Card to Culture

Card to Culture Program Participation

The Northampton Arts Council is a proud participant in the Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture Program, an initiative designed to increase access to arts and cultural experiences for individuals and families who hold EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare cards. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and broad public access to the arts in Northampton.

Scope of Eligibility

Card to Culture benefits apply exclusively to events that are produced, organized, and presented directly by the Northampton Arts Council. Eligible programs include the Council’s major annual signature events, such as:

  • First Night Northampton

  • Silver Chord Bowl

  • Bow Bow Bash

  • Transformance (formerly Transperformance)

Card to Culture benefits do not apply to events that are funded in whole or in part through Northampton Arts Council grants but are not produced by the Northampton Arts Council.

If an event is listed as “supported by the Northampton Arts Council” or “funded in part by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council,” that event is not automatically eligible for Card to Culture benefits unless it is also explicitly identified as a Northampton Arts Council–produced event.

How to Use Your Card

To access Card to Culture benefits for eligible Northampton Arts Council events:

  • Please come to the box office on the day of the event and present your EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card to obtain free admission for you and your household.

  • For the purposes of this program, “household” refers to the individuals who reside with you and are included under your EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare benefits.

  • No advance reservation through the Card to Culture program is required; however, admission is subject to venue capacity and availability at the time of arrival.

Implementation procedures — such as ticketing, access points, wristbands, or button pick-up for First Night Northampton — may vary depending on the event and venue.

Questions About Eligibility

Because the Northampton arts landscape includes many independently produced events that may reference Northampton Arts Council support, questions about eligibility may arise.

If you are uncertain whether Card to Culture benefits apply to a specific event, particularly one that is not among the signature programs listed above, please contact us for clarification:

Northampton Arts Council
Email: admin@northamptonartscouncil.org

We are happy to confirm whether an event is produced by the Northampton Arts Council and therefore eligible for Card to Culture benefits.

Acknowledgment

Participation in the Card to Culture program is made possible through the Mass Cultural Council, in partnership with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, and MassHealth/Health Connector.