA International Network hosts a webinar, Tools for Thinking: Design Questions as a Collaborative Planning Tool on Sept. 13. $10 for non-members.
National Organization for Arts in Health is hosting their quarterly research forum with Gregory Youdan on Sept. 13. Non-members welcome.
The Prospera Institute is holding their Inaugural Health Equity for All Symposium, bringing together those who wish to explore avenues for achieving health prosperity and health equity for all. Sept. 30 in Jamaica Plain.
Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is bringing back its Creative Exchange Conference to support artists and individuals working for arts and cultural nonprofits to help them build resiliency, establish new connections, and strengthen their skills. Oct. 4, 2023 from 9am-6pm.
CODAsummit San Jose, the premier conference exploring the intersection of art, technology and place, takes place Oct. 4-6.
And More
Americans for the Arts and the National League of Cities is accepting nominations for their Public Leadership in the Arts Award for City Council. Do you have a city council member who is an arts rock star? Nominate them by Sept. 29, 2023. All nominees will receive a letter letting them know that they were nominated so even if they don’t win, you will still get positive recognition. Questions? Email Jay Dick.
A governor-appointed commission (including a designee from Mass Cultural Council) is gathering public feedback on a new seal and motto for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Please share your thoughts by completing their survey by Sept. 27, 2023.
Central Mass Regional Planning Commission is conducting an Arts & Culture Asset Inventory. The end product will be a map of arts & culture assets in that region which can be accessed and used by towns and the public.
The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with Art Beyond Sight, has released the Careers in the Arts Toolkit for People with Disabilities. This online resource promotes equity, access, and inclusion for people with disabilities seeking careers in the arts with tailored sections to support artists with disabilities in their career path and those who play a significant role in offering opportunities for training and employment.
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.