The Mass Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, sciences, and humanities, to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. It pursues its mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. The following grant opportunities are currently available.
STARS Residencies
The 2017-2018 STARS Residencies online application will open at 4:00 pm on Thursday October 5, 2017. Applications will be reviewed in the order received. STARS Program guidelines will be posted July 21, 2017. STARS Residencies provide grants of $500-$5,000 to schools to support creative learning residencies of three days or more in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
Big Yellow School Bus
The 2017-2018 Big Yellow School Bus online application will open at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Schools are eligible for one grant per school year. Big Yellow School Bus provides grants to help schools meet the transportation costs of student educational field trips to non-profit cultural institutions and events across the Commonwealth.
Local Cultural Council Program
Our Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program supports thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences annually, with nearly half of the $3 million in LCC grants benefiting education. Each of the Commonwealth’s 329 LCCs are accepting applications by October 17, 2017. Individuals, schools, and cultural organizations are encouraged to apply for support. Find your LCC, read the guidelines, and access applications online.
Creative Youth Development
The next round of YouthReach and SerHacer guidelines will be available September 1, 2017. YouthReach and SerHacer provide funding for a three year period to programs that infuse the arts, sciences, and humanities with principles of youth development. Application deadlines for the next three year cycle are:
YouthReach: For New Applicants January 15, 2018. For Returning Applicants May 1, 2018
All applicants to SerHacer: February 15, 2018
Last week, the Massachusetts Senate passed its budget and made a bold statement about the importance arts and culture bring to a vibrant, healthy, and equitable Massachusetts. Within the budget, the Senate voted to increase state investment in arts and culture by funding the Massachusetts Cultural Council at $16.5 million. 
