Power of Culture Blog
2024 Cultural Asset Inventory Reveals Key Insights
New data quantifies size, scope, economic impact - and needs - of individual generators and cultural organizations statewide
Mass Cultural Council Staff
Each month Mass Cultural Council shares a round-up of grants, trainings, technical assistance resources, and opportunities for creative and cultural organizations (a companion to our Useful Links page). This list is not meant to be exhaustive but a glimpse of what is on offer in the coming weeks. (We also publish a weekly Artist Opportunities listing.)
Upcoming Mass Cultural Council grant opportunities:
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 FY26 Grants are for marketing and programming initiatives that commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in Massachusetts. Grants, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, will support organizations in bringing this historic milestone to life through engaging events, exhibitions, and outreach efforts. Deadline: Apr. 11, 2025.
Arts Foundation of Cape Cod provides grants to support artists and organizations that expand access to the arts, foster community connections, and strengthen the creative sector. Deadline: May 2, 2025.
Mass Humanities’ Expand Massachusetts Stories offers grants up to $20,000 for projects that collect, interpret and/or share narratives about the Commonwealth, with an emphasis on the voices and experiences that have gone unrecognized, or have been excluded from public conversation. This year, our theme focuses on legacies of the American Revolution. Letters of Inquiry are due Jun. 9, 2025.
Massachusetts Office on Disability’s FY26 Municipal ADA Improvement Grant application opens May 1, 2025. These grants of up to $250,000 support capital improvements to improve programmatic access and remove barriers to accessibility in municipally-owned properties. Eligibility includes Massachusetts municipalities who are a member (or are willing to become a member) of the Community Compact Cabinet (CCC), and municipally-owned properties in eligible municipalities. Information sessions: Apr. 15, Apr. 23, and May 19. Deadline: Jun. 13, 2025 at 5pm.
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Equity Initiative Fund is dedicated to supporting BIPOC-owned, BIPOC-centering, or BIPOC-led organizations. Nonprofits, community groups, or coalitions with fiscal sponsorship — within the Berkshire Taconic region (Berkshire County, MA) — may be eligible to receive funding on a case-by-case basis. Average grant is $10,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The U.S. Department of Energy has a comprehensive list of federal funding opportunities for air quality, fuel efficiency, and other transportation-related topics. Eligible applicants include educational institutions, nonprofits, for-profit businesses, and research organizations.
Tern Foundation’s SOLAR Challenge Grants are available to provide funding assistance to 501(c)3 cultural organizations for solar panel installations.
Community Heart & Soul’s Seed Grant Program is a resident-driven process that engages an entire town population in identifying what they enjoy about their community and how to achieve the future they envision for it. Communities with populations of less than 30,000 are eligible to apply. Deadline: Rolling basis while funds last.
Join Mass Cultural Council’s next Spotlight Series webinar featuring the Mass Office on Disability to provide an overview of the programs and services they offer that may be of interest to the cultural sector. Apr. 10, 2025 at 1pm.
Register now for MASSCreative’s Creative Sector Day at the State House, including a formal program with members of the arts and cultural community from across the Commonwealth in the morning, and performances and exhibits throughout the afternoon. Apr. 30, 2025 from 10am-3pm.
The 2025 Collective Impact Action Summit, an Initiative of FSG and the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions, is fully virtual April 29 – May 1, 2025. This year’s Summit will feature more than 40 sessions as well as multiple keynote conversations on how to build towards a future where everyone can thrive, while also responding to our current environment. Join the conversation and explore how to hold tensions and bridge across divides, as well as how to build a better shared future by laying the groundwork now. Early-bird savings ends Apr. 4.
MuseumNext is hosting the Museums & Schools Summit, a two-day virtual event that brings together museum educators, teachers, and cultural professionals to explore innovative ways museums are partnering with schools. Apr. 29-30, 2025. Tickets begin at $165.
Be a part of The Clark’s Evening for Educators, a regional creative professional development event. Explore ways to strengthen your students’ social and emotional learning through the arts. Experience gallery engagement activities aligned with state learning standards and related hands-on art-making workshops that will provide you with inspiring methods to enliven social and emotional learning in your classroom. Share ideas with colleagues over a casual, light buffet-style dinner. Professional development points can be earned through participation. Free. May 1, 2025 at 5pm. Registration is encouraged.
Mass Humanities is hosting All Hands On Deck: A Climate Story Summit, a celebration of the essential role of community storytelling at their inaugural Story Summit gathering at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Jun. 11, 2025 at 5pm.
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network organizes seminars, trainings, and events throughout the year.
As part of the 2024 Massachusetts Cultural Asset Inventory released last month, one-pagers have been developed by Mass Cultural Council for each county highlighting some key local statistics. Please use these county one-pagers as part of the advocacy work you do for your community. At the state level, Mass Cultural Council will use the Cultural Asset Inventory to inform future cultural policies, programs, and initiatives.
The DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management is offering A3: Arts x Admin x AI, a fully subsidized, seven-month program to position 10 US-based arts, culture, and humanities nonprofits for exponential, safe, and ethical growth through the targeted use of AI. Deadline: Apr. 11, 2025.
MassHousing is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced facilitators to provide educational and engaging on-site programming to residents of Tenant Assistance Program (TAP) enrolled developments located throughout Massachusetts. Deadline: Apr. 25, 2025 at 5pm.
Registration is open for ArtWeek Berkshires (May 16-26, 2025) Individuals and organizations throughout the county are invited to take part in this multi-day festival of creativity. Enter a performance, studio visit, gallery show or talk – anything creative that includes an experiential component. Events can be solo or collaborative, pre-planned or created just for ArtWeek. It is free to participate. Deadline: May 2, 2025.
The Performing Arts Readiness project is offering a series of free emergency preparedness webinars that are tailored to the needs of performing arts organizations.
Read Previous Months’ Listings
If you have an opportunity or resource for cultural organizations that you’d like to pitch for our monthly round-up, please email us. Efforts to submit the opportunity in a format similar to our standard (see listings above) are deeply appreciated. Because space is limited, the best submissions are 60 words or fewer and include links to web pages with more information.
