The Canton Cultural Council awards grants to applicants seeking funding for programs in the arts, sciences and education.
Donor Name: Mass Cultural Council
State: Massachusetts
Town: Canton
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/17/2022
Size of the Grant: $250 to $1,000
Details:
The Canton Cultural Council strives to use its available grants to maximize positive impacts to the most Canton Citizens possible. They encourage applicants whose projects will be accessible to the entire Canton Community rather than specific groups.
2023 Local Priorities
The priority of the Canton Cultural Council is, foremost, to enrich the cultural experiences of their community.
In order to reach out to potential applicants, they have already or plan to:
- Broadcast an informational program on their local cable outlet
- Publish an article in the local paper, The Canton Citizen, detailing programs they support and outlining the application dates of the 2022-23 grant cycle
- Update their existing social media page
- Set up a table at their inaugural Heritage Festival, which drew a crowd of 1,500, offering information on the availability of grants
- Make residents aware of the council by encouraging awardees to note council sponsorship of their program.
Another priority is to grow their membership to gather as much input on ways of reaching out to applicants, and coming up with innovative ideas for programs.
The pandemic imposed many hardships on many past recipients, and with the goal of lessening the pressure on artists, extended the deadline for many programs.
Funding Information
Grants range from $250 to $1,000. The average grant in the last year was $405.
Eligibility Criteria
- Types of grants. A Local Cultural Council may approve grants for a broad range of projects and programs, such as operating support, ticket subsidies, field trips, artist residencies, public art, fellowships, community events/programs, site specific projects, and other activities, based on local priorities. Each Local Cultural Council determines its own local eligibility requirements based on a community engagement process.
- Program eligibility. Applicants may apply for grants for programs that take place during an 18-month window of eligibility from July 1, preceding the application deadline in October, through December 31 of the following year. This means that applicants may apply for projects that have already happened or which happen prior to grant announcements, with the knowledge that funding is not guaranteed. Local Cultural Councils are authorized to establish a smaller window of eligibility; if they do so, they must publish the eligible dates in their council guidelines.
- Applicant eligibility. Applicants must reside or be located in Massachusetts. Local Cultural Councils may accept applications from anyone included in the following list:
- Individuals
- Incorporated private nonprofit organizations
- Unincorporated associations that can establish a nonprofit objective
- Public schools, libraries, other municipal agencies, and the Local Cultural Council itself
- Religious organizations.
2023 Local Guidelines
- Of considerable importance is the diversity of the community. Canton is committed to funding an array of programs that include generational, racial, gender and ethnic representation.
- Another priority is the benefit to their town. If the program is not held here, there needs to be a benefit either through participation of Canton residents or attendance of Canton citizens. Applicants are not required to be residents of Canton. The council will not fund grants that do not have any direct impact on the residents of Canton.
- The Canton Cultural Council has moved to a direct grant model. This means that grantees will receive funds upon submission of the grant acceptance form and a W-9 form. Grantees are required to submit a final report to the CCC within 2 weeks of the performance/event.
- Priority will be given to applicants who have secured a date and venue for their program. Applicants who intend to partner with another community organization are encouraged to include a letter of support from their partner.
- Other criteria used in the decision-making process include:
- Qualifications of the applicant
- Accessibility of the venue
- Financial need
- Artistic merit of the applicant.
For more information, visit MCC.
