Belchertown Cultural Council
The Belchertown Cultural Council strives to bring the arts to our community by focusing on local artists who are dedicated and enthusiastic about sharing their talents with our schools, community centers, and with anyone who enjoys taking in the meaningful cultural experiences that this area has to offer. The cultural council seeks diversity in its programming as well as presentations and workshops that explore the arts in a way that will educate and invigorate the community.
Contact
Molly Robinson
bccgrantsmgr@gmail.com
413-233-6864
https://belchertown.org/BCC
Address
2 Jabish Street
Belchertown, MA 01007-9840
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Application Information
FY25 Allocation
$12,700
FY25 Local Priorities
The Belchertown Cultural Council strives to bring the arts to our community by focusing on local artists who are dedicated and enthusiastic about sharing their talents with our community. We are focused on promoting cultural equity, diversity and inclusion by prioritizing programming from LGBTQ+ organizations and organizations that center BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals and communities.
Preference is given to applications that fall in the following categories:
Public events
Nature, science and environmental education
Programs celebrating local history and cultural diversity
In addition to MCC requirements, the following local criteria must be met:
Public Benefit: The project or program must take place in Belchertown and the application must clearly articulate the benefit it brings to our community.
Venue: All applications must include a letter of support from the venue. Applicants are responsible for arranging the venue. If you have not yet identified a venue or need support with securing a venue please reach out to us at BCCgrantsMGR@gmail.com before applying and we will assist you.
Budget: Grants from BCC are not intended to be the sole source of funding for your project or program, with limited exceptions, your project or program must be able to proceed with only partial funding.
Caps and limitations:
BCC caps grant awards at $1,500.
The number of grant applications that we receive, along with our state allocation, will determine if any grant applications will be fully funded or if all grant awards are partial.
Applicants cannot receive more than two grant awards per cycle, but may submit more than two applications.
Applicants who have been awarded grants in prior years and did not complete their programming or did not follow promotion guidelines will be de-prioritized.
Ongoing projects and programs cannot receive a grant award more than three years in a row.
Grants to fund scholarships, tuition reimbursement, travel expenses, or capital expenditures are ineligible.
Grant applicants proposing to work in the Belchertown Public Schools should apply for a grant through the Belchertown Education Foundation.
Letters of support:
Projects involving collaboration must include a letter of support from the collaborating organizations.
BCC expectations:
Promoting your event: you must provide your marketing materials to us no less than two weeks prior to the start date(s) of your project(s) or program(s), so we can 1) review the required credit line and logo, and 2) promote your project or program as an LCC grant recipient.
Representation is expected at our Grant Reception, usually held in the spring. The date will be communicated at the time of the grant award notification.
Grant recipients are required to complete a short assessment form after the completion of their project or event.
Acknowledgement of Belchertown Cultural Council support must be given during the program or project and verification of such must be provided for grant payout
FY25 Local Guidelines
Deadline: Applications open September 1 and are due by October 17th.
Time/Venue Required: Applicants must specify an arranged venue for their activity and a specific date or on-going timeline.
Level of Support: The Council may not fully fund your project. To demonstrate that your project is not dependent solely on BCC funding, you must specify other sources of financial support in the budget section of the application.
Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate a record of engagement in the type of activity for which funds are requested.
Program Eligibility: Programs in music, dance, visual arts, poetry, literature, drama, the humanities and scientific interpretation for all age groups will be considered. Applications for programs that are normally funded by the town budget and/or programs taking place within the Belchertown Public Schools will not be considered.
Repeat Applicants: An applicant who is funded 3 successive years will not be considered.
Project modifications: After the grants are awarded, programs cannot be modified without the Council’s review.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Reimbursement Grants
FY25 Funding List
A grant list will be published here after January 17, 2025 and once the Local Cultural Council has finalized their decisions.
