Wicked Cool Places (WCP), a grant program for making or keeping a place where things are happening and people want to be that involve and impact residents, visitors and/or businesses in New Bedford’s neighborhoods.
Donor Name: New Bedford Creative
State: Massachusetts
City: New Bedford
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 12/30/2021
Size of the Grant: $1,000 to $5,000
Details:
This year, it may include arts and culture-based solutions to expedite the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, support the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) in all forms, or re-imagine everyday spaces to see anew the potential of parks, waterfronts, plazas, neighborhoods, streets, markets, campuses and public buildings. In all cases, projects that focus on DEIA outcomes will be prioritized.
There is a total of $50,000 to invest in projects based in the city of New Bedford. Awards will range between $1,000 and $5,000. Individuals, non-profits, community groups, and for-profits are all eligible to apply. This grant’s cash award can be used for: material and direct project costs, operational expenses, including labor/staff time, capital improvements, sub-contractors, vendors or third party assistance.
Facilitated by New Bedford Creative and the NBEDC, and funded by the city of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture, and Tourism Fund, this grant is one component of implementing the city’s first-ever strategic arts and culture plan called New Bedford Creative: Our Art, Our Culture, Our Future.
The Wicked Cool Places grant program intends to help advance New Bedford as one of the most culturally unique and creative cities in America. For 2021, this grant aims to support placemaking or placekeeping projects that will directly involve and impact residents, visitors and/or businesses in New Bedford’s neighborhoods.
Eligible Projects
Projects should directly involve and/or impact residents, visitors and/or businesses in New Bedford’s neighborhoods by utilizing the arts, creativity and/or culture. This may include creative solutions to expedite the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, support the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) in all forms, and/or strengthen the public spaces of a community. In all cases, projects that focus on DEIA outcomes will be prioritized.
This year, with a lingering pandemic, continuing social equity awakening and economic volatility, preference will be given to projects in public spaces that demonstrate the role of creative individuals and groups in a community to envision solutions with an arts, culture or creative approach.
There is a wide range of challenges that projects may address with this grant program, including but not limited to:
- Advancing the physical or mental well-being of a community, neighborhood, or group of people
- Highlighting underappreciated cultural or historic communities, issues or infrastructure
- Bringing exposure and interest to small businesses and cultural institutions through reopening
- Improving public spaces, access to safe pedestrian and bicycle transport and more
- Providing resources to empower a specific group in a specific public place, such as veterans, the elderly, immigrants, etc.
- Connecting people in the community that may not otherwise interact.
Eligible Applicants
- Individuals, organizations, and project teams of nonprofit and/or for-profit status proposing projects in or for the City of New Bedford are eligible to apply. This includes creative leaders, emerging artists, cultural assets, institutions, businesses, engaged community members, inclusive funders, and supportive programming teams. Diverse and inclusive project teams are encouraged to apply.
- Any individuals or organizations who have received grants from New Bedford Creative or the NBEDC in the past must have submitted their final reports in order to apply again. Starting in 2022, the year after this current grant round, there may be a limit of receiving grants multiple years in a row.
For more information, visit Wicked Cool Places Grant.
