Waltham Cultural Council
The Waltham Cultural Council supports the arts, humanities, and sciences through grants and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, and artists. Through our efforts, we strive to make our community a better place to live, work, and visit. As a public investor in the arts, humanities, and sciences, we work to ensure everyone in our community has a place in our rich cultural life.
Contact
Lauren Fournier and Mike Veloso
[email protected]
781-314-3120
Address
610 Main Street
Waltham, MA 02452
Connect on Social
Facebook
Application Information
FY26 Allocation
$32,200
FY26 Local Priorities
The Waltham Cultural Council (WCC) prioritizes projects that foster inclusive community engagement through arts and culture. We value projects that support diverse, community-wide events, festivals, and public gatherings that promote social connections and engage residents of all backgrounds. Priority will be given to projects that make arts and culture accessible to all members of the community, regardless of income or background.
Examples of Eligible Projects:
Performing Arts: Music and theater performances representing diverse genres and cultures.
Cultural Festivals: Events showcasing the city’s multicultural heritage through music, performances, arts, and traditions.
Public Art: Community-driven murals, sculpture installations, and beautification projects that enhance public spaces.
Arts Education: Interactive workshops and programs for children, teens, and families.
Nature Programs: Nature walks, explorations, and outdoor events.
FY26 Local Guidelines
Additional Considerations and Guidelines:
Accessibility: Projects must be held in accessible locations, at convenient times, and be affordable or free to attend. Priority will be given to proposals that provide a clear and thoughtful plan for the venue, date(s), and timing to maximize community participation.
Marketing and Outreach: Proposals must include a clear and effective marketing plan for the Waltham community. Marketing channels popular with Waltham residents, particularly social media and local newspapers, should be used. (Please contact the Waltham Cultural Council if you would like more information on Waltham’s local publicity channels.)
Support for Local Artists and Organizations: Priority will be given to Waltham-based artists and organizations. We encourage applications from new artists/organizations that have not previously received funding. We also value projects from established groups with demonstrated impact in the community.
Use of Community/Public Spaces:
Applicants proposing events or art installations in public spaces are solely responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and approvals.
Applicants proposing to use the Waltham Public Library, the Waltham Senior Center, or the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation must provide a Letter of Support demonstrating approval from the respective organization.
School Field Trips: Proposals for school field trips that offer enriching arts and cultural experiences are welcome. Please note that the Waltham Cultural Council will not provide funding for transportation costs, including buses.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Waltham Cultural Council ahead of the submission deadline if they would like to discuss their project ideas or have questions. Please email [email protected].
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Reimbursement Grants
FY26 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African Cultural Services Inc | Your Story Matters - A Youth-Created Cultural Magazine about our roots | $1,000 | African Cultural Services Inc | Traditional music, dance, drum and performances | $1,000 | African Cultural Services Inc | African Grandparents pass on traditions to youth | $1,000 | Alive Dance Collective of Massachusetts, LLC | Storybook Movement Workshop Series with Alive Dance Collective at ARTrelief | $1,000 | Benedict, Fiona | International children’s Convention- Waltham Children’s Business Fair | $1,500 | Boston Jazz Voices, Inc. | Boston Jazz Voices 40th Anniversary Show | $300 | Boston Jazz Voices, Inc. | Waltham Library Concert | $750 | Chen, Hudson | Inspiring Vitality: The Timeless Beauty of the Silk Road Art | $500 | Community Farms Outreach, Incorporated | Farm Day / Día de la Granja 2025 | $2,000 | Cseko, Julia | Speaking Truth to Power (provisional title ) | $300 | Discovery Museum, Inc. | Open Door Connections | $300 | Douglas MacArthur Elementary School | PTO Enrichment Programming | $500 | Downtown Waltham Partnership, Inc. | Waltham RiverBeat; Celebrating the Heartbeat of the City | $2,500 | Downtown Waltham Partnership, Inc. | Watch City Steampunk Festival | $2,000 | Ethnic Arts Center of Somerville, Inc. | WE ARE FAMILY! Family Legacy Project for Waltham | $1,000 | Gore Place Society | Fall Fun at the Farm | $1,000 | Henry Whittemore Elementary School | Puppet Pen Pals | $500 | Henry Whittemore School Parent-Teacher Organization, Inc. | Cinco de Mayo celebration | $500 | Horizons at LMS | Farm to Table Project | $1,000 | Lahiri, Chandreyee | 'We are Waltham' storytelling show | $1,000 | Liendo, Karina | Like Water for Chocolate Storytelling Series | $500 | Lucci, Jessica | Watch City Readers | $300 | MUSIC Dance.edu | I am Autistic I am Fantastic - The Musical | $500 | MUSIC Dance.edu | Hip Hop Chair Dance for Seniors! a dance series | $500 | Nelson, Sarah Jane | High Strung Strummers Music & Cranky Show | $400 | Nocera, Josef | The GemsTones 50s Dance Party | $500 | Opportunities for Inclusion, Inc. | Bringing creativity to OFI | $1,000 | Passero, Barbara | Cherry Pies and Butterflies: Community Pollinator Carnival | $1,000 | Powers Music School, Inc. | Watch City Singers at Waltham Council on Aging | $1,000 | Prospect Hill Community Foundation, Inc. | Prospect Hill Community Foundation Arts Program | $1,820 | Rull, Thomas E. | "A Musical Journey Through the Years" | $500 | Shalom-Kobii, Tal Shalom | Women Composers and Songwriters from around the globe | $500 | The Waltham Museum, Inc. | Social Series - Growing our Community | $1,450 | Thomas R. Plympton Elementary School | Plympton Elementary School Multicultural Night | $500 | Tincknell, Roger L. | Blues to Bluegrass | $575 | Waltham Arts Council, Inc. | Concerts on the Common | $2,000 | Waltham Boys and Girls Club, Inc. | See ME! | $1,500 | Waltham Choral Parents Association, Inc. | 2026 Eastern Show Choir Festival | $1,750 | Waltham Dual Language School | Lexington Symphony Concert Field trip | $500 | Waltham Farmers' Market | 2026 Waltham Farmers Market Concert Series | $1,000 | Waltham Historical Society, Inc. | Digitization of Waltham High Football Game Film Archive | $500 | Waltham Land Trust, Inc. | "Snakes of New England and the World" Kids' Program | $500 | Waltham Mills Artist Association | 2025 Waltham Open Studios | $2,500 | Waltham News Alliance | Arts Coverage and Calendar Listings in The Waltham Times | $1,000 | Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra, Inc. | Two Orchestra Concerts | $1,500 | Waltham Pride Fest | Waltham Pride Fest | $2,000 | Waltham Public Library | Adult Programming | $1,500 | Waltham Public Library Children's Room | Children's Programs at the Library | $1,500 | Waltham Public Library Teen Room | 2026 Waltham Public Library Teen Room Graffiti Camp | $2,000 | Waterman, Jon | Live Music Making History Live | $500 | York, Matt | Matt York - Songs & Stories: Johnny Cash | $500 |