Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals

FAQs

Why did Mass Cultural Council create this grant program?
This program is meant to support the cultural sector’s recovery from the pandemic and set a path for growth. It is a one-time program created in response to the Massachusetts Legislature’s Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021, An Act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs, which invests state and federal funds into pandemic recovery.

For Grant Recipients

If you have any questions regarding your grant award that are not included in this FAQ please contact us.

How do I check on my contract or payment?
Please do not call or email to ask the status of your contract or payment. We are prioritizing processing contracts and making payments. With several thousand contracts in the office, tracking one down can take away time from making payments. You will find info below about how to check on your contract and payment yourself.

How to check your contract:

- Log in to our grants management system.
- On your portal in the Requires Attention section, go to Submitted Activities to view your contract status, then click open to view the Contract Details, including the Received Date.
- Please note, if you have not downloaded your contract yet, you will see it in the Contract Package section instead. Please download it and return it as soon as possible.
- You will receive an email when we receive your contract, and you will receive an email when it is fully executed and available for you to download for your records.

How to check on my payment:

- Log in to our grants management system.
- On your portal in the Application section, go to Payments to view your payment records, then click open to view the Payment Details.
- You will receive an email when a payment has been made.

How will I know when my grant contract has been received at Mass Cultural Council?
Once your documents are received and date stamped, your status in the grants management system will change to “received” and will reflect the date that the contract was received. This can help you to track the status of your grant application and ensure that all necessary paperwork has been received. You will also receive email confirmation.

After my contract package has been received, how will I know if the information provided was submitted correctly and approved for payment?
If an issue was identified with the information that you submitted a member of the finance team or one of the Agency’s fiscal assistance staff will contact you to help resolve the issue.

If your information was submitted correctly, you are set.

When will I receive my grant distribution?
The current volume of grants this year is unprecedented. We estimate a 10-12 week waiting period starting from the date we receive your completed documents.

When I look in “Payments” in the grants management system, it says my grant is “Paid,” but it hasn’t been deposited in my bank account. Why?
If you owe past due fees/debts to other state agencies, it’s possible that some or all of your grant has been intercepted by the Office of the Comptroller. Past due state taxes, tuition, or other fees may all result in intercepted funds.

If the intercept amount is smaller than your grant total, the remaining amount will be mailed to you as a printed check by the Office of the Comptroller, with information about which state department has intercepted your grant payment. Please note this is a process outside of Mass Cultural Council’s control. We cannot estimate the timing of the arrival of any remaining funds after an intercept.

Why is it taking so long to process grant payments?
Fiscal Year 2023 is a historic year at Mass Cultural Council. Traditionally we award and administer around 1,300 grants per year. This year, because of the one-time pandemic recovery programs, we are working to complete payments for more than 7,000 awards.

This unprecedented scope of work combined with the complexity of the state grant payment system means that processing grant contracts and payments is taking us much longer than anticipated.

What do I do if I have moved, and the address on the Standard Contract Form is no longer valid?

Cross out your old address on the Standard Contract Form and write in your new/current address.
Ensure that the legal address on both the W9 and EFT forms matches your current address on the Standard Contract Form.
Include a note with your returned contract documents flagging the address change. This will help flag the change for us.
Update your information in the grants management system for future grant opportunities.

What do I do if my name is incorrect on the Standard Contract Form?

Cross out the incorrect name and write in your legal name on the Standard Contract Form.
Ensure that your legal name on the Standard Contract Form matches both the W9 and EFT forms.
If you have a DBA stage name, include that information in the DBA section on each form.
When you return the contract package, include a note mentioning the name change. This will help flag the change for us.
The final step is to go into the online application and update your name.

Am I required to have a DUNS or Unique Entity Identifier number?
No, Mass Cultural Council grants do not require a DUNS Number. A Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) number is required for organization or individual grantees that are receiving federal funds. If you are receiving federal funds, you will be notified. If you have not been notified, you do not need a Unique Entity Identifier number.

