Arts & Culture Grants

Worcester Arts Council Grants

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) receives an annual appropriation of state funds from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), and makes these funds available to the community through its grant programs. WAC accepts grant applications for individuals and organizations, and is one of the few Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) in the Commonwealth to offer Fellowships on an annual basis.

Grants are issued to support arts, humanities, 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.

Fellowship Grants: Assist individuals in developing their work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation. Artists in any discipline may apply. All Fellowship applicants must maintain a residential, commercial or studio address in the city of Worcester.

Project Grants: Assist in the development of projects and programs in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences. Applicants must demonstrate a tangible benefit to Worcester citizens. All grant applicants must maintain a residential, commercial or studio address in Worcester County. All WAC-funded projects must occur within the city of Worcester.

FY23 Applications

WAC accepts applications for two types of grants:

• Project Grants assist in the development of projects and programs in the arts, humanities and sciences - Apply Online
• Fellowship Grants assist individuals in developing their work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation - Apply Online

Applications for WAC's FY23 granting cycle are open September 1, 2022 through 11:59 p.m. October 17, 2022.

• WAC FY23 Grant Guidelines
• MCC Local Cultural Council Program Guidelines
• Project Grant Budget Template (Excel File)

WAC will hold two virtual grant workshops on Zoom. First-time applicants and all interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to attend. Pre-register at the links below:

• Wednesday, September 14, 2022 7 p.m. - Watch the Recording
• Wednesday, October 5, 2022 7:30 p.m. - Watch the Recording

Funding Priorities

Each year, WAC seeks community input though a Funding Priorities Survey. The responses inform WAC on the types of projects that are most important to the people of Worcester. WAC uses this feedback to determine its Funding Priorities for its annual grant cycle. Projects and programs that align with the Funding Priorities are given preference in the Council's review of applications.

Based on over 3,000 survey responses last year, WAC's Funding Priorities for FY23 are:

• Project Categories | Projects that focus on Public Art, Musical Performances, Arts Education & Instruction and programs for all age groups from children to seniors.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access (DEIA) | Projects that elevate the voices and experiences of historically marginalized groups to highlight the current and historical diversity of Worcester. Projects should create opportunities for artists and community members through a DEIA lens.
• Locations | Projects that take place in or benefit areas of Worcester that are historically underserved.

View the Full Report

FY22 Grantees

For FY22, the Worcester Arts Council awarded a total of $206,069 to 57 Worcester area applicants. The 2022 allocation included 7 Artist Fellowships, which were awarded to individuals to assist in the funding of their endeavors in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.

• View the full list: 2022 Grantees

FY22 Grantee Resources

Learn more about the FY22 Payment Process.

• IRS Form W-9 - MUST be on file with the City of Worcester before any of the following documents can be completed.
• 2022 Grantee Credit & Publicity Requirements
• Grant Amendment Form - optional. Grantee must submit prior to implementing any changes to their WAC-funded program.
• Payments for WAC grant recipients FY22:
• Direct Grant Agreement - complete and send to ArtsCouncil@WorcesterMA.gov after you receive confirmation your W9 was processed.
• Project Evaluation Form - within 2 weeks of project completion, or by one year of receiving your award letter, complete the Project Evaluation and submit to ArtsCouncil@WorcesterMA.gov.

All grantees must review the 2022 Grantee Credit & Publicity Requirements and incorporate this information into their project as appropriate.

• Worcester Arts Council Logos:
  • JPG Format: Full Color |(Black Version)
  • PNG Format: Full Color | (White Version and Black Version)
• Mass Cultural Council Logo

All documents can be submitted as follows:

Emailed to: ArtsCouncil@WorcesterMA.gov. Please note that City emails are subject to Public Records Requests. For your security, any emails that have sensitive personal information (such as a Social Security Number) must be encrypted. To protect your confidential information, the subject line of any such emails must end with [encrypt].

Mailed or dropped off to:
Worcester Arts Council
455 Main Street
Room 409
Worcester, MA 01608