Chelsea Cultural Council
The Chelsea Cultural Council is a volunteer board supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Council members encourage culture and diversity in the City of Chelsea by funding projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences that provide a local benefit.
Who We Are
The Chelsea Cultural Council is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the local residents of the City of Chelsea. Our purpose is to support public programs that promote excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences in Chelsea. Our primary responsibility is to reallocate funds that have been disbursed by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). The MCC receives an annual appropriation from the State Legislature and from the National Endowment of the Arts. Part of the MCC funds is then allocated to a grassroots network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) statewide. Each LCC, including the Chelsea Cultural Council, has the obligation to distribute these funds through grants to individuals, schools, and organizations for projects in the arts, humanities and sciences that address the cultural needs and objectives of the City of Chelsea.
The Council is composed of volunteers appointed by Chelsea’s City Manager, and approved by the City Council. Chelsea Cultural Council meetings generally occur on the last Tuesday of each month. All regularly scheduled meetings are open to the public.
What We Do
The Chelsea Cultural Council reviews grant applications from individuals, schools, and organizations for arts, humanities, and science projects including cultural field trips, that provide a local public benefit.
The Chelsea Cultural Council aims to fund projects that help unite Chelsea through a shared commitment to the arts and culture in the city. Integrating arts in the community and increasing their visibility in Chelsea is highly recommended for the proposed projects. Ultimately, the Chelsea Cultural Council strives to highlight, emphasize, and publicize compelling aspects of the city through the practice and enjoyment of art and culture.
Contact
culturalcouncil@chelseama.gov
617-466-4103
Address
500 Broadway
Room 302
Chelsea, MA 02150-2948
Connect on Social
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Application Information
FY25 Allocation
$40,600
FY25 Local Priorities
The Chelsea Cultural Council seeks to support projects that align and advance the 2021-2025 Arts and Culture Strategic Plan key goals:
1. Foster Community Wellbeing
2. Support Economic Development
3. Enhance Community Assets
FY25 Local Guidelines
This grant is open to artists, Chelsea residents, schools, and non-profit organizations for projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Applicants can request funds from $250 to $5,000; larger requests may be considered based on the project scale and potential and measurable impact. The application period is open between Sunday, September 1 and Wednesday, October 16. Projects awarded must be taking place in Chelsea between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
Grants are available to Massachusetts-based individuals, artists, non-profit community groups, cultural institutions, public agencies, and schools with a particular activity related to the arts, humanities, or sciences and has public benefit. Applicants do not have to reside in Chelsea, but the activity must take place in Chelsea or be directly intended for Chelsea residents.
Individual applicants must show that a public benefit results from the project for which they are applying. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate their qualifications to carry out the project, and that they have been involved in a similar activity for at least one year.
Field Trips: The grant funds cultural field trips for children in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 by subsidizing the cost of admission to attend programs in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Applicants are typically teachers and administrators from the local schools, but may also be from PTA/PTOs, neighborhood centers and civic organizations.
Review Criteria
The Chelsea Cultural Council will evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:
1.Quality, Originality and Creativity
2.Community Benefit
3.Planning
4.Budget
Grant Application Requirements
1. Online Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
2. Projects must be implemented between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
3. Projects must be related to the arts, humanities, and sciences and be based in Chelsea. The arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, includes the study, pursuit, performance, exhibition and appreciation of cultural activities in the broadest sense.
4. Grant awards must be used to support activities that contribute to the cultural vitality of the community as a whole, rather than benefiting any private individual or group. Whenever possible, projects should be available to the general public by exhibit, performance, demonstration, reading or other means.
5. Applicants interested in partnering with schools or organizations for events and/or intend to host an event at a venue not under their direct control must obtain a letter from the venue’s management stating that venue management agrees to allow the applicant to use the space for the event on the date(s) intended. The letter must be on official letterhead, include a current date with signature and be submitted with the application.
6. Applicants planning events involving independent contractors (including, but not limited to: artists, performers, and vendors) are strongly advised to obtain letters of participation from the independent contractors and submit them with the grant application. These letters should be on official letterhead and include a current date with signature. Applications involving independent contractors without letters of engagement may be less competitive.
7. Applicants interested in creating public works of art must obtain a letter of support from the City’s Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Manager. The letter must be on official letterhead and include a current date with signature.
8. Grant Recipients may not receive funding for more than two (2) years without any change in project scope (i.e. target audience, participants, content, etc.)
9. Award funds cannot be used to purchase alcohol drinks. All items purchased for the project must be disclosed on the application.
10. Applicants are encouraged to submit project estimates from vendors to support proposed budget.
NOTE: The Chelsea Cultural Council encourages applicants to apply for funds from other sources because local council funding is not intended to be used as the sole source of funding for projects of a continuing nature. For a list of other funding sources contact: culturalcouncil@chelseama.gov.
Grant Recipient Requirements
Direct grants (funds upfront and in full on a one time payment) are given to grant recipients.
Failure to adhere to the following may invalidate the grant award process:
1. Grant Agreement, W-9
When the Chelsea Cultural Council notifies selected grantees of their award, they will be invited to attend an in-person meeting with CCC members to review the requirements and complete the documentation needed to receive the award funds upfront. This meeting is mandatory in order to receive their award.
Using the Grant Agreement, the grantee will accept the terms and conditions of the grant. The W-9 provides payment information for the municipal officer. Upon the receipt of the completed W9 and Grant Agreement, two council members will sign the Grant Agreement.
2. Grant Payments
Funds are released within four weeks of completing the Grant Agreement.
3. Final Report
A Final Report is required to be sent to the Chelsea Cultural Council within two (2) weeks of completing the funded program. Grantees are required to submit additional materials with their Final Report: advertisements, programs, press releases, or news articles.
If the Council is not satisfied that the project was completed as per the application and Grant Agreement, the Council will contact the grantee with their concerns and allow the grantee the opportunity to respond. Two council members and the grantee may work out a compromise solution, which should be finalized in writing. If a compromise cannot be reached, the council will formally request, in writing, repayment of funds in accordance with the Agreement.
In addition, if the grantee does not expend all of the funds for the approved program/event, the remaining funds must be returned to the council to be placed in the Council revolving account. Grantees that do not repay the grant funds to the Chelsea Cultural Council risk jeopardizing future funding in accordance with LCC grant agreement requirements.
Publicity Guidelines
Any projects funded by the MCC through the Chelsea Cultural Council must be publicly noted as follows: “This program is supported in part by a grant from the Chelsea Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.”
Applicant Checklist
Projects are related to the arts, humanities, and sciences and are based in Chelsea or used by Chelsea residents.
Projects contribute to the cultural vitality of the community as a whole, and whenever possible, should be available to the general public by exhibit, performance, demonstration, reading or other means.
Project implementation is between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. All application fields and questions are thoroughly completed.
Application is signed and dated by applicant or authorized representative of the organization.
Letter from administration is included on official letterhead, with current date and signature when partnering with schools, organizations or the City of Chelsea.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct 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.