Do I need to complete Part 6 on the EFT Form?
No, please leave this section blank.

Do I need to fill in the Vendor Code section on the Standard Contract Form?
If you are a new grantee, you do not need to fill in the Vendor Code section on the Standard Contract Form. The vendor code section will be completed by Mass Cultural Council after a number has been created for you.

Is the grant award taxable?
Your grant award is considered taxable income. You will receive a 1099G Form to file with your 2023 taxes. It is important to consult with a tax professional or use tax software to ensure that you are reporting your grant award correctly on your tax return.

Why do I need to provide a voided check or bank letter?
A voided check or bank letter is required to disburse grant funds through electronic funds transfer (EFT). We need to verify your banking information to ensure that the grant funds are deposited into the correct account.

If you do not have a voided check, a bank letter can also be used to provide this information. A bank letter that is typically used for this process is the “Non-Federal Direct Deposit Enrollment Request Form”. Some banks may provide access to this form on their online banking account, or you may need to request it from your bank in person.

Applicant Eligibility

Who can apply to the Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals?
To apply for this grant, an applicant must be: an artist or cultural practitioner active in any artistic discipline or cultural tradition; a teaching artist/scientist/humanist; or a cultural worker in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. In all cases, the individual’s work should be independent/self-employed. Applicants must be 18 years or older. And applicants must be full-year residents of Massachusetts. (This means you maintain your “legal residence” in Massachusetts, and you meet the definition of a “full-year resident”. Both terms are defined in the Massachusetts tax code. You must provide a physical address in your application.)

I’m a full-time student. Can I apply?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications from individuals currently enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university.

How do you define “artist/cultural practitioner”?
We define “artist/cultural practitioner” as artists and culture bearers working in arts, crafts, dance, design, digital media, film/video, folk, world and traditional arts, literature, music, performance, photography, theater, and visual arts. Examples include but are not limited to actors, street artists, drag artists, DJs, theater designers and directors, puppeteers, comedians, choreographers, dancers, filmmakers/videographers, musicians, composers, conductors, creative writers of all genres and formats, muralists/public artists, and community-based artists and visual artists of all kinds. If you have any questions about whether your work is eligible for this grant, contact us.

How do you define “active”?
By “active,” we mean that you are currently committing time to practicing your art form. You do not necessarily need to derive significant income from your work in the arts (though it’s also fine if you do), but you should be able to demonstrate activity within the past five years. The application form requires you to upload your resume or include a URL that demonstrates your activity in your artistic practice.

How do you define “teaching artist/scientist/humanist”?
We define “teaching artist” as an independent individual who teaches art or artistic professional development to people of any age in any setting. Examples include but are not limited to: private music/art lessons; one-time workshops; K-12 school and community-based residencies; and ongoing art classes. We define “teaching scientist/humanist” as an independent individual whose work promotes education in the interpretive sciences or humanities to people of any age in any setting. Examples include but are not limited to: K-12 school and community-based residencies; one-time presentations at libraries, elder facilities, or other community venues; and activities at science fairs or public history discussions. If you have any questions about whether your work is eligible for this grant, contact us.

How do you define “cultural worker”?
We define “cultural worker” as an independent individual directly involved in arts and culture but who may not identify as an “artist.” Examples include but are not limited to a freelance curator, theater lighting technician, art conservationist, producer, editor, arts critic, or tour guide in cultural settings. If you have any questions about whether your work is eligible for this grant, contact us.

How do you define “independent”?
By “independent,” we mean primarily working on a freelance, contract, or gig basis. Unfortunately, we cannot fund applicants whose work in arts and culture is as a full-time employee at a cultural organization or business owned by someone other than the applicant. To clarify, if you work in arts and culture in addition to your full-time position, then you are encouraged to apply.

