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

Meetings

Meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday at 6 p.m. During grant review season meetings will be held weekly until all grant applications have been reviewed. Grant review season is typically mid-November through December, due to the impacts of COVID-19 on finalizing the state budget, application due dates have been extended to December 14, 2020, and grant reviews will be completed in January 2021. A virtual Grant Writing Workshop was held in October 2020, which walked through the application process and answered questions from attendees. Watch the Workshop and View Slide Deck with additional information for applicants.

Date/Time of Next Meeting: TBA

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Meeting Agendas & Minutes

April 8 March 11 February 25 February 11 January 28 January 26 January 25 January 24 January 21 January 19 January 18 January 16 January 14

December 10 November 12 October 8 October 7 September 25 August 20 August 13 July 9 June 11 May 14 April 9 March 12 February 13 January 9

December 12 December 5 November 21 November 14 November 7 October 24 October 10 September 12 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

Meeting Videos

April 8, 2021

Worcester Arts Council

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March 11, 2021

Worcester Arts Council

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February 25, 2021

Worcester Arts Council

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February 11, 2021

Worcester Arts Council

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Grants

The Council accepts grant applications based on guidance from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Applications are open from September 1 - October 15. Due to COVID-19, the FY21 grant cycle timing has been delayed. Applications will be open October 1, 2020 through December 14, 2020. 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 Resources Grant Guidelines & Instructions

The Worcester Arts Council is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.