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
FY26 Allocation
TBD
FY26 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.
FY26 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
FY25 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Wall Stage Company, Inc. | Shakespeare History Plays Seen Through a Disability Lens | $5,000 | African Community Education Program, Inc | Crocodile River Music | $5,000 | Amuguni, Sharon | The Poet's Cauldron | $5,000 | ArtsWorcester, Inc. | Future Arts Workers of Worcester: Inaugural Exhibition | $5,000 | Baker, Nicholas | The Dog Days are Now | $5,000 | Building Futures, Inc. | Rhythms of the World | $3,500 | Casita Cultura Latina, Inc | Día de los Muertos in the Woo | $5,000 | Crocodile River Music, Inc | 2025 African Music Series | $5,000 | DIBARA, SUELY | Brazilian Festival of Worcester | $5,000 | Dominguez, David | Salvadoran Festival | $5,000 | Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District | Downtown Worcester Winter Festival 2025 | $5,000 | Edward Street Child Services, INC | 'Tell Me About It' - Trauma Informed Art Activities for Young Children | $5,000 | Eshun, Claudio | WAC Fellowship | $5,000 | Esteves, Brandon | WAC Fellowship | $5,000 | First Unitarian Church | Totally Organ-ic! Concert Series | $4,800 | Flagg Street School | Youth-led Library Mural | $2,500 | Friendly House, Inc. | Refugee Arts Showcase | $5,000 | Goris, Yasmin | Latino Art Fusion- Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration | $5,000 | Hamilton, Gregory | Worcester Portrait Exchange | $1,600 | Joy of Music Program, Inc. | JOMP Culture Connects | $5,000 | King, Patricia | Tax Returns for Artists, Entrepreneurs and Craftspeople | $5,000 | Korde, Shirish K. | Aikya | $5,000 | L'Esperance, Ashley P. | Songwriters at the Hub 2025 | $5,000 | MacInnis, Anna | The Worcester Draglesque Festival | $5,000 | Marsh, Caitlyn | WAC Fellowship | $5,000 | Mass Audubon Central Region | Broad Meadow Brook Visitor Mural | $2,000 | Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Inc. | Massachusetts Symphony In Concert With Manolo Mairena | $5,000 | No Evil Project, Inc. | No Evil Project: Art & Conversations | $5,000 | Open Door Arts | Open Door Gallery at the Worcester Art Museum | $5,000 | OpporTUNEity Community Connections Inc. | OpporTUNEity Youth Programs | $5,000 | Ortiz, Elis | Unveil: Art of A Puerto Rican Tale | $5,000 | Pernet Family Health Service of Worcester, Inc. | Food for Thought: Youth Program & Food Pantry Collaboration | $4,000 | Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts Inc | RICEMA Cultural Programs and Lunar Festival | $5,000 | Sessay, Fanta | WAC Fellowship | $5,000 | Severance, Brittany | The Guy, the Girl, and the Gilded Goat (short film)/Hunky Dory (art exhibition) | $4,980 | Shaner, Bill | The Unhoused Herald | $5,000 | Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, Inc. | Annual Asian Festival | $5,000 | The Worcester Center for Crafts, Inc. | Annual Arts Festival | $5,000 | Urquhart, Doug | Ed-Sullivans' Band 60's Music | $750 | Urquhart, Doug | Arizona Doug's Music through the decades | $900 | WICN Public Radio, Inc. | Emerging Artist Series | $5,000 | Worcester Art Museum | Pride Community Day | $5,000 | Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, Inc. | Worcester Caribbean American Carnival | $5,000 | Worcester Center for Performing Arts, Inc. | WYSH (Worcester Youth Speak Honestly) | $5,000 | Worcester Chamber Music Society, Inc. | Animal Adventures: Worcester Chamber Music Society’s Annual Free Family Concert | $5,000 | Worcester County Mechanics Association | Free community concerts | $5,000 | Worcester Hip Hop Congress, Inc. | Worcester Generations | $5,000 | Worcester Historical Museum | Worcester Women’s History Project at Worcester Historical Museum – 175th Anniversary of the National Women’s Rights Convention in 1850 | $5,000 | Worcester Refugee Assistance Project, Inc. | Beats, Brushes and Books | $5,000 | Worcester Roots Project, Inc. | Therapeutic Garden Mural to support mental health | $5,000 | Worcester Youth Orchestras, Inc. | Intergenerational Side by Side Concert | $5,000 |
