Falmouth Cultural Council
MCC Funding Criteria
The MCC requires that projects have a public benefit: Activities must contribute to the cultural vitality of the community rather than benefiting any private individual or group. Whenever possible, activities funded by Local Cultural Councils should be available to the public or community by exhibit, performance, demonstration, reading, or other means, whether in-person or via virtual and remote programming.
The MCC also requires that projects not discriminate on the basis of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, geographic origin, or immigration, military, or socio-economic status. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that persons with disabilities have access to public programs or services on an equal basis with the rest of the public.
The Falmouth Cultural Council mission is to promote excellence, inclusion, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences in order to foster a rich cultural life, and contribute to the economic vitality of our community. The FY2026 funding priorities were formulated from extensive outreach to the Falmouth community through an in-person and online survey.
In addition to grant application information and this year’s local guidelines and funding priorities, there is information on requirements for managing Direct Grant awards; tips on promoting grant projects; and a calendar of events at: https://www.falmouthculturalcouncil.org/
Contact
Alice Kociemba
[email protected]
508-548-7611
Address
Town Hall
59 Town Hall Square
Falmouth, MA 02540-2761
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Application Information
FY27 Allocation
$8,900
FY27 Local Priorities
Benefit to Falmouth should be clear
Preference is given to applicants from Falmouth individuals and organizations and it is preferred that events take place in any or all of the villages of Falmouth
Free or low-cost events ($5 – $15 pp., children and students, free) are the top priority expressed by the community over the past five years
New events and first-time applicants are encouraged to apply
Programs that elevate the voices and experiences of historically marginalized groups to highlight the current and historical diversity of Falmouth. Programs that support the diverse cultural needs of community members, such as, but not limited to: BIPOC, people living with a disability, LGBTQ+, and non-English speaking community members.
Projects should include prior approval of a named ADA compliant venue, along with a letter of support
Projects should present a realistic and detailed budget that shows that the project is feasible. Other sources of funding for the project should be identified if the cost of the project exceeds the grant award
All project ideas in the arts, humanities and sciences are welcome. Project description must specify how the project fits into the above categories*
*As it relates to this program, Mass Cultural Council uses the following definitions:
THE ARTS are the creation of work in the crafts and performing, visual, media, folk, design, literary, and interdisciplinary arts. They also include the presentation and preservation of, and education about, works in these disciplines.
THE HUMANITIES are types of learning that deal with human values and aspirations, human thought and culture, language, and creativity. Examples include, but are not limited to, history, social studies, philosophy, criticism, and literature.
THE SCIENCES are limited to the cultural, interpretive, and educational expression of science and refers to types of learning that deal with nature, science, and technology in ways that explain how they relate to people’s lives. Some organizations that conduct this type of activity include aquariums, botanical gardens, nature centers, natural history museums, planetariums, and science centers.
FY27 Local Guidelines
Grant awards will typically be within a range of $250 – $1,000 per application
Only one application will be considered from each applicant
Applications will be evaluated to ensure a broad range of arts and cultural activities will be offered. (For example, the range includes dance, music, film, festivals, theater, visual art, comedy, poetry, storytelling, literature, environmental science & nature programs, local history, and other types of projects)
Applicants must credit the Falmouth Cultural Council as the local agency of the Mass Cultural Council on promotional materials and websites
Final Reports must be submitted two weeks after the project is completed, with one reminder email, or the applicant is ineligible for consideration for the next grant cycle.
Any changes in an approved application must be submitted in writing to the council’s email address. The council will respond to the request to modify an approved application after its next meeting
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct Grants
FY26 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ArtsFalmouth, Inc. | Arts Alive 2026 | $950 | Bettagere Nagendra Prasad, Pranav Swaroop | SARANG - Colors of South Asian Music | $950 | Bouchard, Jeffrey | Cape Cod Record Fair | $950 | Church of the Messiah | Glow Woods Hole: LGBTQIA+ In the Upper Cape | $950 | Edgecomb, Diane | "Sprouting Tales!" for Summer Reading | $525 | Ethnic Arts Center of Somerville, Inc. | Cabo Verde CINDERELA Puppet Show | $950 | Faiman-Silva, Sandra | 2026 Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration | $900 | Falmouth Chamber Players, Inc. | Falmouth Chamber Players Spring Concert 2026 | $750 | Farming Falmouth, Inc. | Shaping the Future of Falmouth’s Food System - Discussion Series | $1,000 | Gull Island Institute, Inc | What is a liberal arts education today? A Panel Discussion | $950 | Holmstock, Samuel S. | Drumming for Recovery: Rewiring the Brain | $900 | Jazzhers, Inc. | Jazzhers Jams | $750 | Lopez, Paloma | Day of the Dead/Día de Muertos | $695 | New England Festivals Inc | Harbor Light Illumination Concert Series & Art Market | $950 | North Falmouth Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization | Brazilian Beats | $950 | Persico, Michael | Classic Jazz Visions-the Photography of Jack Bradley | $950 | Rothstein, Pamela | Art at the Farm | $950 | The Awareness Project, Inc. | Mindfulness Engagement Programs - 2 Events | $530 | The Cahoon Museum of American Art, Inc. | Community Open House Series | $500 | The Marine Biological Laboratory | 2026 Falmouth Forum | $950 | Waquoit Congregational Church | Movies That Matter/Spring 2026 | $500 | Wilson, Mary | Puppets, Paul & Mary Sing Songs by the Seashore Show | $550 | Woods Hole Historical Museum | Permanent Exhibition about Indigenous History at the Woods Hole Historical Museum | $950 |
Review Complete LCC Program Guidelines