05.15.2026

Cultural Facilities Fund Delivers $8.7M for Capital Improvements

Christian Kelly, Public Relations & Events Manager

Mass Cultural Facilities Fund | Press Release

Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment are pleased to announce that 97 nonprofit and municipal cultural facilities will receive a total of $8,676,600 through the most recent Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) grant round.

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 eligible cultural facilities. All selected projects are subject to a 1:1 matching requirement.

“Cultural facilities are more than buildings, they are vibrant spaces where creativity is nurtured, communities gather, and stories are shared,” said David T. Slatery, Acting Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “Through CFF, we are proud to invest in the places that make arts and culture accessible across Massachusetts. These projects strengthen local economies, preserve our shared heritage, and ensure that residents and visitors alike can experience the full richness of our cultural sector for years to come.”

“Massachusetts’ world-class museums, theaters, and other cultural destinations are a big part of what makes our state such an attractive place to live and visit,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “We appreciate the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and legislature, as well as the partnership of Mass Cultural Council, in ensuring the Cultural Facilities Fund continues to invest in the future of our creative economy.”

Three types of CFF grants were made in this round:

• 75 organizations will receive a total of $8,165,000 in capital grants, which assist with the acquisition, final-stage design, construction, repair, renovation, rehabilitation, or other capital improvements or deferred maintenance of facilities.
• 16 organizations will receive a total of $463,600 in feasibility & technical assistance grants, which assist organizations in collecting the objective information and analysis they need in pursuit of a facilities project.
• 6 organizations will receive a total of $48,000 in systems replacement plan grants, which support 20-year capital needs assessments that assess a facility’s structure, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety systems.

An analysis of the cultural organizations receiving funding in this round shows:

• 38 organizations are receiving their first CFF grant
• Of those, 24 organizations are also first-time CFF applicants

Capital Grant Project Examples

Adams Theater Presents, Adams
$128,700 for carpentry and façade work, and for upgrades to HVAC, lighting, electrical, and sprinkler systems

Jamaica Plain Multicultural After School Arts Program, Boston
$200,000 to support phase one renovations to the newly acquired facility at 93 Sedgwick Street

Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Methuen
$162,500 for new electrical systems, HVAC, and lighting

Old Colony Historical Society, Taunton
$169,100 to construct a new parking lot and develop an outdoor garden exhibit area

Worcester County Mechanics Association, Worcester
$81,400 to replace an HVAC unit on the Fuller Wing

About the Cultural Facilities Fund

The Cultural Facilities Fund was created by an act of the Legislature in 2006 to achieve the following goals:

• Enhance Massachusetts’ creative economy through financing for acquisition, construction, expansion, renovation, and repair of cultural facilities.
• Increase employment, entrepreneurialism, and tourism in the regions where these facilities are located, especially drawing new visitors from outside the Commonwealth.
• Stimulate further investment in the arts, heritage, and sciences by preserving cultural resources.

From 2007 through today, CFF has awarded more than $189 million to 1,707 projects across the Commonwealth, employing 42,145 architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers. The organizations engaged in this work have reported adding 3,512 new permanent jobs because 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 $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.

The Cultural Facilities Fund is funded annually through the Governor’s Capital Spending Plan. In FY26 the Healey-Driscoll administration invested $10 million into CFF, which supported this round of grant awards. Applications for the next round of CFF grants are expected to open in Fall 2026, pending available funding in the FY27 Capital Spending Plan.

The Mass Wins Act, the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s 2026 economic development bond bill, proposes to expand eligibility for the Cultural Facilities Fund to allow more municipal facilities to benefit. This change aligns the program with its original intent to support cultural facilities across the Commonwealth.
See the Complete FY26 CFF Funding List

Mass Cultural Facilities Fund | Press Release