Recertification
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility & Getting Started
This section explains who can apply, what a Cultural District is intended to achieve, and how communities begin the process.
Who can apply to become a Cultural District?
Only Massachusetts municipalities (cities or towns) and state- or federally-recognized Tribal governments can apply for designation. Community organizations and nonprofits cannot apply on their own but may be involved as partners or co-applicants.
What is a Cultural District intended to do for a community?
Cultural Districts are tools that communities can use to advance their own local goals through arts, culture, and creativity. Each District is unique and may focus on different priorities depending on community needs and opportunities.
In general, Cultural Districts help enhance the visibility of local arts and culture, strengthen the creative economy, attract visitors, and foster community identity and engagement. They are intended to be places where cultural, economic, and social activity can grow and be supported over time.
Can smaller or rural communities qualify for designation?
Yes. Communities of all sizes can be designated as long as there is a defined, walkable district with cultural assets and a plan to support inclusive cultural and economic development.
Do current Districts need to submit a stand alone Letter of Intent (LOI)?
No. For current districts, the Letter of Intent is included as a section within the recertification online application.
Funding & Municipal Support
This section outlines the support expected from municipalities and the types of funding Districts may use for long-term sustainability.
What types of support must a municipality provide?
A municipality should demonstrate a strong commitment to the Cultural District in ways that are meaningful and appropriate to the community’s capacity and structure.
Support may include financial contributions, in-kind resources, policy support, or other forms of municipal partnership. Examples include:
- Funding toward District coordination or programming
- A municipal budget line item or matching funds
- Use of municipal space or facilities
- Public works or permitting support
- Marketing and communications support
- Fee waivers or other municipal services
- Capital or infrastructure improvements
There is no single required format. The goal is to demonstrate sustained municipal partnership and shared investment in the District’s success.
Why is support required from the municipality?
Municipal support demonstrates shared ownership and long-term commitment to the Cultural District. It helps ensure stability beyond grant funding and signals that arts and culture are a community priority.
Support can look different in every community. What matters most is that the municipality is an active partner in helping the District grow and succeed over time.
Applying for Designation
This section provides an overview of how the designation process works from first contact through final approval.
How do we begin the process of applying for designation?
Start by submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI). Mass Cultural Council staff will then meet with the municipality to discuss readiness, answer questions, and provide guidance before granting access to the full application.
What documents and information are required in the application?
The application includes sections on District boundaries and mapping, partnership composition, municipal support, District management, staffing, budget, work plan, and metrics. Applicants will also provide a draft resolution, ordinance, by-law, and letters of support.
What happens after the application is submitted?
Applications are reviewed by a panel. If recommended, the community will host a site visit with staff and advisors. After the site visit report is reviewed, the governing Council votes on designation. Successful applicants then coordinate a public announcement with Mass Cultural Council.
District Requirements
This section outlines the core elements of a successful District, including boundaries, mapping, partnership, staffing, planning, and evaluation.
What makes an area eligible to be considered a Cultural District?
A Cultural District must have a defined, navigable area with a concentration of cultural, creative, historic, and community assets where cultural activity is visible and accessible. It should demonstrate potential for inclusive economic and community impact.
Why is municipal authorization (resolution, ordinance, or by-law) required?
Municipal authorization establishes formal recognition and local accountability for the Cultural District. It confirms that the municipality supports the District and its goals and has taken official action to commit to its success.
Communities may choose the approach that best fits their local structure and processes, whether through a resolution, zoning ordinance, or general by-law. The intent is to ensure formal municipal support while maintaining flexibility in how that support is enacted.
What language should a resolution authorizing a Cultural District include?
Mass Cultural Council provides a resolution template that outlines the minimum required language.
What must be included on the District map?
Cultural Districts should be clearly defined so that the municipality and the state can understand the District’s boundaries, assets, and opportunities. Mapping helps communicate your community’s vision, supports planning and resource allocation, and strengthens the District’s role in local economic and cultural development.
