Worcester Arts Council
The mission of the Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is to promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for Worcester residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our city.
WAC accepts grant applications on an annual basis between September 1st and October 15th. Applicants are notified of the Council’s funding decisions in January of the following year. Grants are awarded to support arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, visual artists, performing artists, science educators, historians and other humanists, as well as community, civic groups, social service organizations, schools, neighborhood centers, and youth, senior and family associations.
Contact
Nikki Erskine
artscouncil@worcesterma.gov
508-799-1400
https://massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/Worcester/
Address
455 Main Street Room 409
Worcester, MA 01608-1821
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FY22 Allocation
$187,700
FY22 Local Priorities
Each year, WAC seeks community input though a Funding Priorities Survey. The responses inform WAC on the types of projects that are most important to the people of Worcester. WAC uses this feedback to determine its Funding Priorities for its annual grant cycle. Projects and programs that align with the Funding Priorities are given preference in the Council’s review of applications.
Based on over 2,000 survey responses, WAC’s Funding Priorities for FY22 are:
• Project Categories | Projects that focus on Public Art, Arts Education & Instruction, and Children’s Programs.
• Cultural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | Projects that elevate the voices and experiences of historically marginalized groups to highlight the current and historical diversity of Worcester. Projects should create opportunities for artists and community members who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQIA+, refugee, immigrant, or person living with a disability.
• Locations | Projects that take place in or benefit areas of Worcester that are historically underserved.
FY22 Local Guidelines
WAC’s grant guidelines may differ from other Local Cultural Council’s guidelines. For detailed requirements and instructions, applicants must review the Worcester Arts Council’s FY22 Grant Guidelines before applying.
WAC project grant applications are only accepted through the MCC-hosted application (SmartSimple).
WAC fellowship grant applications are only accepted through Airtable.
For the first time, in FY22 WAC will use direct granting for both its project and fellowship grants. This means that all grants issued by WAC for FY22 will be paid up front. Detailed instructions for initiating direct payments will be provided to FY22 grantees in January 2022.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct Grants
FY22 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts | 18th Annual Asian Festival; 16th Annual Moon Festival | $4,500 |
| Music Worcester, Inc. | Dancing towards the future: Music Worcester presents Ballet Hispanico | $3,750 |
| Christopher G King | Upcycling Textile Scrap into Rope and Fabric | $3,596 |
| Edward Street Child Services, Inc. | Play On - Explorations and Documentation of Play Through the Lens of the Child | $3,750 |
| Worcester Center for Performing Arts, Inc. | The WYSH (Worcester Youth Speak Honestly) Project | $5,000 |
| ArtsWorcester, Inc. | 100 Views of Worcester | $4,500 |
| Indian Lake Community Association, Inc. | Block Party at The Teaching Garden | $3,750 |
| Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, Inc. | Worcester Caribbean American Carnival | $3,750 |
| Joy of Music Program, Inc. | World Drumming Connections | $3,536 |
| Black Excellence Academy | Self, Family, Community | $3,330 |
| Worcester Chamber Music Society, Inc. | Free Family Concert | $2,625 |
| The Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, Inc. | Music is the Key Partnership: a music and mentoring pilot project | $5,000 |
| Building Futures, Inc. | BFI Kids Club Plus Summer Music Program | $3,000 |
| Open Door Arts! | Connecting and Creating Through the Arts | $4,500 |
| Worcester Youth Orchestras, Inc. | Spring Community Concert | $3,750 |
| Be Studios Now | 2021-2022 Photography Exhibition Series: Abstract & UpClose | $2,250 |
| Worcester Natural History Society | Art, Nature, and Play Days 2022 | $1,958 |
| Worcester County Light Opera Club | Fun Home | $4,500 |
| Artreach Studio, Inc. | Worcester Youth Press Project | $3,750 |
| Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester, Inc. | Making Music with Elm Park After-School | $5,000 |
| Render Creative, Inc. | Community Garden Mural | $3,800 |
| Andrew Slowaski | Scoop Drip Sneaker Customization Work Shop | $3,750 |
| Worcester County Mechanics Association | Founders' Day | $1,875 |
| Black Heritage Juneteenth Committee | Juneteenth Festival | $3,600 |
| Worcester Art Museum | Artist Panel Discussion for the Exhibition “Us Them We | Race Ethnicity Identity” | $4,500 |
| Cyrus Alexander | 3rd Annual Beats & Barbecue Community Festival | $3,750 |
| Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Inc. | An Evening Celebrating Great Latin-American Musical Influences | $5,000 |
| Summer Gospel Fest | 7th Annual Summer Gospel Fest | $2,700 |
| Main South Community Development Corporation | Main South Community Mural Project | $5,000 |
| Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, Inc. | Downtown Worcester Vacant Storefront Activation | $5,000 |
| Creative Hub Worcester, Inc. | Creative Hub Mobile Art Van 2022 | $5,000 |
| Guardians of Traditions, Inc. | Dominican carnival, a colorful tale of satire and world heritage | $3,750 |
| Piya Samant | The Saffron Notes Project, Saffron Notes’, a collection of oils featuring beauty and solitude | $3,645 |
| WICN Public Radio, Inc. | Youth Harmony Recording | $2,907 |
| Christopher Bettencourt/ Tom Grady | Congress Alley | $3,750 |
| Studio Theatre Worcester, Inc. | STW's production of Next to Normal | $3,750 |
| Push Worcester | DIY Paint n Skate Youth Program | $3,500 |
| Mihoko Wakabayashi | Seed to Fashion | $3,260 |
| Girls Incorporated of Worcester | Theater Workshop | $2,250 |
| Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates, Inc. | Creative Movement for Individuals with Disabilities | $5,000 |
| Anna MacInnis | Too Darn Hot: 150+ Years of Burlesque History | $525 |
| Flamenco Worcester | Flamenco Worcester 10 Year Anniversary Celebration | $3,750 |
| Preservation Worcester, Inc. | "By the Canal" Historic Marker and Self-Guided Tour Signs in Pickett Park | $3,750 |
| Worcester Historical Museum | PRETTY POWERFUL Women’s History Month Fashion Programs: The Politics of Hair; Fast Fashion; and High School Essay Contest | $4,200 |
| Worcester Hip Hop Congress, Inc. | The Elements: Worcester Hip Hop Through the Ages | $4,491 |
| Center for Nonviolent Solutions, Inc. | Walking Tour of Worcester's Peace History | $2,628 |
| Patricia Kirkpatrick | Flower Crown Farm Community Event Series | $1,593 |
| African Community Education Program | ACE & Crocodile River Music Drumming | $4,800 |
| Ferdinand Nazario | Fire Fighter Comic Book Mural | $3,750 |
| Living In Freedom Together, (LIFT) Inc. | Clothing & Accessories Not For Sale: An Exhibit Exposing the Realities of the Sex Trade | $5,000 |
| George A. Annan, Jr. | Fellowship | $2,000 |
| Jerry Kazarian | Fellowship | $2,000 |
| John Albert Powers | Fellowship | $2,000 |
| Khalil Guzman-Jerry | Fellowship | $2,000 |
| Sharinna S. Travieso | Fellowship | $2,000 |
| Emmanuel Carboo | Fellowship | $5,000 |
| Richard Cummings | Fellowship | $5,000 |
