WORCESTER, MA February 7, 2023 – The Worcester Arts Council and the City of Worcester are proud to announce the award of 66 grants totaling $277,773 for arts and cultural programs in Worcester in 2023.

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCC) under the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). These LCCs serve all 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Statewide, $5.5 million will be distributed by LCCs in 2023.

This year, WAC received $226,600 in funding from the MCC – a 20.7% increase over 2022.

WAC received a record 157 applications for its 2023 grants. Between October and December 2022, WAC evaluated all applications on criteria including public benefit, creative/artistic merit, capacity, budget, impact, and innovation. The Council also took into account how well applications reflected its annual Funding Priorities, which are established based on community input.

“The Worcester Arts Council is thrilled to be able to fund 8 artist fellowships and 58 projects that will take place in Worcester in 2023,” said Worcester Arts Council Chair Jen Riley. “We were able to distribute more grant funding into the community than ever before and are looking forward to the variety of projects planned for this year. It’s an honor to support so many projects and people who inspire us, challenge us, and connect us through their creativity and imagination.”

WAC’s 2023 project grant winners reflect a wide range of Worcester-based programs and organizations, including the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival from the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, Catch Basin Mural Project from Sharinna S. Travieso, Organ Concert Series at First Unitarian Worcester, and Mr. Twister – an interactive opera performance and puppetry workshop from Latasha Hughes.

WAC also awarded fellowships to 8 Worcester artists, including $5,000 fellowships to musician Giuliano D’Orazio, visual artist William L. Thompson, musician and producer Eric L’Esperance, and visual artist Laura Marotta. An additional four $3,000 fellowships were awarded to fashion designer Ernie Jubin, dancer/choreographer John A. Semidei, visual artist John Vo, and journalist William Shaner.

The current Worcester Arts Council members are Jennifer Riley (Chair), Brandon Lewis (Secretary), Christopher Rich (Treasurer), Sean Brennan, David Filar, Avae Thomas-Quartey, Shantelle Campbell, and Nikki Erskine (Staff Liaison).

The 2023 Worcester Arts Council Grant Recipients are:

About the Worcester Arts Council:

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) 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 cultural projects and programs. 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 supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information visit: www.worcesterma.gov/wac

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council:

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more information visit: www.massculturalcouncil.org

The post Worcester Arts Council Awards Over $277,000 in Grants for Local Arts and Cultural Programs for 2023 appeared first on WCC.

The post Worcester PopUp Presents New Childhood-Inspired Exhibit, “Bouncy House Time Machine” appeared first on WCC.

The post Worcester Arts Council’s FY23 Grant Applications Open September 1 through October 17, 2022 appeared first on WCC.

The post New Grant Opportunity from the Worcester Arts Council: Up to $200,000 Available for Creative Projects in Worcester appeared first on WCC.

WORCESTER, MA January 10, 2022 – The Worcester Arts Council and the City of Worcester are proud to announce the award of 57 grants totaling more than $206,000 for arts and cultural programs in Worcester in 2022.

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCC) under the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). These LCCs serve all 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Statewide, more than $4.7 million will be distributed by LCCs in 2022.

This year, WAC received $187,700 in funding from the MCC — a 12.5% increase over 2021. For the second year, WAC also received an additional $10,000 for Fellowship funding from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Creative Worcester Initiative, which is funded in part by the Barr Foundation. 

WAC received a record 137 applications for its 2022 grants. Between November and December 2021, WAC evaluated all applications on criteria including public benefit, creative/artistic merit, capacity, budget, impact, and innovation. The Council also took into account how well applications reflected its annual Funding Priorities, which are established based on community input.

“For over 40 years, the Worcester Arts Council has helped arts and culture come alive in Worcester through its annual grant program. This year is no exception,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “I am very happy to see the innovative projects and talented fellows who are among the list of 2022 grant recipients. I congratulate each of this year’s grantees, and I thank the members of Arts Council for their tireless dedication to serving Worcester’s creative community.”

“The Worcester Arts Council is thrilled to be able to fund 7 artist fellowships and 50 projects that will take place in Worcester in 2022,” said Worcester Arts Council Chair Jen Riley. “From fashion designers to photographers, from community murals to festivals on the Worcester Common and more, we couldn’t be prouder of our 2022 grantees. It’s an honor to support so many projects and people who inspire us, challenge us, and connect us through their creativity and imagination.”

WAC’s 2022 project grant winners reflect a wide range of Worcester-based programs and organizations, including the Juneteenth Festival from the Black Heritage Juneteenth Committee, a DIY Paint n Skate Youth Program from Push Worcester, the Main South Community Mural Project from the Main South Community Development Corporation, the Making Music with Elm Park School After School program from Pakachoag Music School, and many more.

