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
Apply by Dec. 11, 2025 to Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund for grants supporting the acquisition, design, repair, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, or construction of nonprofit cultural facilities.
Mass Executive Office of Economic Development’s Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) grant program offers capacity building grants to REDOs that facilitate regional projects that grow businesses and support the Massachusetts economy, supporting regionally based efforts to grow and retain existing businesses, and attract new business to the Commonwealth. Deadline: Dec. 10, 2025.
Wyeth Foundation for American Art accepts proposals from nonprofits to support research, conservation, and exhibitions related to American art. Its grants usually fund innovative exhibitions, important museum catalogues and books, and the conservation or restoration of significant American artworks. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000. Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025.
The Brooks and Joan Fortune Foundation provides project support for education, arts, and outreach programs. Deadline: Dec. 31, 2025.
National Endowment for the Arts and Mid-America Arts Alliance are accepting applications for Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Grants up to $25K support organizations’ community-based arts engagement programming designed to support health, well-being, and quality of life for military and veteran populations, including family members and caregivers. Deadline: Jan. 15, 2026.
Shakespeare in American Communities, a theater program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, offers three grant opportunities for eligible nonprofit theater organizations:
- Schools Program: Supports Shakespeare-related performances and educational activities for middle and high school students. Matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.
- Juvenile Justice Program: Brings Shakespeare-related theater experiences to juvenile justice facilities. Non-matching grants range from $15,000 to $25,000.
- Apprenticeship Program: Provides paid apprenticeships for early-career theater professionals in administrative and technical roles. The programming that apprentices support does NOT have to be Shakespeare related. Matching grants range from $20,000-$30,000.
A mandatory Intent to Apply is due Jan. 29, 2026. Full applications are due Feb. 12, 2026.
MassCEC’s EmPower Massachusetts Program is offering two grant opportunities to increase access to the benefits of clean energy and/or reduce energy burden to previously underserved populations in Massachusetts:
- Innovation and Capacity Building Grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000 offering seed funding to explore innovative ideas for potential program models and to build organization capacity.
- Implementation Grants ranging from $50,000-$150,000 to implement new program models/projects for increasing access to the benefits of clean energy.
Eligibility: Community-based organizations, nonprofits, individuals, federal and state-acknowledged tribes, and municipalities. Rolling deadline through Mar. 26, 2026.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration has a new Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance Grant Program – through the Federal Funds & Infrastructure Office (FFIO) – supporting technical assistance activities for projects led by local governments or federally recognized tribes that are seeking federal funding or have received federal funding for community infrastructure projects.
The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau (MBVB) seeks to support the marketing efforts of tourism, hospitality, retail, attractions, and arts & cultural entities in MetroWest whose goals align with their mission of generating revenue in any of the 19 municipalities that comprise MetroWest through their FY26 MiniGrant Program. Applicants do not need to be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, but must be a member of the MBVB and based in one of the 19 towns in the region. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; you are encouraged to apply early. Grant applications will be closed once funds are exhausted.
Things to Attend
Register for New England Foundation for the Arts’ virtual CreativeGround Community Leader Workshop on Dec. 3, 2025. Connect with creative community leaders and learn how to use CreativeGround.org as a free resource in your community.
The Institute for Nonprofit Practice will host a free webinar, Building Together: Creating a Diverse Democracy. Geared toward organizational and community leaders, civic leader and author Eboo Patel will share his vision for a more inclusive, vibrant democracy and examine actionable strategies for bridging divides and fostering belonging across differences. Dec. 17, 2025 from 12-1pm.
The BEST Initiative is hosting a Supervising Youth Training on Jan. 13 and 15, 2026 from 10am-1pm. This training is eligible for full reimbursement through the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Express Program. If your organization is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit with fewer than 100 employees, it may qualify.
The Arts in Health Research Primer, developed by the UF Center for Arts in Medicine and UCL’s Social Biobehavioural Research Group, is a four-day, in-person intensive offering a strong foundation in the core skills and methodologies of arts in health research. Designed for learners at all levels, this immersive program combines hands-on learning with expert instruction from leading scholars and practitioners, including Dr. Jill Sonke, Dr. Daisy Fancourt, Dr. Jenny Baxley Lee, and Dr. Katey Warran. Jan. 26-29, 2026 in Gainesville, FL.
Health Resources in Action and the Boston Public Health Commission’s Center for Behavior Health and Wellness have partnered to provide a free training opportunity for community-based organizations that serve youth in Boston. Participating organizations can earn up to $5,000. Identify up to two, ideally, full-time, permanent, staff — who wish to improve Boston’s ability to better support the mental wellness of our young people — to serve as Behavioral Health Champions. Application is open until all spots are filled.
Other
Transform your city or community with the power of play! The Play Spot Adventure Educator Toolkit asks students to reimagine vacant neighborhood spaces as hubs of creativity, STEAM innovation, and community connection. This free toolkit from LEGO® Education includes an educator guide, worksheets, videos, classroom slides, and a spotlight on four STEAM careers that emphasize community building.
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is conducting a City of Boston Arts Funding Equity and Impact Study which launched in February 2025 and will be completed in July 2026.
Americans for the Arts’ Arts + Transportation Fact Sheet offers a collection of case studies and other national and local resources for creative transportation design.
Save The Date! Museums Advocacy Day 2026 will take place February 23-24, 2026. More details will be sent out in the coming weeks. Sign up to receive updates.
Interested in staying up to speed on the latest energy code updates? Visit MassSave’s comprehensive calendar of upcoming events and trainings covering different aspects of the new MA Stretch and Specialized Energy Codes, as well as assorted industry sessions.
Do you know a young person interested in music, dance, theater, visual arts, and more? Have someone in your life that is eager to build a creative life, even if they don’t pursue an arts-related path? Next year, The Wallace Foundation is fueling a Roadtrip Nation initiative, sending three young people (18+) out to discover how they can stay creative in life, even if they don’t pursue an arts-related career. They’ll travel across the country to meet inspiring leaders across a wide range of careers whose paths were made possible because of their arts experiences, proving that the arts are vital and important for all of us. Along the way, these individuals will gain real-world insights, career inspiration, and invaluable mentorship–all while being filmed for Roadtrip Nation’s public television series. Deadline: Dec. 21, 2025.
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.