Grafton Cultural Council
The mission of the Grafton Cultural Council is to promote and maintain the vitality of local cultural resources and to ensure these resources are shared within the Grafton community. The GCC is composed of volunteer Grafton residents who share a passion for improving our community by distributing Mass Cultural Council grant money to exciting local cultural events. We welcome new members to join the GCC.
The GCC is committed to supporting events through access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Grafton residents and contribute to our community’s cultural vitality. We support a broad variety of art forms, including programs that may feature workshops, lectures, performances, exhibitions, festivals, science education, music, and the arts, as well as grants for field trip programs and school cultural activities
Contact
Mary Mitchell
graftonculturalcouncil@gmail.com
Address
Grafton Municipal Center
30 Providence Road
Grafton, MA 01519-1511
Application Information
FY25 Allocation
$11,800
FY25 Local Priorities
Individual applicants are required to be Grafton residents for at least one year; organizations must be organized and operating in the state for at least one year.
Date and Venue must be arranged before grant submissions.
If you are an individual applicant who is not a Grafton resident, please contact graftonculturalcouncil@gmail.com–before applying–for help arranging venues or advice on finding a community sponsor.
FY25 Local Guidelines
Applicants can include arts, humanities, or interpretive science organizations; individuals, including artists, musicians, science educators, historians, or other humanists; community members; or community organizations, including, but not limited to, schools, social service organizations, civic groups, neighborhood centers, youth, senior and family associations.
Incorporated organizations must be non-profit; unincorporated associations must have a non-profit purpose.
Completed applications must be submitted online by 11:59pm on October 16, 2024.
Notification of approval – by February 2025
Reimbursement requests due – one year from approval notification
All applications must be submitted online. The application can be completed and printed through: https://massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com/iface/index.jsp.
The library has access to the internet. When filling out the application, use the space provided to answer questions. Include supporting materials, including resumes of key personnel, organizational brochures, letters of confirmation from the proposed sponsor/host of the project specifying the event date and a letter of support from the venue/facility to be used, and artist samples (slides, writings, video, etc.). Answer questions clearly, simply, and as completely as space allows. Describe the project and any collaborators and address the review criteria; in particular, please include the event location and date.
The Grafton Cultural Council gathers input from the community and develops funding priorities based on this feedback. The Council will prioritize:
• proposals from Grafton artists or organizations for projects within Grafton
• collaborative projects between cultural groups and community organizations
• new applicants or new projects
• projects serving youth and families
• art forms or humanities that are underrepresented within our community.
Applications are evaluated in terms of several criteria:
• artistic and creative merit
• project design
• dedication and track record of individuals and organizations involved
• accessibility of facilities being used
• community involvement and benefit
Only one application per individual, organization, or school will be considered. Grafton applicants are given preference over those from out of Town. The Council will carefully scrutinize repeat requests; such proposals should show other sources of support to show the project is not dependent solely on Council funding.
Payments are made on a reimbursement basis only. Reimbursements may take 8 – 10 weeks. The reimbursement form may be downloaded from:
Projects and payment requests must be completed within one year of the final award notification. Due to the limited funds available and the high demand for support, the council usually awards lesser amounts than requested and asks that applicants find matching funds or scale back their project. Awards typically range from $250 to $600. A few larger awards are given from time to time. In cases where the project is partially funded, the council may request an explanation of how the project will be modified. Requests for extensions beyond the grant period will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted in writing no later than one year from the approval letter date. The council will review and vote on the request and notify applicants in writing of its decision.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In all published materials and announcements regarding the activities supported by LCC funds, the sponsoring group or individual must acknowledge this support with a written and/or verbal credit statement or by using the MCC logo. The credit statement is “This program is supported in part by a grant from the Grafton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.” The logo is available online at:
This credit is required by the MCC, and failure to comply may jeopardize funding.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Reimbursement Grants
FY25 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Tree Arts, Inc. | Engaging Our Community in Music Making: Community Strum & All Ages Jazz Jam | $1,000 | Assabet Valley Mastersingers, Inc. | Concert Season 2024-2025 | $350 | Blackstone Valley Art Association, Inc. | Free Community Art Celebration of Grafton 2025 | $350 | Blackstone Valley Community Chorus, Inc. | Blackstone Valley Community Chorus Concerts - Spring & Winter 2025 | $500 | Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band, Inc. | 2025 Concert Series | $500 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School | BVT Multicultural Festival | $500 | Clear Path for Veterans New England, Inc. | Build-A-Flag Woodworking Art Therapy Workshop for Veterans | $500 | Discovery Museum, Inc. | Open Door Connections | $400 | George Marston Whitin Memorial Community Association, Inc. | WCC Youth Theater | $350 | Grafton Arts, Inc | Small Stones Festival of the Arts | $1,500 | Grafton Farmers Market | Live Music at the Market | $1,000 | Grafton Public Library | A program of science (The Poop Museum - Part 1 & Wingmasters - The World of Owls) | $1,200 | Grafton Recreation Department | Grafton Summer | $1,500 | Jordan, Robert | 2nd Annual Local Legends-Hometown Heroes Concert | $573 | Kane, Timothy D. | Drums & Strums | $450 | MUSIC Dance.edu | I am Autistic I am Fantastic - The Musical | $580 | Roy, Valerie | The Jim and Val Show Second Saturday Series at Apple Tree Arts | $1,500 | The Claflin Hill Music Performance Foundation, Inc. | The Claflin Hill Symphony Summer Winds at the Gazebo | $850 | Westborough Community Chorus, Inc. | 60 Member Chorus Performance with sets and costumes | $600 | Worcester Writers' Collective | Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor Storywalks | $250 |
