The Melrose Cultural Council is accepting applications for Local Cultural Council Grant to foster a rich cultural life for all Massachusetts residents.
Donor Name: Melrose Cultural Council
State: Massachusetts
City: Melrose
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/17/2022
Grant Duration: 18 Months
Details:
In Massachusetts, public funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences is provided through a central state agency, the Mass Cultural Council, and through a network of Local Cultural Councils that serve every city and town in the state. LCCs also receive support for programs from donations, fundraising events, and their local municipality. The mission of the Mass Cultural Council is to promote excellence, education, diversity, and inclusion in the arts, humanities, and sciences to foster a rich cultural life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the vitality of our communities and economy. The Mass Cultural Council receives funding from the Massachusetts Legislature and the
National Endowment for the Arts and distributes these public funds through two channels:
- Direct grants to individuals and organizations, available through statewide competitive grant processes; and
- Distributions to Local Cultural Councils, which then re-grant funds to individuals and organizations in their own communities.
Their goal is to provide financial support on a direct granting basis to a variety of projects that appeal to the diverse population and cultures of our community — reaching adults of all ages, youth, children, families, and seniors.
2023 Priorities
2023 priorities are informed by a community outreach survey conducted by the MCC. The Council is actively encouraging applications that address inclusion, diversity and equity. They hope to elevate the voices and experiences of historically underrepresented groups that reflect and highlight the current and historic diversity of Melrose residents in an authentic way, through arts and culture, including projects that speak to the experience of Massachusetts artists and audiences who identify as BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQIA, immigrant, or live with disabilities.
- Priority will be given to projects that build community through social connections and dialogue.
- Proposals for innovative ideas, collaborations, and new initiatives are encouraged.
- Proposals for free public events and activities in outdoor spaces are favorably welcomed.
- Priority is given to applications from Melrose organizations, individuals, and organizers.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must reside or be located in Massachusetts. Local Cultural Councils may accept applications from anyone included in the following list:
- Individual applicants must show that a public benefit results from the project for which they are applying. A public presentation of an individual’s work may provide the needed public benefit. Individual members of Local Cultural Councils may apply for funding from a Local Cultural Council but must observe all conflict-of-interest laws and regulations in the granting process. Local Cultural Councils may also establish their own rules regarding applications from council members as long as these are consistent with the state’s conflict of interest laws (see Appendix B).
- Incorporated private nonprofit organizations.
- Unincorporated associations that can establish a nonprofit objective. A group of individuals coming together with a common purpose (e.g., local community band, theater group) that do not have nonprofit status.
- Public schools, libraries, other municipal agencies, and the Local Cultural Council itself.
- Religious organizations or groups with a religious affiliation are eligible to apply for funding for cultural programming that is available to the general public. LCCs can only approve applications that are primarily cultural in their intent and do not have the effect of advancing religion.
For more information, visit Melrose Cultural Council.