I am not an artist, teaching artist/scientist/humanist, or cultural worker, but I bring creativity to my work in health/beauty/business/etc. Can I apply?
Unfortunately, no. There are numerous fields – examples include business advertising, hair, fashion, or make-up (when unrelated to an artistic project like theater or film), culinary, and yoga or martial arts instruction – that benefit from creativity. We value the creative energy you bring to this work. However, this program’s funding was approved by the Massachusetts Legislature to support the cultural sector. So while we appreciate your creativity in your respective field, we cannot award grants to individuals not working in arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.

I received a COVID-19 Relief Fund for Individuals grant in FY20 or FY21. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes, you are eligible to apply. However, please note that if you are selected to receive a Cultural Sector Recovery Grant, your grant amount might be reduced by the amount of your COVID-19 Relief Fund for Individuals grant ($1,000 from FY20 or $1,500 from FY21).

I have previously received an Artist Fellowship or Local Cultural Council grant. Am I eligible to apply for the Cultural Sector Recovery Grants?
Yes. Prior Mass Cultural Council grants do not interfere with your eligibility to apply for a Cultural Sector Recovery Grant.

I am an artist operating a business that is a sole proprietorship or a single-member LLC. Should I apply as an Organization or Individual?
Artists operating a sole proprietorship or a single-member LLC should apply as Individuals for a Cultural Sector Recovery Grant. If selected to receive a grant, you will be required to complete a Massachusetts W-9 form where you can either use your social security number or your business EIN, if you are a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC, to receive the funds.

Support with Your Application

What if I have more questions?
Please read about the application process, then email Mass Cultural Council staff.

Can you translate the guidelines and application into another language?
Yes, the Agency is happy to translate grant applications into certain languages. Upon request of language translation, we will notify a third-party service we have on contract. We would then email the translated application to the person requesting translation. That person would then answer the application questions in their native language, and email them back to Mass Cultural Council before the application deadline. Lastly, Mass Cultural Council would have the translation service put the submitted application into English. Fulfilling a language translation takes 7-10 business days. In order to ensure we can successfully meet the request, please make your request two weeks or more before the deadline. For more information, review the Mass Cultural Council’s Access Policy.

Final Report

If I’m awarded a grant, will I need to submit a final report?
Grantees will be expected to complete a simple final survey on the use of their grant funds by September 12, 2023 for Agency reporting purposes. (Please note this has been extended from the previous deadline of July 13.) The information that you provide will be used to advocate for additional funds to continue supporting the cultural sector.

If I add less than $5,000 to the “Grant Amount Spent” field, I’m not able to submit the Final Report. But I haven’t spent all $5,000 yet. How can I submit the report?
You can choose “Savings/Debt repayment” in the “How did you use your funds?” question and add $5,000 to the “Grant Amount Spent” field. Funds in your bank account can be considered “spent” (i.e. “savings”) for the purposes of the report. You will need to list $5,000 in the “Grant Amount Spent” field to successfully submit the report.

Grants and Timeline

What is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply to this program is 11:59pm (ET) on November 1, 2022.

If I am awarded, how can I use the funds?
The funds are unrestricted. Possible uses include but are not limited to technology or equipment upgrade(s); touring/travel costs; living, workspace, or housing costs; healthcare; professional development; supplies; hiring other artists; or other expenditures related to recovery of your career in the cultural sector. We trust that you know best how to sustain your practice.

If I meet the eligibility requirements and I apply, will I definitely receive a grant?
Applicants are not guaranteed to receive a grant because we may receive more applications than we have funds to award. Mass Cultural Council seeks to award these one-time funds to as many eligible recipients as possible, to assist the economic recovery of the cultural sector.

What are the program’s funding priorities?
Priority will be given to:

First-time applicants or applicants not funded by Mass Cultural Council programs in the past six years
Applicants who have been historically under-funded, including people of the global majority — Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Latinx, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and all other ethnicities of color — and applicants who identify as Deaf or as having a disability
Applicants who are located in cities and towns that are below the state’s median household income and below statewide educational attainment (the percentage of adults who have attained at least a bachelor’s degree). This includes but is not limited to places designated as Gateway Cities. A full list of these under-resourced communities is available.