WAC also awarded fellowships to 7 Worcester artists, including $5,000 fellowships to fashion designer, musician, and artist Emmanuel Carboo and photographer Richard Cummings, and five $2,000 fellowships to photographer George Annan, Jr., visual artist Khalil M. Guzman-Jerry, musician Kaz Supernova, visual artist John Albert Powers, and visual artist Sharinna Travieso.

The complete list of 2022 grant recipients and amounts can be found below.

WAC was also recently awarded a $250,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as part of the American Rescue Plan. WAC is the only Local Cultural Council in Massachusetts to receive one of 60 NEA grants nationwide. WAC plans to make additional sub-granting opportunities available with its NEA funds. More details will be shared in early 2022.

The current Worcester Arts Council members are Jennifer Riley (Chair), Lisa Malo (Vice Chair), Brandon Lewis (Secretary), Christopher Rich (Treasurer), Silvana Boaheng, Sean Brennan, David Filar, and George Sedares. There is one open seat on the Council.

The 2022 Worcester Arts Council Grant Recipients are listed below, and can be found at http://www.worcesterma.gov/cultural-development/document-center/wac-grantees.pdf

About the Worcester Arts Council:

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) 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 cultural projects and programs. 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 supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information visit: www.worcesterma.gov/wac

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council:

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more information visit: www.massculturalcouncil.org

The post Worcester Arts Council Awards over $206,000 in Grants for Local Arts and Cultural Programs for 2022 appeared first on WCC.

Open September 1 through October 15, 2021

Worcester, MA  – The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is now accepting grant applications for its FY22 funding cycle. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2021. 

As part of a statewide network of Local Cultural Councils (LCCs), WAC receives funding through the Mass Cultural Council (MCC) annually. For FY22, WAC will once again award thousands for local arts and cultural programs in Worcester to individuals, nonprofits, associations that can establish a nonprofit objective, schools, libraries, and other public agencies. This year, WAC will receive over $187,000 from the MCC for its grants, representing an increase of 12.5% over last year’s funding allocation.

“The Worcester Arts Council is proud to support local arts and culture with our fellowships and project grants again in 2022, and thrilled to have received over $187,000 in funding from the Mass Cultural Council this year,” said Worcester Arts Council Chair Jennifer Riley. “There is a lot of creativity here in Worcester that is deserving of our support. These grants make it possible for many creative projects, programs, and people to blossom, and add to the vitality of our city.”

WAC offers two types of grants: project grants and fellowship grants. Project grants support individuals and organizations from Worcester County in developing projects and programs within the city of Worcester that are innovative, collaborative, provide a public benefit, reach underserved populations, and demonstrate creative excellence. Fellowship grants help Worcester artists of all trades in developing and exploring their work outside the structure of a specific project.

New for FY22, WAC will use direct granting instead of reimbursement-based granting for its project grants. In the past, project grant recipients first paid out of pocket for all expenses, then submitted a request for reimbursement. While the process worked, it also posed a potential financial barrier; it could be a challenge for some to first pay for project expenses themselves. The change to direct granting will allow project grant recipients to receive funding up front, before they’ve incurred any expenses to bring their project to life.

m>“In making the change to direct granting for FY22, the Worcester Arts Council has taken an important step toward greater accessibility to our grants,” said Riley. “We believe this change will help ease the financial burden for all who wish to apply. It’s also our hope that folx who saw reimbursement-based granting as a barrier in the past will now find they are better able to plan creative projects in Worcester and apply for our grants.”

While all projects within the realm of arts, sciences, and humanities will be considered, based on the feedback received from the Worcester community through its annual Funding Priorities Survey, WAC will give preference to grant applicants and projects that align with the following priorities for FY22:

• Project Categories | Projects that focus on Public Art, Arts Education & Instruction, and Children’s Programs.
• Cultural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | 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 who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQX, refugee, immigrant, or person living with a disability.
• Locations | Projects that take place in or benefit areas of Worcester that are historically underserved.

WAC’s FY22 Grant Guidelines and instructions on how to apply can be found at: worcesterma.gov/wac

All applications must be submitted online by October 15, 2021. Late applications cannot be accepted for any reason. WAC will review all grant applications from November through December 2021. Applicants who are denied funding will be notified in early January 2022. Applicants who are awarded grants will be notified by late January 2022.

WAC will also host a virtual Grant Workshop on Wednesday, September 22 from 7-8pm on Zoom. WAC encourages anyone who may be interested in learning more or applying, especially first-time applicants, to attend. Pre-register at: tinyurl.com/wacgrantworkshop

The current Worcester Arts Council members are Jennifer Riley (Chair), Brandon Lewis (Secretary), Christopher Rich (Treasurer), Silvana Boaheng, Sean Brennan, David Filar, Lisa Malo, and George Sedares. There is one open seat on the Council.