Your submission should include the following:
- Name
- District boundaries or parcel boundary clearly showing the geographic area of the proposed Cultural District
- Key assets include: Cultural organizations, creative businesses, performance and exhibition spaces, historic sites, artist studios, and public amenities. Optional layers may include public transit, green space, zoning, or parking areas. Download a list of possible Cultural District assets.
How do we get started if we already do not have a map?
You do not need geographic information system (GIS) experience to get started. Many communities begin by using accessible, free tools such as Google My Maps to draw their District or parcel boundary.
A good first step is to:
- Identify the geographic area of your District.
- Draw the boundary using an online tool.
- Share the map link in your application.
Over time, this information can support future GIS mapping.
Do the assets need to be mapped or can we submit them separately?
Assets do not need to be mapped initially. Districts will submit an asset list using the provided template in the application, including addresses. This allows assets to be mapped later as capacity allows.
The most important requirement is clearly defining the District boundary or parcel boundary.
What types of things should we consider including when describing our community?
Demographic data aligned as best as possible with Cultural District boundaries (e.g. the Census tract and/or zip code in which the Cultural District in located).
From the recent US Census American Community Survey:
- Total population
- Languages spoken at home
- Median household income
- Share of households with income below the poverty level
- County demographics as provided in the Massachusetts Cultural Asset Inventory, including:
- Number of Individual Generators identified
- Number of Organizations identified
- Most Populous Generator Occupations
- The Tribal nation of your community and its Indigenous lands (in accordance with our Native American & Indigenous People’s Equity Plan) as provided by Native Land Digital.
What is required for the Community Input Meeting?
Before applying for designation, the municipality must host at least one public meeting to share the proposed Cultural District boundaries and goals and gather community feedback. The meeting must be accessible and open to the public. Applicants must provide a summary of what they heard and explain how community input will shape the District’s work and ensure broad community benefit and inclusion.
Where else might we find support for our Cultural District?
Recommended sources of financial and technical support beyond the municipality:
- Regional planning agency
- Regional tourism council
- Regional community foundation
- Suggested alternative partners not included in your formal partnership agreement
Who must be included in the Cultural District Partnership?
The Cultural District Partnerships must include municipal staff from Economic or Community Development or Planning; at least one arts or cultural organization; two artists who live or work in the District; a Local Cultural Council member; a Historic Commission or Community Preservation Committee representative; and a local creative or District-based business.
Why is a partnership or leadership team required?
Cultural Districts are most successful when they bring together multiple perspectives, including municipal leaders, businesses, artists, and community organizations. A partnership approach strengthens collaboration, representation, and shared decision-making.
Aside from the required members, who else should we consider including in our Cultural District Partnership?
Recommended – but optional – members could include:
- Regional planning agency
- Local or regional tourism council/destination marketing organization
- Leisure industry (hotel, guest house, conference center in a District)
- Tribal government or other Tribal representation
- Invested property owner or large employer within a District
- Other nonprofit/community service organization
- Community development corporation
- County community foundation or philanthropic organization
What is required for staffing and management of a District?
Each District must have a clearly identified person responsible for ongoing coordination and management of the Cultural District.
We aim to keep this requirement flexible. The time commitment and compensation level can be determined locally based on the District’s size, capacity, and resources. Compensation may take many forms, including salary, hourly pay, stipend, or honorarium, and may be supported by any funding source (state, local, private, or other).
Once a District has received designation, it must fall under one of the following management models:
• Municipally-managed
• Managed by a third-party organization through an agreement with the municipality
• District itself becomes a nonprofit organization
The key requirement is that there is dedicated leadership and accountability to support the District’s ongoing activities and partnerships.
Why is paid coordination encouraged?
Sustainable districts require ongoing coordination and leadership. Recognizing this work as compensated labor supports continuity, equity, and long-term success, while still allowing communities flexibility in how compensation is structured based on local capacity.
When can a community use a third-party to manage the Cultural District?
A municipality may choose to have a third-party organization manage the day-to-day operations of the Cultural District. The third party must be financially stable, have the capacity to lead, and be able to carry out the responsibilities of District management. The municipality must continue to stay actively involved, even if management is delegated.
