Amherst Cultural Council
The Amherst Cultural Council allocates state Arts Lottery funds, but it is directed to support and nurture arts activities in the community by seeking private or other public funds and initiatives.
Contact
Matt Holloway & Julianne Applegate - Co-Chairs
acc@amherstma.gov
413-259-3182
Address
4 Boltwood Avenue
Amherst, MA 01002
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FY22 Allocation
$45,900
FY22 Local Priorities
We will prioritize projects for and by BIPOC communities, individuals with disabilities, and low-income communities. We seek applications from people of all ages, races, and persuasions.
We encourage new applicants and welcome repeat applicants.
Grant applications will be prioritized by the benefit they bring to the Amherst community. Please provide detailed information about how your project will benefit people in the greater Amherst community.
FY22 Local Guidelines
1. Direct Granting
The ACC is embarking on a pilot of direct granting. Where previous ACC grant cycles were based on a reimbursement model, the 2021-22 grants will be provided to successful grantees up front. Successful grantees will receive an award letter specifying the terms of the direct grant, and will be required to sign a Direct Grant Agreement. Grantees will be required to provide a Final Report that includes receipts and accounting of funds, as well as information about participation, within two weeks of the project completion.
2. Priorities
We will prioritize projects for and by BIPOC communities, individuals with disabilities, and low-income communities. We seek applications from people of all ages, races, and persuasions.
We encourage new applicants and welcome repeat applicants.
Grant applications will be prioritized by the benefit they bring to the Amherst community. Please provide detailed information about how your project will benefit people in the greater Amherst community.
3. Requirements
Virtual events will be considered. Please include information on your virtual platform.
Venues and dates must be confirmed when submitting an application. Please include a letter from the venue as confirmation of date.
Only one application from each group or individual will be considered. Please combine multi program/project requests under one application.
Applications from students are encouraged, but we do not support projects whose sole purpose is fulfillment of a requirement for a degree program.
Travel expenditures will not be reimbursed.
Please identify recipients of stipends and the number of performances, if applicable.
K through 12 applications for projects and field trips must state how they relate to classroom activities and curriculum. The ACC will consider funding tickets for students and one adult for one trip per grade per school.
Do not attach more than ten pages of supplemental material.
All events and programs funded by the ACC must consider access for persons with disabilities, including the facility or event location as well as the content of the program. To ensure equitable access, an applicant should make a candid assessment and identification of barriers (physical, virtual, cultural, communication) followed by a bold and innovative plan for improvement.
4. Recommendations
As equity and inclusion are central to our work, we encourage applicants to develop accessibility practices and include accommodation services in their applications. ACC has dedicated funds to support accessibility — your grant budget may include additional funds for accommodation services that will provide improved access to your project. If it does, please specify the type of supports / services you are able to provide in your application narrative. Accommodations for greater access may include, but are not limited to: sign language interpreters; language interpreters and / or translations; open or closed captions; verbal and audio description; sensory modifications; and accessible website development?. Resources are available through the Mass Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Mass Commission for the Blind, Massachusetts Office on Disability, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Independent Living Centers, the New England ADA Center, and your city’s Office of Disability. Applicants seeking more information about writing accessibility supports into their grants may reach out to ACC Co-Chair Matt Holloway (acc@amherstma.gov).
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct Grants