About the Worcester Arts Council:

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) 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 cultural projects and programs. 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 supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information visit: www.worcesterma.gov/wac

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council:

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more information visit: www.massculturalcouncil.org

The post Worcester Arts Council’s FY22 Grant Applications appeared first on WCC.

Worcester, MA  – The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is pleased to announce an important change that will improve accessibility to its grant program: the Council is switching from reimbursement-based granting to direct granting for FY22. 

Historically, WAC’s project grants were reimbursement-based. This means that organizations, individuals, and non-profits who were awarded project grants first paid out of pocket for any expenses, then submitted a request to WAC for reimbursement. While the process worked, it also posed a potential financial barrier — it could be a challenge for some to first pay for project expenses themselves. 

“The change to direct granting is an important step forward toward greater accessibility to the Worcester Arts Council’s grant program. Our hope is that those who may have found reimbursement-based granting a barrier to applying for our project grants now have a new or better opportunity,” said Worcester Arts Council Chair Jennifer Riley. “This is great news for our FY22 grant applicants, and great news for Worcester!”

Erin WIlliams, Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester added, “Accessible funding for Worcester’s creative community is a priority for our city. Projects funded by the Worcester Arts Council are created by and for our residents, by our local artists and cultural organizations. The power of culture is strong in Worcester and deserves support. Kudos to the Worcester Arts Council for making room for everyone to participate.”

WAC offers two types of competitive grants for arts and culture in Worcester: project grants and fellowship grants. The change to direct granting only affects project grants, as fellowship grants have always been paid directly.

Project grants support individuals and organizations from Worcester County in developing projects and programs that are innovative, collaborative, provide a public benefit, reach under-served populations, and demonstrate creative excellence. Project grant applicants must maintain a residential, commercial, or studio address in Worcester County, and all projects must take place in the city of Worcester. WAC accepts project grant applications from individuals, non-profit organizations, associations that can establish a non-profit objective, schools, libraries, and other public agencies.

Fellowship grants assist artists of all trades, scholars, and literary persons in developing and exploring their work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation. Through its fellowship grants, WAC honors individuals who are innovative, demonstrate excellence in their field, and represent the best of Worcester’s creative community. Fellowship applicants must maintain a residential, commercial, or studio address in the city of Worcester. WAC is one of only a few Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) in Massachusetts to offer fellowship grants.

Grant applications for FY22 will open on September 1, 2021. The application deadline is October 15, 2021. WAC’s FY22 Grant Guidelines and information on how to apply will be posted by August 31, 2021 at: worcesterma.gov/cultural-development/grants

WAC is also currently seeking input from the Worcester community through its annual Funding Priorities Survey. While all projects within the realm of arts, sciences, and humanities will be considered, WAC will give preference to grant applicants and projects that align with local priorities determined by the responses to this survey. As an added incentive, Worcester residents who complete the survey will also be entered for a chance to win Bose QuietComfort Earbuds ($279 value)! The survey closes August 7, 2021. It can be found at: tinyurl.com/wacsurvey2021.

The current Worcester Arts Council members are Jennifer Riley (Chair), Mitchell Perry (Vice Chair), Brandon Lewis (Secretary), Christopher Rich (Treasurer), Silvana Boaheng, Sean Brennan, David Filar, Lisa Malo, and George Sedares. 

About the Worcester Arts Council:

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) 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 cultural projects and programs. 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 supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information visit: www.worcesterma.gov/wac

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council:

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more information visit: www.massculturalcouncil.org

###

The post The Worcester Arts Council Ensures Greater Accessibility to its Grants with Move to Direct Granting for FY22 appeared first on WCC.

WORCESTER, MA March 4, 2021 – The Worcester Arts Council is proud to announce the award of 65 grants totaling $219,100 for arts and cultural programs in Worcester in 2021.

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is part of a statewide network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences on an annual basis. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. Decisions about which projects and programs to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers.

This year, WAC received $166,700 in funding from the MCC, an increase of 6% in funding over last year. WAC also received an additional $10,000 for its Fellowship funding this year, thanks to the generous support of Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Creative Worcester Initiative, which is funded in part by the Barr Foundation.

“Reflecting on this year’s grant cycle, there were numerous uncertainties and unpredictable delays due to COVID-19, but we remained hopeful. The Worcester Arts Council is thrilled that we were ultimately able to offer more grant funding in 2021 than ever before. With the support of the Mass Cultural Council and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, WAC grant funds will benefit 65 local artists, individuals, organizations, and projects in Worcester this year,” said Yasmin Goris, outgoing Worcester Arts Council Chair.

2021 WAC project grants support a diverse range of programs and organizations in Worcester. The complete list of grant recipients and amounts can be found below.

