Power of Culture Blog
So Many Traditions, So Little Time
Reflections of a state folklorist
Dan Blask, Program Manager
Mass Cultural Council believes that creativity is a vital part of a thriving society. We are proud to announce our new Grants for Creative Individuals program, which we hope will advance creativity throughout the Commonwealth.
The program offers unrestricted, $5,000 grants to artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners. We welcome applications from individuals in all creative fields: visual artists, literary artists, theater artists, performers, film/media artists, music artists, designers, culture bearers/traditional artists, drag artists, cross-disciplinary artists, and more.
The application process is brief and inclusive. This fiscal year (FY24), we plan to award approximately 375 grants through a review process that includes geographic distribution, funding priorities, and scores from reviewers from the Massachusetts creative/cultural sector. Reviewers will prioritize applications based on the program mission: to equitably advance creativity throughout the Commonwealth with unrestricted grants to individuals who demonstrate achievement of creative expression and commitment to their artistic/cultural practice.
Grants for Creative Individuals is our primary funding program to support artists and creatives. It incorporates aspects of past Mass Cultural Council programs for artists and creative individuals, including the Artist Fellowships, Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals, and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships. The program was designed as part of a year-long evaluation of our funding for artists and creatives, as part of the Agency’s Racial Equity Plan.
If you have questions about the Grants for Creative Individuals program, check the FAQs or join us for information sessions on November 8 and December 5. You can also ask questions of staff at online office hours on select Wednesdays in November/December, at 11am.
Additionally, those registered to attend the Agency’s convening on the Creative Gig Economy at the Pao Arts Center in Boston on November 6 will have the opportunity to attend a breakout session with our program staff to learn more about this program and ask questions.
The deadline to apply is 11:59pm (ET) on December 11, 2023.
Read the Program Guidelines and Apply
