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. It is also 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.

WAC Grant Opportunities

Grant applications are typically open the beginning of September and close mid October.

WAC accepts applications for two types of grants:

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.

Grant applicants should review the WAC FY25 Grant Guidelines and MCC Local Cultural Council Program Guidelines before applying. All applicants must adhere to these guidelines.

Grant Workshops

WAC will hold two virtual grant workshop on Zoom to provide information about applying for grants. First-time applicants and all those who are interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to attend.

October 2, 2024 - Workshop
October 9, 2024 - Workshop

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.

FY25 Grantee Resources

As of 2022, WAC has used a "Direct Payment" process. The previous "reimbursement" process required grantees to fund their projects themselves, then submit final reporting in order to receive their reimbursement. With the direct payment process, WAC has reduced barriers to its funds by making them available to grantees up front.

The process and timeline for direct payment is as follows:

IRS Form W-9 - MUST be on file with the City of Worcester in order to create a Purchase Order. WAC staff will notify grantee once this has been created, typically within 10 business days.
Direct Grant Agreement - after receiving notice that the Purchase Order has been created, grantees can request their payment by submitting a Direct Grant Agreement. Once processed, grantees will receive payment by mail, typically within 2-3 weeks.
Once the project is complete, or within 1 year from the date of their award letter, project grantees are required to submit a Final Report, which consists of:

Project Evaluation Form
Evidence that the event took place, and that WAC and the MCC were credited as outlined in the Grantee Credit and Publicity Requirements Grantee Credit & Publicity Requirements. This proof can include an event program, news article, press release, photos, social media posts, etc.
A detailed budget of expenses, including proof of all payments made using WAC funds. Acceptable proofs of payment can include receipts, copies of checks, bank statements and more.

All documents may be submitted in one of two ways:

Emailed to: ArtsCouncil@WorcesterMA.gov (preferred), or
Mailed to: Worcester Arts Council, 455 Main Street, Room 409, Worcester, MA 01608

Additional documents for FY25 grantees:

All grantees must review the Grantee Credit & Publicity Requirements and incorporate this information into their project as appropriate.
If the grantee would like to to modify their project (ie: changes to event dates, changes to the budget, or requesting an extension), the request must be submitted in writing using a Grant Amendment Form.

Project modifications may not significantly alter the original nature of the approved application. Amendments are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not automatically granted. No changes to a grant-funded project should be implemented prior to receiving Council Approval.
If changes to the budget are necessary, grantees must also provide a revised budget. Project Grant Budget Template (Excel File)