COVID-19 Resources

Cultural organizations across the state are doing their best to keep up with the COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications. As a state agency, we are following the guidance provided by the Baker Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Cultural organizations should work closely with their municipal health departments and/or the Mass Department of Public Health for specific guidance. We have pulled together the following information and resources to help the cultural organizations in their planning and consideration.

Mass Cultural Council Updates

Data collection on the impact of COVID-19

We collected information about the impact COVID-19 is having on the cultural sector. Our goal is to ensure that the sector receives any available mitigation funding or stimulus finding. We will reissue the surveys as needed.

New COVID Impact Data Outlines Ongoing Financial Hardship Across Cultural Sector (4/25/22)

One Year Later: Cultural Sector in Economic Crisis Due to Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic (3/8/21)

Survey Shows Continued Staggering Impacts of COVID-19 on State’s Cultural Sector (11/9/20)

Survey Reveals Significant Impact of COVID-19 on Cultural Sector (7/16/20)

Updated economic impact figures (as of 4/15/20)

Read the early economic impact findings (as of 3/24/20)

Guidance for Mass Cultural Council Grant Recipients

If you received a grant from the Mass Cultural Council for a specific project that had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have policies in place to ensure you do not lose your funding. We will work with grantees to help minimize impact on their organization. You can easily and quickly submit a request to modify your approved project or change the date of your approved project.

Extension and/or Modification Request

Grant recipients need the Mass Cultural Council’s written permission to make changes to their projects. However, we recognize that due to the pace at which the COVID-19 situation is evolving grantees may be requesting permission after having already cancelled an event, in this case pre-approval is not required. The Mass Cultural Council will approve reasonable extensions and modifications of funded projects. The modification should not significantly alter the original purpose of the approved application. Project extensions and modifications must be requested in writing by email to the contact person listed below. Requests will be reviewed as they are received and our aim will be to provide a response withing two weeks of receipt.

Impacted Mass Cultural Council Programs:

• Festival Grants, contact Lisa Simmons
• Local Cultural Council Program, contact your Local Cultural Council directly for guidance on requesting a project modification or extension.

While the Mass Cultural Council plays no role in reviewing modification and extension requests for Local Cultural Council grants, we have issued guidance to LCCs encouraging them to work with grantees to ensure that the funded programs are able to take place in a new way or at a later date given the extraordinary circumstances prompted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Please include the following information in your request for modification or extension:

• Grant Program
• Name of approved project
• Original date of approved activity
• The date you would like to move the approved activity to
• Any modifications you are making to the proposed project

Mass Cultural Council Office, Meetings, and Events

The Mass Cultural Council is operating remotely and during normal business hours. Per the guidance from the Baker Administration when the State of Emergency was declared, we have also directed our staff to cancel all travel and conference attendance. Agency staff will work to continue with planned meetings by phone or web instead.

Additionally, we will not hold any public gatherings until further notice and any existing meetings will either be rescheduled or held online as a virtual meeting. Check our Agency Dates page for current information about events and webinars.