I meet one or more of your funding priorities. Do I need to do anything special in my application?
Please log into our grants management system. Click “My Profile,” and make sure all sections are updated and accurate.

Your guidelines state that grants will be awarded by region. What are those regions?
Yes, to ensure geographic diversity, grants will be awarded by region, proportional to the region’s application demand. The regions are:

Greater Boston
Central
Metrowest
Northeast
Southeast
Western

Is the grant taxable?
Yes. According to IRS guidelines, the grant money you receive is considered taxable income. Payments may affect income eligible benefits or services you receive as well as any unemployment payments. Seek guidance from the relevant agencies if you have any questions about impacts on your benefits. Tax forms are not automated, you will need to request the tax forms via the state’s VendorWeb site.

Glossary

AAPI (also AANHPI) – an abbreviation that stands for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and is meant to include all Asian, South Asian and Polynesian ethnicities.

ALAANA (also AALANA and ALANA) – an abbreviation that stands for African, Latino/a, Asian, Arab, and Native American, and is meant to replace diminishing terms like minority.

Artistic discipline – a term used to describe an artist’s primary area of work within the cultural sector. Artistic Disciplines include but are not limited to: Dance, Theatre, Music, Opera/Musical Theatre, Visual Arts, Design Arts, Crafts, Media Arts, Literature, Folk and Traditional Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts, and Humanities.

BIPOC – an abbreviation that stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and is meant to be more inclusive and widely recognizable than a less specific term like people of color.

Collective – a group of artists/creatives sharing things like ownership, risk, benefits, and status to achieve shared goals, objectives and needs of the artists.

Earmark – a specified allocation of funding designated in a legislative bill for things such as a location, project, or institution.

Fiscal Sponsorship (also fiscal agent and unincorporated group) – A business practice or partnership characterized by a municipal or nonprofit entity lending its tax-exempt status and 501(c)(3) benefits to a group that does not have its own nonprofit status but is doing work that aligns with the agent’s mission. This relationship makes it possible for the unincorporated group to accept payment that is otherwise reserved for organizations with nonprofit status.

For-profit corporation (also cooperative, partnership and LLC) – an entity that exists to earn income and pays income taxes.

Gateway Cities – midsize urban centers around the state that were slow to draw new investment in their economy as manufacturing opportunities stopped. The Massachusetts Legislature defines 26 Gateway Cities in the Commonwealth, which are Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, and Worcester.

Latino/a (also Hispanic, Latinx/e and Afro-Latino/a) – any person with ancestry in Latin America, a region usually unified by the predominance of Romance languages. This definition usually includes Portuguese-speaking Brazil and French-speaking Haiti but excludes Spain.

Hispanic was created as a term that refers to peoples descended from Spanish-speaking communities, such as Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans.

Latinx/Latine are gender-neutral alternatives for Latino/a.

Afro-Latino/Afro-Latina refers to people from Latin American countries with African ancestry.

MENA – an abbreviation that stands for Middle East and North African and encompasses a region of (22) twenty-two countries.

Native American (Tribal or Urban) – members of federal and state recognized tribes and Indigenous groups. Under U.S. law Native American tribes are distinct, independent political communities. This includes American Indians, Indigenous Americans, Alaska Natives, First Nations and urban Indian organizations.

Nonprofit (also 501(c)3) – a tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 501(c)3 refers to the specific section of the IRS code that extends tax exempt status to charitable, educational, literary, religious, and scientific organizations, which includes most organizations in the arts and humanities.

Operating Expenses – money spent on something that is used to support normal business operations, including things like rent, equipment, inventory, marketing, payroll, and insurance.

People of Color – an imperfect umbrella term for people who do not present as white, especially in a white supremacist culture.

People of the Global Majority – a term that is being adopted more widely to describe the large part of the global population who consider themselves non-white.

Unincorporated Entities (groups and individuals) – a collective that comes together to create around a common purpose but is not incorporated with a nonprofit tax status.

A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business with only one owner who pays personal income tax on profits earned.