Power of Culture Blog
$7.2M Invested in Cultural Organizations Statewide
394 unrestricted grants have been awarded through our Cultural Investment Portfolio and Operating Grants for Organizations programs
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.)
Mass Cultural Council’s complete list of FY25 grant opportunities for the creative and cultural sector are now available at a glance.
Community Foundation of Western MA’s Flexible Funding Opportunity aims to provide unrestricted financial support to sustain day-to-day operations of organizations, enabling you to focus on your mission. Deadline: Sept. 16, 2024 at 12pm.
Making it Public for Municipalities 2025 is a public art training program co-designed by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and New England Foundation for the Arts. Participating municipalities will receive $15,000 to support the commissioning of temporary public art projects. Register for the Sept. 11 information session. Deadline: Sept. 30, 2024.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program Grant funds planning and capital construction projects that aim to restore community connectivity by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating transportation facilities like highways and rail lines that have created barriers. This initiative recognizes the importance of inclusive and equitable urban planning, ensuring that all communities, particularly those historically marginalized, have access to the benefits of modern infrastructure. Deadline: Sept. 30, 2024.
The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation is offering grants of up to $250,000 to nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal governments to create destination mountain bike trail systems that meet certain criteria. Proposal deadline: Oct. 4, 2024 at 5pm. Get full Request for Responses details.
The Shubert Foundation’s Eligibility Quiz and Application opens in mid-September. Dance, Arts Related, and Shubert Scholars applications are due Oct. 16, 2024, at 6pm. Theater applications are due Dec. 4, 2024, at 6pm.
New England Foundation for the Art’s Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice grants support teams of Massachusetts-based creatives and community members, to do the important work of imagining: What does public art that fosters positive social change look, sound, and feel like in your community? Deadline: Oct. 21, 2024.
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.
National Guild for Community Arts Education is hosting a free, virtual workshop Your 2024 Grant Strategy: How to Save Time and Win More Grants through a partnership with Instrumentl. Whether you’re looking to refine your strategy, better align grant seeking with your organization’s mission, or simply win more grants, you’ll leave this session with three strategies to elevate your funding approach. Sept. 16, 2024 at 1pm.
Philanthropy MA is hosting Introduction to Grants Research, an introductory webinar ideal for grant seekers who are new to the process or who would like to brush up their skills. Sept. 17, 2024. 10am-12pm. $35 for members, $55 for nonmembers.
The National Dance Presenter’s Forum hosts Presenting & the Dance Ecosystem on Sept. 19, 2024. This Zoom session will consider the role of presenters within the larger dance ecosystem in the United States. Register by Sept. 13, 2024.
Join Tech Impact’s Chief Innovation Officer Linda Widdop for The Future of Work for Nonprofit Leaders, an exploration into the evolving landscape of work and technology in the 21st century. Sept. 18, 2024 from 2-3pm.
Americans for the Arts is hosting Embracing Innovation: AI Introduction for Local Arts Agencies and Arts Organizations on Sept. 19, 2024 from 3-4:15pm. This event will provide a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing relevance in the arts sector. Gain insights from industry experts and discover how AI can enhance creativity, streamline operations, and engage audiences more effectively.
Mid-Atlantic ADA Center is hosting A Welcoming Storefront: Making Your Business More Accessible for Customers with Disabilities, part of a virtual, two-part webinar series. Learn about legal requirements, design principles, and practical steps to create spaces that encourage people of all ages and abilities to come in, explore, and purchase goods and services. The webinar will cover common access issues, such as accessible parking and entrances, clear routes to enter and move around facilities, sales and service counters, and other public amenities. Sept. 25, 2024 from 12-1pm.
Register for Mass Humanities’ 2024 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities on Sept. 26, 2024, at 6:30pm at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Ticket proceeds directly support signature Mass Humanities programs.
Register for Essex County Community Foundation‘s 4th Essex County Arts & Culture Summit on Sept. 27, 2024 and celebrate the local artists and creatives working to increase vibrancy and resiliency.
Art Equity’s Strategies for Change is a two-part intensive focusing on how to launch, sustain, and engage anti-racism in your institution. This training is for artists, activists, practitioners, and leaders who have experience and dedication to organizational change through an anti-racist lens. Next Training: Sept. 27 and Oct. 4, 2024.
Registration is open for the New England Museum Association’s Annual Conference. Nov. 6-8, 2024 in Newport, RI. Early bird deadline is Oct. 4, 2024.
LISC is launching their next Digital Growth Accelerator on September 16. This multi-week program that helps small business owners strengthen their core business model using digital innovation and navigate success with tools, resources, and capital access.
LeadBoston, an inclusive leadership development program at YW Boston, is accepting new applicants for their 2025 class. Strong LeadBoston candidates have 15+ years of professional work experience; are curious about challenges facing Greater Boston; want to explore inclusive leadership; and are looking to build partnerships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Deadline: Oct. 7, 2024.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their main streets. Deadline: Oct. 16, 2024.
TSNE’s new pilot program, Shared Services, provides essential administrative and operational support to small and mid-sized nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) status, with a focus on BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations, enabling them to focus on their mission-driven work, while we help manage the back-office supports. In this pilot year, 15 organizations will be selected to be clients.
Mass Cultural Council has a Useful Links page highlighting institutions, organizations, and groups that offer resources and supports for people looking to better their cultural organization.
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.