WAC was also able to distribute more Fellowship grants than ever before to local artists in a variety of disciplines – musicians, comedians, visual artists, writers, and more. This includes two $5,000 Fellowship grants to filmmaker Angélique Webster and comedian Shaun Connolly, and four $2,500 Fellowship Grants to visual artist Vanessa Calixto, filmmaker Fernando Ponce, musician Tracy Ann Jones (Sunta Africa), and visual artist Ryan Gardell. The Council also issued seven $1,000 Fellowship Finalist awards.

Between January and February 2021, WAC reviewed 105 grant applications for projects ranging from public art and murals to theater workshops to podcasts to cultural festivals to historical programming. The Council takes various criteria into consideration including quality, public benefit, and alignment with its 2021 funding priorities as determined by community input through its Funding Priorities Survey. This year’s funding priorities included:

1. Project Categories – Projects that focus on Public Art, Arts Education & Instruction, Children’s Programs and Musical Performances.
2. Cultural Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – 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 who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQX, refugee, immigrant, or person living with a disability.
3. Locations – Projects that take place in or benefit areas of Worcester that are historically underserved.

Statewide, more than $4.35 million will be distributed by local cultural councils in 2021. Grants will support an extensive range of grass-roots activities: concerts, exhibitions, radio and video productions, field trips for school children, after-school youth programs, writing workshops, historical preservation efforts, lectures, nature and science education programs for families, and town festivals. Nearly half of LCC funds support educational activities for young people.

“Having the opportunity to be part of an organization that supports artists, individuals, and organizations who dedicate their life’s work to providing arts and cultural programming and building community here in Worcester is an exceptional privilege,” said Goris. “I look forward to the wonderful work the Worcester Arts Council will continue to do, and I encourage the Worcester community to continue supporting local artists by attending events and promoting one another in 2021 and beyond.”

WAC intends to host a virtual grant reception celebrating all of this year’s grant recipients in spring 2021. The Worcester Arts Council will seek applications again in Fall 2021 for the grant year 2022. Applications and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available at www.mass-culture.org. Application details will be announced on www.worcesterma.gov.

The 2021 Worcester Arts Council grant recipients and amounts are as follows, and can be found online at WorcesterMA.gov:

Worcester Arts Council 2021 Grant Recipients

About the Worcester Arts Council:
The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is a municipal body consisting of nine embers 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 cultural project and programs. 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 supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information visit: www.worcesterma.gov/wac. Current Worcester Arts Council members are Yasmin Goris (Chair), Jennifer Riley (Vice Chair), Lisa Malo (Secretary), Mitchell Perry (Treasurer), Silvana Boaheng, Chris Rich, David Filar, Brandon Lewis, and George Sedares.

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council:
The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more information visit: massculturalcouncil.org

The post Worcester Arts Council Awards Over $219,000 in Grants for Local Arts and Cultural Programs in 2021 appeared first on WCC.

A Letter from the Worcester Arts Council – July 27, 2020

Hi Everyone –

We want to give you an update on our upcoming 2021 grant cycle.

Typically, the Commonwealth’s operating budget is set by July 1 each year, and the Mass Cultural Council (MCC) releases its spending plan in August. However, the MCC’s planning for Fiscal Year 2021 is delayed due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Legislature’s budget process is delayed this year as policy-makers work to understand the current revenue picture and potential federal aid. The State government is currently operating on a month-to-month basis.

Because of all of this, the Mass Cultural Council is delaying the Local Cultural Council (LCC) grant cycle timeline by one month. This means our local grant applications will now open on Thursday, October 1st. The deadline to submit your application will now be Monday, November 16th. 

This timeline is based on the hope that there will be a state budget in place by mid-November. If there is no budget in place at that time, the MCC may need to further adjust this timeline.

The grant allocation for Worcester will be determined after the FY21 State budget is signed into law, and the governing Council approves the Agency’s FY21 spending plan. We have no way of knowing the amount of our allocation for FY21 at this time.

We hope to have more information in September. In the meantime, we are continuing to prepare!

We’re still gathering community input through our Funding Priorities Survey. We are extending the survey deadline as well, so it will now close September 7th (Labor Day). The answers directly impact how we allocate these grant funds in Worcester, so it’s super important. It only takes about 3 minutes to complete, and you could win Bose headphones just for taking it! If you haven’t yet, you can take the survey HERE.

The Worcester Arts Council will vote on and announce our FY21 funding priorities in September.

We also have one open seat on the Council! We would love to welcome a new member in time for our grant cycle. If you’re interested or know someone who would make a great addition, find out more or apply HERE.

Finally, thank you for all your support and patience as we work together during this extraordinary year to ensure that the Worcester Arts Council can continue to help enrich our local neighborhoods with arts and culture.

If you have any questions, please get in touch any time.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

The Worcester Arts Council

The post Mass Cultural Council & Worcester Arts Council Push Back Grant Application Dates appeared first on WCC.