Worcester Arts Council

The mission of the Worcester Arts Council is to promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretative sciences to improve the quality of life for Worcester residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our City.

The Worcester Arts Council is a municipal body consisting of nine members appointed by the City Manager. The Council is charged with promoting the cultural affairs of the City of Worcester and allocating funds received by the Council for cultral projects and programs.

Worcester Arts Council Profile

Funding Priorities Survey

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is seeking community input through its 2019 Funding Priorities Survey. This survey will help the Council determine its funding priorities for the upcoming 2020 grant cycle, which begins September 1, 2019.

The survey is an opportunity for the community to provide input on arts and culture in Worcester. The responses directly influence where the Council allocates grant funds. The survey takes about 3-4 minutes to complete. The survey will be open through August 28, 2019.

Take Survey Learn More

Meetings

Meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday at 6:15 p.m. (Jan. - Sept.); meet every Thursday at 6:15 p.m. (Oct. - Dec.).

In addition, the Worcester Arts Council also hosts an annual Community Input Meeting to determine priorities for grant funding, along with Grant Writing Workshops to assist those interested in applying for funds.

Date/Time of Next Meeting: TBA

Meeting Agendas & Minutes

August 21 August 8 July 11 June 13 May 9 April 11 March 14 February 14

December 13 August 9 July 12 June 14 May 10 April 12 March 8 February 8 January 11

December 14 November 30 November 16 November 9 November 2 October 12 September 14 August 17 July 13 June 8 May 11 April 13 March 16 March 9 February 16 February 9

December 8 November 10 September 8 August 18 July 14 June 22 June 9 May 26 April 28 April 14 March 10 February 11 January 14

December 10 December 3 November 19 November 5 October 8 September 10 August 13 July 9 June 11 May 14 March 12 February 11 January 20

December 8 November 24 November 17 November 10 November 3 October 21 September 23 August 20 July 29 June 24 May 20 April 15 March 17 February 25 February 18 January 21

December 18 December 17 November 12 October 28 October 15 September 24 August 27 July 16 June 26 May 21 April 16 March 19 February 19 January 15

December 4 November 6 October 16 September 18 August 21 July 17 June 19 May 22 May 15 April 24 March 27 March 19 February 28 January 23 January 5

December 29 November 17 October 27 September 27 August 25 August 10 July 28 June 30 June 21 June 9 May 26 April 28 April 8 March 31

Grants

The Council accepts grant applications on an annual basis between mid-August and October 15th, with allocations made before the end of the calendar year. Grants are issued to support arts, humanities and interpretive sciences; visual artists, performing artists, science educators, historians and other humanists; as well as community, business and civic groups, social service organizations, schools, neighborhood centers, and youth, senior and family associations.

Grants