Waltham Cultural Council
The Waltham Cultural Council supports the arts, humanities, and sciences through grants and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, and artists. Through our efforts, we strive to make our community a better place to live, work, and visit. As a public investor in the arts, humanities, and sciences, we work to ensure everyone in our community has a place in our rich cultural life.
We fund activities and events that celebrate cultural diversity and local history, engage the community, and increase access to arts education for the Waltham community. Priority is given to projects that support initiatives with a specific focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
New applicants are encouraged to apply.
Contact
Eileen Peng
walthamculturalcouncil@gmail.com
781-314-3120
Address
610 Main Street
Waltham, MA 02452
Connect on Social
Facebook
Application Information
FY26 Allocation
$32,200
FY26 Local Priorities
The Waltham Cultural Council (WCC) prioritizes projects that foster inclusive community engagement through arts and culture. We value projects that support diverse, community-wide events, festivals, and public gatherings that promote social connections and engage residents of all backgrounds. Priority will be given to projects that make arts and culture accessible to all members of the community, regardless of income or background.
Examples of Eligible Projects:
Performing Arts: Music and theater performances representing diverse genres and cultures.
Cultural Festivals: Events showcasing the city’s multicultural heritage through music, performances, arts, and traditions.
Public Art: Community-driven murals, sculpture installations, and beautification projects that enhance public spaces.
Arts Education: Interactive workshops and programs for children, teens, and families.
Nature Programs: Nature walks, explorations, and outdoor events.
FY26 Local Guidelines
Additional Considerations and Guidelines:
Accessibility: Projects must be held in accessible locations, at convenient times, and be affordable or free to attend. Priority will be given to proposals that provide a clear and thoughtful plan for the venue, date(s), and timing to maximize community participation.
Marketing and Outreach: Proposals must include a clear and effective marketing plan for the Waltham community. Marketing channels popular with Waltham residents, particularly social media and local newspapers, should be used. (Please contact the Waltham Cultural Council if you would like more information on Waltham’s local publicity channels.)
Support for Local Artists and Organizations: Priority will be given to Waltham-based artists and organizations. We encourage applications from new artists/organizations that have not previously received funding. We also value projects from established groups with demonstrated impact in the community.
Use of Community/Public Spaces:
Applicants proposing events or art installations in public spaces are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and approvals.
Applicants proposing to use the Waltham Public Library, the Waltham Senior Center, or the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation must provide a Letter of Support demonstrating approval from the respective organization.
School Field Trips: Proposals for school field trips that offer enriching arts and cultural experiences are welcome. Please note that the Waltham Cultural Council will not provide funding for transportation costs, including buses.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Waltham Cultural Council ahead of the submission deadline if they would like to discuss their project ideas or have questions. Please email walthamculturalcouncil@gmail.com.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Reimbursement Grants
FY25 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African Cultural Services, Inc. | YSM _ Your Story Matters Magazine | $750 | African Cultural Services, Inc. | African music instruments and dance performance series | $1,000 | Alive Dance Collective, LLC | Storybook Movement Workshop Series with Alive Dance Collective at ARTrelief | $1,000 | Boykan, Deborah | Influence of African American and Native American Folk music on Antonin Dvorak and other European and American "Art Music." | $300 | Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation, Inc. | Rediscovering Waltham’s Harpsichord Manufacturing History | $800 | Chen, Hudson | Inspiring Vitality: The Timeless Beauty of the Silk Road Art | $300 | Community Farms Outreach, Inc. | Farm Day/Día de la Granja 2024 | $2,000 | Dinosaur Annex Music Ensemble, Inc. | Sound, Earth, Body - Contemporary Music on Climate, Nature, and Environment | $500 | Discovery Museum, Inc. | Open Door Connections | $300 | Downtown Waltham Partnership, Inc. | Watch City Steampunk Festival | $1,600 | Downtown Waltham Partnership, Inc. | Riverfest 2025 | $1,680 | Ethnic Arts Center of Somerville, Inc. | My Family Heritage Paper Bag Puppet Set | $750 | Feldman, Allan | Bike Rack Art Contest | $1,500 | Friends of the Waltham Family School, Inc | Expanding Access to the Arts for Waltham's Immigrant Families | $1,000 | Hargrove, Rob | Stringclusive | $300 | Henry Whittemore School Parent-Teacher Organization, Inc. | Cinco de Mayo celebration | $500 | Liendo, Karina | Bilingual Fun Storytelling_Latin American Series | $300 | Lucci, Jessica | Watch City Readers | $300 | MUSIC Dance.edu | Hip Hop Chair Dance for Seniors! - a dance series | $300 | MUSIC Dance.edu | I am Autistic I am Fantastic - The Musical | $300 | Mamai, Fiona | International Children's Convention- Waltham Children's Business Fair | $1,000 | McDevitt Parent-Teacher Organization, Inc. | McDevitt Multicultural Night | $500 | New Harmony Line Inc | Find your voice: Composing Music with Hyperscore | $1,000 | Opportunities for Inclusion, Inc. | Bringing Inspiration to OFI and Beyond | $1,000 | Powers Music School, Inc. | Watch City Singers at Waltham Council on Aging | $300 | Radio Uganda Boston Boston Inc | Radio Uganada Boston Summer Splash 2025 | $800 | Revive Discipleship | Waltham Moves: A Cultural Showcase | $1,000 | Shalom-Kobii, Tal Shalom | A tribute to Women composers and song writers around the globe | $1,000 | The Boston New Music Initiative, Inc. | BNMI’s 15th Anniversary Guerilla Concerts | $150 | The Waltham Museum, Inc. | Saturday Social Series | $1,000 | Thomas R. Plympton Elementary School | Plympton School Multicultural Night | $500 | Waltham Arts Council, Inc. | Concerts on the Common | $1,200 | Waltham Boys & Girls Club | See Me in the Community | $1,000 | Waltham Chamber of Commerce, Inc. | Play With Your Art Market and Creation Classes | $500 | Waltham Choral Parents Association | Eastern Show Choir Festival | $1,000 | Waltham Creative Start | Sing, Play, Grow! Children's Music Enrichment | $900 | Waltham Dual Language School | Immersive storytelling for grades K-5 | $500 | Waltham Farmers' Market | The Waltham Farmers' Market 2025 Concert Series | $1,200 | Waltham Historical Society, Inc. | Waltham Historical Society's Sanderson Lecture Series | $1,000 | Waltham Land Trust, Inc. | Winter Wonders Animal Program for Children | $500 | Waltham Mills Artist Association | Waltham Open Studios | $1,800 | Waltham News Alliance | Arts Coverage in The Waltham Times | $500 | Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra, Inc. | Two orchestra concerts | $1,200 | Waltham Pride Fest | Waltham Pride Fest | $1,000 | Waltham Public Library | Adult Programming | $2,000 | Waltham Public Library Children's Room | Children's Programs at the Library | $2,000 | Waltham Public Library Teen Room | WPL Teen Room Graffiti Camp and Graffiti Sneaker Workshop | $2,250 | Watch City Arts, Inc. | Cultural Dancing | $1,500 | Waterman, Jon | Live Music Making History Live | $300 | York, Matt | Matt York - Classic Country Revue | $300 |
Review Complete LCC Program Guidelines
