Belmont Cultural Council
The Belmont Cultural Council consists of volunteers appointed by the Select Board to support community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Disciplines include public art (Belmont Art Association Transformer Project) all-town festivals (Porchfest), music ( Payson Park Music Festival), dance (Classical Kathak Indian Dance children’s show at the Beech St Center), theater, (Stage Ensemble Theater Unit at Belmont’s Town Theater), Science (Belmont High School Miyawaki Forest Curriculum) and more!
A key component is that any program must have a public benefit to the residents of Belmont – for schools, local organizations or Belmont resident individuals. Recipients of Massachusetts Cultural Council grants in Belmont have included the Belmont Gallery of Art, public and private schools, the Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Council on Aging. Recipients have created paintings, murals, sculptures, exhibits, musical programs and workshops, nature lectures and hands-on programs, all of which enrich the lives of the people who live and work in Belmont.
Belmont is part of a direct payment program – approved grantees will receive their funding up front and not on a reimbursement basis. Instead, a final report will be necessary. Detailed information and forms will be supplied in the award announcement which comes in early January. Funds must be spent within the calendar year after the award letter date.
The state agency has a variety of initiatives which our local council volunteers can help educate and advise applicants about. Most awards are only a portion of the applied amount thus applicants need to consider other sources of funding as well. New initiatives are considered and supported by an active volunteer base.
Contact
Vicki Amalfitano, Chair
[email protected]
617-224-2034
Address
455 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478-2573
Connect on Social
Facebook
Application Information
FY27 Allocation
$9,400
FY27 Local Priorities
Priority is given to events that occur in Belmont, and events that are in collaboration with Belmont-based non-profit organizations. Applicants based outside of Belmont are required to secure the sponsorship of a Belmont public or non-profit organization and to include a sponsorship letter endorsing the project which must be attached to the online application as a PDF file. The Council places the highest priority on programs that occur after January of the grant cycle, i.e., January 2027 through December 2027, for the upcoming cycle. All grant recipients are expected to present a publicity plan as part of their application. Online applications for grants are required. Funds for food or drink or field trips will not be awarded grants.
FY27 Local Guidelines
The Belmont Cultural Council prioritizes funding applicants from Belmont and cultural events and activities that benefit the Belmont public. Cultural events and projects are defined broadly and include arts, lectures, performances, interpretive science, and humanities. Our July 2025 Community Input Survey indicated that town residents have the greatest preference for community-wide gatherings (festivals, farmers’ market activities), the performing arts (concerts and plays), and nature/science/environmental education. The next tier of priorities are the visual arts (exhibits and education), programs occurring at the Council on Aging, programs celebrating local history, and programs celebrating cultural diversity. These were followed by programs at Belmont schools. The population segments of highest importance were families, seniors, and teens, followed by low-income populations, communities of color, and immigrant communities.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct Grants
FY27 Funding List
A grant list will be published here after January 15, 2027 and once the Local Cultural Council has finalized their decisions.