Massachusetts Arts Grants

This funding opportunity provides $5,000 to Massachusetts K-12 schools and organizations for creative projects in the arts, sciences, and humanities that engage students and promote equity and accessibility.

This grant provides financial support to business associations and groups of businesses to improve their commercial districts and foster local economic growth through various enhancement projects.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations and select public sector activities that benefit Lorain County, Ohio, focusing on projects in arts, education, health, and civic affairs that address social issues and promote community impact.

This grant provides financial support and resources to choreographers and circus artists in Massachusetts to help them create original work and advance their careers.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life for residents of Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth through projects in education, health, culture, and community services.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island that support programs and initiatives benefiting children and families in the community.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in New England to support public performances and community engagement activities featuring regional artists.

This funding program provides financial support to the Town of Lexington for projects that enhance open space, preserve historic resources, develop recreational areas, and create affordable housing, benefiting the community and its residents.

This grant provides funding to U.S.-based non-profit organizations to support projects that promote Japanese arts and culture, particularly in areas with limited access to such events.

The Boston Cultural Council offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to small and mid-sized organizations, including nonprofits, unincorporated entities, and artist collectives, that provide arts, cultural, and creative programming in Boston, with the aim of fostering a vibrant, creative, and just city.

This grant provides funding for innovative projects that improve dental care access for residents in Massachusetts, prioritizing community support and measurable outcomes.

The Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust offers grants to organizations that develop programs centered around arts, music, crafts, conservation, wildlife, and history preservation. The trust's mission is aligned with supporting initiatives that enrich communities through cultural, environmental, and historical engagement. The grants are intended to confer a benefit upon the citizens, particularly children and adults, in the towns of Westport and Dartmouth, and the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The primary target beneficiaries are children and adults residing in Westport, Dartmouth, and New Bedford, MA, who will participate in educational or cultural experiences. The impact goals include fostering appreciation and understanding of the arts, music, crafts, conservation, wildlife, and local history within these communities, thereby enhancing the quality of life and cultural enrichment for residents. The trust's priorities and focuses are clearly defined: programs must relate to conservation, wildlife, history of the area, and/or the promotion of music, the arts, and crafts. While open to all counties, there is a strong preference for programs that directly benefit Westport, Dartmouth, and New Bedford. Furthermore, proposals of equal merit will be prioritized if submitted by organizations located within the Town of Westport, MA, highlighting a strategic focus on local community development. Expected outcomes include increased participation in cultural and educational programs, greater awareness of local history and environmental issues, and the promotion of artistic and musical expression among the target populations. Measurable results could include attendance numbers at events, participant feedback, and the successful execution of conservation or preservation projects. The foundation's strategic priority is to support programs that align with its core thematic areas and demonstrate a direct benefit to the specified Massachusetts communities.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide essential services to Provincetown residents, particularly those with low to moderate income, in areas such as mental health, family support, housing, and services for marginalized communities.

This grant provides financial support to individuals, artists, and community organizations in Worcester County to develop projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences that enhance the cultural landscape and benefit local residents.

The GrowBoston grant program offers a total of $15,000 to nonprofit organizations to support outreach and community-building events related to urban agriculture. The primary goal of this grant is to engage Boston residents more deeply in existing urban agricultural resources and broader urban agriculture activities. These events must be open to the public and focus on activities such as gardening, farming, food forest stewardship, beekeeping, henkeeping, and the consumption of locally-produced food. This initiative aligns with a mission to foster community engagement and education around sustainable food practices within urban environments, directly contributing to local food production and awareness. The target beneficiaries are Boston residents, with a particular focus on engaging them in various aspects of urban food production. The impact goals include increasing public participation in urban agriculture, enhancing community connection to local food systems, and promoting a greater understanding of sustainable living practices. The program prioritizes events that are planned for spring or summer 2024 and are specifically focused on Boston-based food production or urban agriculture. Examples of eligible events include garden-opening events, farm or food forest "open houses," and farmers market opening days, as long as they highlight urban agriculture. The expected outcomes of this grant program are a more engaged and informed Boston populace regarding urban agriculture. Measurable results could include the number of events hosted, the total attendance at these events, and the diversity of urban agriculture topics covered. While educational components are not mandatory, their inclusion would further support the program's objectives. The overarching strategic priority is to strengthen Boston's urban food ecosystem by encouraging community participation and utilizing existing resources effectively. The theory of change behind this grant program is that by funding accessible, public events focused on urban agriculture, GrowBoston can increase residents' engagement and knowledge, leading to a more robust and sustainable local food system. By supporting community-building initiatives, the program aims to cultivate a sense of collective responsibility and participation in urban food production. Allowable uses of funding include event supplies, food, non-alcoholic beverages, entertainment, and outreach materials, with up to 10% for indirect/administrative costs. This ensures that the grants directly facilitate event execution and community outreach, reinforcing the program's core objectives.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and community groups in Central Berkshire to improve the quality of life for residents through projects in arts, education, environment, and health services, with a focus on underserved populations.

The Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program is a collaboration between the Smithsonian and Mass Humanities, bringing the "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" exhibit to rural communities in Massachusetts. This program aims to enhance local engagement by incorporating community-specific programming alongside the national exhibition. Each selected site will host the exhibit for six weeks from April 19, 2025, to February 1, 2026, and will develop six related programs. The initiative underscores the evolution of American democracy, with a particular focus on issues of representation, civic participation, and the responsibilities of citizenship.Key Dates: LOI opens March 11, 2024; LOI due May 10, 2024; Award Notification July 1, 2024; Voices and Votes Tour April 19, 2025, to February 1, 2026

This grant provides funding for experienced artists to collaborate with children in Boston's after-school programs to create a community art piece inspired by the Museum of Fine Arts' collection.

The Public Art Learning Fund, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), is designed to fortify the public art landscape across New England by offering professional development opportunities directly to artists. NEFA's overarching mission, as reflected in this grant, is to cultivate more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout the region. This initiative aligns with NEFA's strategic goal of fostering a sustainable and equitable public art ecosystem by investing in the skills, resources, and connections of artists working in the public realm. The primary beneficiaries of this fund are artists residing full-time in one of the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) who are actively engaged in public artmaking or are in the process of expanding their practice into this domain. The fund aims to empower these artists, contributing to more just and inclusive public art. Expected outcomes include artists developing enhanced skills and resources, leading to the creation of more vibrant public spaces and a stronger regional community of practice. The Public Art Learning Fund prioritizes opportunities that specifically expand an artist's public art practice and contribute equitably to more just and inclusive public artmaking. NEFA seeks clarity on desired learnings and their application to the artist's practice. The fund welcomes artists at various stages of their public artmaking careers from urban, suburban, and rural communities, recognizing that diverse cultural and artistic expressions are crucial for equitable and vibrant public spaces. A key focus of this grant is equity. NEFA acknowledges that various barriers, including race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, can limit access to professional development. Therefore, the Public Art Learning Fund actively prioritizes equity in its funding decisions. This may include, but is not limited to, prioritizing artists who self-identify as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and/or those who are rooted in rural communities, aligning with NEFA's theory of change that targeted support can address systemic inequities and build a more inclusive artistic landscape. Grants range from $500 to $3,000 and support opportunities taking place between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Eligible applicants must also have a Creative Ground profile, and the proposed professional development must directly relate to strengthening their public art practice and occur within the grant period. These measurable results, such as the number of artists served and the nature of their professional development, contribute to NEFA's broader strategic aim of fostering a more equitable and sustainable public art ecosystem in New England.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers in Massachusetts to help cover costs associated with hosting touring artists and performances, ensuring they remain competitive in a market influenced by casinos.