What must be included in a third-party management agreement?
If a third-party will manage the District, the municipality and the managing organization must sign a written agreement outlining roles, responsibilities, financial arrangements, reporting expectations, and an exit plan for either party. The agreement must follow local regulations and should be reviewed by the municipality’s legal counsel before it is submitted with the application.
Why are we limited to only three types of governance models?
As a program well over a decade into operation, and with more than 50 participating communities, the Cultural District Initiative has identified three governance models from a wide list of those currently in operation that have consistently risen to the top in terms of well-supported organizational structures that achieve their community goals and financial objectives through collaboration and collective strategy.
What is required in a work plan?
The work plan outlines the District’s goals, activities, partnerships, and timeline for the first year. It must support at least three of six statewide goals and align with municipal or regional priorities.
What does a Cultural District Partnership agreement look like?
Download a sample Cultural District Partnership Agreement.
What metrics must districts track?
Districts must track at least three metrics:
- Increased outside visitation.
- Increased new business activity within the District.
- At least one additional locally selected measure. Local metrics should reflect progress toward District and community priorities.
What should we consider when we are trying to identify metrics specific to our District?
Consider collecting information that will lend to deepening cross-sector support for your cultural and creative initiatives such as housing and real estate (including vacant storefronts), historic preservation, growth of creative economy jobs, digital marketing visitation, safety and perception, event attendance, crime rate reduction, accessibility and vibe, etc.
Some resources to assist in identifying and collecting helpful evaluative data:
- Painting By Numbers: How Cities Can Use Data to Support the Arts (Americans for the Arts)
- Arts Data in the Public Sector (Bloomberg Associates)
- SMU DataArts
What are some examples of local metrics?
Examples may include growth in partnerships or cross-sector collaborations, reduction in vacant store fronts, participation in underrepresented communities in District programming, use of public spaces, etc.
Again, these locally selected metrics should reflect community priorities.
How can zoning help support arts and culture in a Cultural District?
Many zoning codes were written before arts and cultural uses were common and may unintentionally exclude or limit them. Updating zoning with a cultural lens can make it easier for artists, creative businesses, and cultural spaces to open, grow, and stay in the District.
What zoning changes can communities consider to better support a Cultural District?
Communities can revise zoning to recognize different types of arts and cultural uses and make space for them to thrive. Examples include:
- Allowing arts and creative uses in storefronts or accessory buildings, such as studios, maker spaces, or pop-ups in vacant storefronts.
- Encouraging or requiring new developments to include space for arts and cultural uses.
- Permitting the adaptive reuse of former civic or municipal buildings for cultural or creative purposes.
- Reviewing signage, parking, and reuse rules to remove barriers for artists, cultural venues, and creative businesses.
Maintaining Designation
This section describes the responsibilities of designated districts and what happens if a District falls out of compliance.
What are the ongoing responsibilities of a designated District?
Designated Districts must submit an annual report, maintain a clearly identified person responsible for District coordination (with time commitment determined locally), demonstrate continued municipal support, continue engagement with the partnership, and track required metrics. They must also display up to four official Cultural District signs.
What could cause a District to fall out of compliance?
Failure to submit reports, lack of municipal support, loss of paid District management, or no progress on required metrics for two consecutive years can trigger a compliance review or probationary period.
What happens if a District is placed on probation?
Probation lasts one year and includes support from Mass Cultural Council to address issues. After that period, the District must demonstrate improvement to return to good standing.
Grants & Payments
This section explains how grants for Cultural Districts are awarded and how funding is distributed and used.
Do we get a grant with our designation?
Districts are not awarded a grant with their designation. However, once a District is approved it will be eligible to receive a Cultural District Investment Grant. Districts should review the posted guidelines each year for requirements and deadlines for that funding.
Additional Support & Contacts
Technical questions about the online application or grants management system? Contact our grants team.
Programmatic questions about application requirements? Email our program staff or call 617-858-2821.