Festivals & Projects Grants
The Mass Cultural Council's Festivals & Projects Grants program aims to foster a diverse and valued creative and cultural sector within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This grant initiative provides one-year grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with a fixed amount of $2,500 for eligible activities, to support projects that offer public benefit through the arts, humanities, or sciences. The program's activities are scheduled to take place between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The Council's broader mission aligns with advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across the cultural sector, viewing it as essential to the Commonwealth's vitality. The target beneficiaries for this program include a broad spectrum of organizations and the general public of Massachusetts. Eligible applicants encompass Non-Profit Organizations, For-Profit Organizations (specifically Profit Corporations, Multiple-Member LLCs, Limited Partnerships, or Limited Liability Partnerships), Government Entities (federally recognized Tribal, State, or Municipal), and Unincorporated Organizations operating with a fiscal agent. The grants aim to impact communities by supporting festivals, projects, or activities that are free to the public, thus increasing accessibility to cultural experiences. Furthermore, there's a strong focus on empowering organizations led by and serving people of the global majority (BIPOC-centered organizations) and those operating in cities and towns with lower median household incomes and educational attainment, including Gateway Cities. Prioritization for funding is given to festivals, projects, or activities that significantly incorporate or are primarily focused on arts, humanities, or sciences, and those that align with the agency's values of public service and inclusion. Special consideration is given to applicants who have not received Mass Cultural Council funding in the last three fiscal years or are first-time applicants, as well as those participating in the Agency’s Card to Culture program. This approach reflects the Council's strategic priority to broaden its reach and support new and underserved cultural entities. The expected outcomes of the Festivals & Projects Grants program include a more equitable and diverse cultural landscape across Massachusetts, increased public engagement with arts, humanities, and sciences, and enhanced cultural opportunities in economically disadvantaged areas. Measurable results will likely include the number of new organizations funded, the proportion of funding directed to BIPOC-centered organizations and those in priority communities, and the accessibility of cultural events to the public (e.g., free events). The Mass Cultural Council's theory of change posits that by strategically investing in diverse cultural initiatives and organizations that advance equity, they can strengthen the overall creative economy and ensure that cultural experiences are accessible and reflective of all communities in the Commonwealth.
Award Range
$2,500 - Not specified
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Additional Details
The Festivals & Projects Program FY25 provides grants for festivals, projects, or activities that incorporate arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. Eligible events should be publicly available and/or community-based, serving a specific geographic community or segment of the population. They must occur primarily in Massachusetts and have a minimum project budget of $2,500 in cash expenses. Applications open April 2, 2024, and close May 23, 2024, with award notification expected in September 2024.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Please note: Each organization can only submit one FY25 Festivals & Projects application. Organizations receiving funding from Mass Cultural Council’s YouthReach, or Cultural Districts Initiative in FY24 are not eligible to apply. Organizations receiving funding from Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Investment Portfolio may only apply for Festivals & Projects if FY24 is their last year of Portfolio funding. Organizations may apply for Operating Grants for Organizations and Festivals & Projects but will only receive a grant from one program, not both. (Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more guidance.) FY24 Festivals & Projects grantees who were approved for an extension into FY25 are not eligible to apply. The following organizations are eligible to apply: Non-Profit Organization: registered to do business in the Commonwealth, in good standing with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth at time of application (not dissolved or revoked) and listed in the Corporate Division’s Business Entity database, OR is a Massachusetts organization registered with the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division. For-Profit Organization: organized or registered to do business in the Commonwealth, in good standing with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth at time of application (not dissolved or revoked) and listed in the Corporate Division’s Business Entity database, AND is one of the following: A Profit Corporation, Multiple-Member Limited Liability Company (including C Corporation, S Corporation, and Partnership LLCs), Limited Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership. Single Member Limited Liability Companies and Sole Proprietorships are not eligible for this program. Government Entity: a federally recognized Tribal, State, or Municipal government entity in Massachusetts. Unincorporated Organization: with a Massachusetts address, conducting 50% or more of its programming in Massachusetts, operating with an eligible fiscal agent.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
May 3, 2024
Application Closes
May 23, 2024
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