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
Fabian Barracks
ArtsCouncil@WorcesterMA.gov
508-799-1400
http://www.worcesterma.gov/cultural-development/worcester-arts-council
Address
455 Main Street Room 409
Worcester, MA 01608-1800
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Application Information
FY25 Allocation
$236,500
FY25 Local Priorities
While all projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences will be considered, based on community input gathered in 2024, WAC will give preference to grant applications that align with the following Funding Priorities for FY25:
Project Categories | Projects that focus on Public Art, Musical Performances, Arts Education & Instruction, and programs for all age groups from children to seniors.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access (DEIA) | 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 through a DEIA lens.
Locations | Projects that take place in or benefit areas of Worcester that are historically underserved.
FY25 Local Guidelines
Grant guidelines for WAC’s FY25 grant season can be found on the City of Worcester website by visiting https://www.worcesterma.gov/cultural-development/grants
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct Grants
FY24 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African Community Education Program | Drumming and Dancing Lessons at the African Community Education Program | $5,000 | ArtsWorcester, Inc. | The "One" | $5,000 | Building Futures, Inc. | Sounds of Summer | $3,500 | Butler, Eric | A Master Class with Santino Fontana | $5,000 | Center for Nonviolent Solutions, Inc. | Walking Tour of Worcester's Peace History | $2,420 | Chinese Family Network, Inc. | 2024 Spring Festival | $3,000 | Crocodile River Music, Inc | Worcester’s Got African Talent 3.0 | $5,000 | Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District | Downtown Worcester Winter Festival 2024 | $5,000 | Edward Street Child Services, INC | Weaving 1,2,3 - Math, Motor Skills, and Masterpieces | $5,000 | First Unitarian Church | Pipes of All Types! Concert Series at First Unitarian Church of Worcester | $5,000 | Gaffney, Tina | WAC Fellowship | $5,000 | Gardell, Ryan | Artifakt Block Party 2.0 | $5,000 | Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts | It's a Girl's World Mural Project | $5,000 | Girls Incorporated of Worcester | After School Theater Club | $5,000 | Joy of Music Program, Inc. | JOMP in the Community | $5,000 | Jubilee Career Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. | Jubilee Mobile Arts and Technolgy School Bus Program | $5,000 | King, Christopher G | Macramé Panel for Main Street | $5,000 | King, Patricia | Artist and Performers Tax Returns | $3,125 | L'Esperance, Ashley P. | Songwriters at the Hub 2024 | $5,000 | Lasya School of Dance | Expressions of India: A Bharatanatyam showcase for the community | $5,000 | Latin American Business Organization Inc | Soy Lo Que Soy (I am What I am): A Latin Musical Journey | $5,000 | Love Your Labels, Inc. | Threads Fashion Design Program & Threads Pop Ups | $5,000 | Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Inc. | Jazz in the Park: Celebrating Great African-American and Latin/American Musical Influences | $5,000 | Memnon, Michelle | 9th Annual Summer Gospel Fest | $3,700 | Morello, John R. | The Waste Land | $5,000 | O'Neil, Alex | WooFridge Documentary | $5,000 | Open Door Arts | Connecting and Creating Through the Arts | $5,000 | Open Sky Community Services, Inc. | Furniture ART | $5,000 | Ortiz, Edmy | FLAMENCO! Tradition, Art & Passion 2024 | $5,000 | Ortiz, Eduardo | Eduardo Ortiz Latin Concert | $5,000 | Perez-Robles, Ana | The Poet's Cauldron | $5,000 | Pernet Family Health Service of Worcester, Inc. | Impact Art for Kids | $3,600 | Preservation Worcester, Inc. | Let’s Experience Africa | $2,496 | Render Creative, Inc. | After School Arts Club | $4,000 | Samer, Rox | Tip/Alli | $4,958 | Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates, Inc. | Creative Movement | $5,000 | Shaner, Bill | A People's History of I-290 | $5,000 | Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, Inc. | Annual Asian Festival | $5,000 | The Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, Inc. | Mural: Food is Common Ground | $5,000 | The Worcester Center for Crafts, Inc. | Hot Night in the City Arts Festival | $5,000 | Union Hill School | Union Hill Mural Project | $5,000 | WICN Public Radio, Inc. | Emerging Arts Series-Plus Folk, Bluegrass and more. | $5,000 | Wakabayashi, Mihoko | Seed to Fashion | $3,545 | Worcester Artist Group, Inc. | Bladesmiths of the Blackstone Valley: Selected Works | $2,500 | Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, Inc. | Worcester Caribbean American Carnival | $5,000 | Worcester Center for Performing Arts, Inc. | WYSH | $5,000 | Worcester Chamber Music Society, Inc. | Family Concert: The Little Mermaid | $5,000 | Worcester County Mechanics Association | Portraits Event for School Children | $5,000 | Worcester Youth Orchestras, Inc. | Four Orchestras Festival | $5,000 |
