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.