Power of Culture Blog
Card to Culture Shout Out – Oct
We are grateful to these 50 cultural organizations committed to a more accessible cultural sector
Christian Kelly, Public Relations & Events Manager
Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment are pleased to announce that four nonprofit cultural facilities will receive a combined $623,000 through the Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) to remain in a state of good repair.
CFF provides capital and planning grants to nonprofit organizations, colleges, and municipalities that own or operate facilities primarily focused on the arts, humanities, and sciences. These awards invest in the acquisition, design, repair, renovation, expansion, construction, and long-term planning of nonprofit and municipal cultural facilities. All selected projects are subject to a 1:1 matching requirement.
The Cultural Facilities Fund is funded annually through the Governor’s Capital Spending Plan. In FY26 the Healey-Driscoll administration invested $10 million in CFF, which supports this grant round and the awards that the Agencies anticipate making in the spring.
“Our cultural spaces are where Massachusetts comes together — to learn, to celebrate, and to be inspired,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “Through the Cultural Facilities Fund, we’re helping ensure these beloved places remain safe, welcoming, and vibrant for everyone who walks through their doors.”
“MassDevelopment is proud to co-administer this important state resource with Mass Cultural Council and we thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Legislature for their continued commitment to our cultural facilities,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “From a library in Belchertown to artist housing in Provincetown, today’s funding will support key renovation or expansion projects at cherished institutions across Massachusetts and help ensure future generations can access and enjoy these spaces.”
The four new grant awards were approved by a vote of the MassDevelopment Board of Directors last week:
“This grant will allow the community and visitors to the Pioneer Valley to start utilizing this historic building as a valued arts and recreation venue celebrating our future as well as our past,” said Susan Lynton, Treasurer & Founder, Friends of the North Leverett Sawmill.
“Greater Boston Stage Company is deeply grateful for the financial assistance of Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment in support of our theater’s facility improvements,” said Heather Mell, Managing Director, Greater Boston Stage Company. “This is not only an investment in our physical space, but also in the future of the arts in our community. Thanks to the support of our generous donors and these Commonwealth organizations, Greater Boston Stage Company can continue to inspire, entertain, educate, and connect through the transformative power of professional, live theater in the Boston suburbs.”
“The Fine Arts Work Center is a proud steward of more than 30,000 square feet of historic artist live-work space in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the nation’s most enduring artist community,” said Sharon Polli, Executive Director, Fine Arts Work Center. “The investment of Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment through the Cultural Facilities Fund is vital to helping us ensure that these spaces are welcoming and accessible for the next generation of artists and writers that will shape our culture in new and innovative ways.”
“Receiving this Cultural Facilities Fund grant allows us to perform critical maintenance work and directly benefits the people of Belchertown by ensuring that the Clapp Memorial Library remains a safe, comfortable, and welcoming place for all,” said Cyndi Harbeson, Director, Clapp Memorial Library. “For many patrons, the library is more than a place for books — it is a dependable refuge for internet access, cultural enrichment, and social connection. By replacing deteriorated windows with historically accurate, energy-efficient ones, the library will better serve our community, ensuring that everyone will have equitable access to a space that is comfortable year-round. The Clapp Memorial Library Trustees and staff are grateful to Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment for their investment in our building and, by extension, the entire Belchertown community.”
Applications are now open for the FY26 CFF grant cycle. Nonprofits, municipalities, and colleges with cultural facilities seeking capital or planning assistance are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is December 11, 2025.
There are three types of awards available:
Applicants seeking more information are encouraged to review the program guidelines or attend virtual staff office hours.
CFF was created by an act of the Legislature in 2006 to achieve the following goals:
From 2007 through today, CFF has awarded more than $181 million to 1,610 projects across the Commonwealth, employing 36,830 architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers. The organizations engaged in this work have reported adding 3,220 new permanent jobs as a result of these projects.
CFF’s impact extends beyond the nonprofit cultural sector in ways that benefit Massachusetts’ broader economy. The organizations awarded grants generate millions in annual economic activity through direct spending on everything from supplies to energy and advertising and are popular tourist destinations. CFF has also spurred private investment, leveraging nearly $3 billion in spending from the funded projects. Finally, CFF grants contribute to cultural preservation by helping to restore and expand many of our nation’s most treasured historical landmarks.
