- Online Application Only -
APPLY NOW - DEADLINE HAS PASSED
Online Application Opens: September 1, 2022
Online Application Deadline:October 17, 2022; Deadline extended to October 19, 2022
The Northampton Arts Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences, and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. https://massculturalcouncil.org
Grant awards are determined by the merit of the proposal and the funds available. This year the Arts Council will be awarding $27,094 of grants in the following categories: Dance, Literature, Media Arts, Multidisciplinary, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts. In past grant rounds the amount of each grant awarded has ranged from $250-$2,000. The Arts Council rarely awards a grant for the full cost of a project. Organizations and individuals are strongly encouraged to support some expenses with applicant cash, to approach other sources for funding, and seek in-kind donations of materials and labor. Financial support from multiple sources helps demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed project.
***FY23 Northampton Arts Council guidelines can be found here.***
Online Application Opens: September 1, 2022
Online Application Deadline:
The Northampton Arts Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences, and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. https://massculturalcouncil.org
Grant awards are determined by the merit of the proposal and the funds available. This year the Arts Council will be awarding $27,094 of grants in the following categories: Dance, Literature, Media Arts, Multidisciplinary, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts. In past grant rounds the amount of each grant awarded has ranged from $250-$2,000. The Arts Council rarely awards a grant for the full cost of a project. Organizations and individuals are strongly encouraged to support some expenses with applicant cash, to approach other sources for funding, and seek in-kind donations of materials and labor. Financial support from multiple sources helps demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed project.
***FY23 Northampton Arts Council guidelines can be found here.***
More Information and Resources
FAQ - Local Cultural Council Grants
FAQ - Local Cultural Council Grants
MCC YouTube Channel with Walkthroughs
LCC Grant Application Walk-Through (2021)
Tips: Writing a Grant Application
Database of Local Venues
What Happens if You Receive a Grant?
MCC credit policy for LCC grant recipients
LCC Grant Application Walk-Through (2021)
Tips: Writing a Grant Application
Database of Local Venues
What Happens if You Receive a Grant?
MCC credit policy for LCC grant recipients
I have another question that isn’t answered here.
If you have a technical issue or a question about the online application, please email grants.team@mass.gov .
If you have a technical issue or a question about the online application, please email grants.team@mass.gov .
FY23 Timeline
September
Grant application opens September 1.
At noon on September 1, LCC funding priorities and additional requirements will appear on their council profiles. Applicants should visit the profile of the LCC to which they are applying to learn of any priorities or required supplemental materials, such as a support letter, to be submitted with their application.
October
Grant applications must be submitted to the LCC through the online system by the deadline, October 19 at 11:59pm (ET).
November – December
LCCs hold voting meetings to make decisions on applications, send denial letters, and address reconsideration requests.
January – March
LCCs send approval notifications and publicize grant awards.
LCCs begin processing reimbursement requests or grants.
Ongoing
LCCs process reimbursement requests with their municipality. The time it takes LCCs and cities/towns to process reimbursements varies but can take 4-8 weeks.
Grantees carry out their programs, submit reimbursement or Direct Grant materials, and acknowledge the funding they’ve received through Mass Cultural Council/LCC.
_______________________________________________________FY22 LOCAL CULTURAL COUNCIL GRANT ROUND
Thank you for your patience with the FY22 grant decisions. Link to FY22 grant awards here.
Important Dates:
Disapproval emails were sent out on August 10, 2022
Approval emails were sent out on August 25, 2022.
Thank you for your patience with the FY22 grant decisions. Link to FY22 grant awards here.
Important Dates:
Disapproval emails were sent out on August 10, 2022
Approval emails were sent out on August 25, 2022.
If you have questions, please email admin@northamptonartscouncil.org
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ArtsEZ GRANT ROUND - SPRING 2023
The Northampton Arts Council is a unique Local Cultural Council in that it offers a second round of grants every spring with money raised through annual events like Performance, First Night Northampton, and the Four Sundays Series.
Funds are available to projects that take place in Northampton, Florence, and Leeds in the following categories: Dance, Film/Video, Literature, Mixed Media, Music, Schools, Theater, and Visual Arts.
A list of past grant recipients is here.
ArtsEZ Spring Grant Guidelines are being updated
List of Local Venues/Spaces HERE
Funding for project proposals that will be completed between 7/1/23 - 6/31/24
The Northampton Arts Council is a unique Local Cultural Council in that it offers a second round of grants every spring with money raised through annual events like Performance, First Night Northampton, and the Four Sundays Series.
Funds are available to projects that take place in Northampton, Florence, and Leeds in the following categories: Dance, Film/Video, Literature, Mixed Media, Music, Schools, Theater, and Visual Arts.
A list of past grant recipients is here.
ArtsEZ Spring Grant Guidelines are being updated
List of Local Venues/Spaces HERE
Funding for project proposals that will be completed between 7/1/23 - 6/31/24
What Happens if You Receive an ArtsEZ Grant in the Spring?
ArtsEZ Spring Grant Reimbursement Information HERE
Funds are awarded on a reimbursement basis only. Request for payment must be made within twelve months of notification of grant award. In addition, all successful applicants must properly credit the Northampton Arts Council for providing funds to the project in all press materials, posters, programs, announcements, and paid advertising by putting the Northampton Arts Council logo on the press materials. Failure to do so will result in a loss of funding. An example of proper credit would be: "This program is supported in part by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council" as well as adding our logo to the marketing materials.
How does the Arts Council decide which grant proposals get funded?
The volunteer board members of the Arts Council review each grant. Each board member is assigned a grant category and carefully reads every proposal in that category, following up with the artists for additional information if necessary. Each assigned board member then presents the grants in his/her category to the entire board during the grant review meeting. After hearing presentations on all the grant submissions, each board member scores each grant proposal.
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BJ GOODWIN MEMORIAL FUND - Now accepting proposals
In honor of BJ Goodwin--performer, dancer, and educator--the Northampton Arts Council has formed a new grant program for the arts community. The BJ Goodwin Grant is designed to provide direct assistance to a Northampton-based artist, writer or arts organization in recognition of exceptional work and to support the further development of artistic talents. It is our hope that this grant opportunity will also provide artists with recognition and affirmation from their peers and the public. Individuals or organizations that are considered for this grant have already demonstrated their exceptional work within our community and are looking for supplemental funding to bring their work outside our region to another country or another region within the U.S. If you are interested in applying for the BJ Goodwin Grant please email bfoote@northamptonma.gov or call (413) 587-1069.
A good example of a BJ Goodwin proposal is here
History of BJ Goodwin Fund here
BJ Goodwin Donation Sheet here
The Northampton Arts Council accepts donations from the community that go towards the building of this special fund. To donate to the BJ Goodwin Fund click here, please write "BJ Goodwin" in note section to define the donation. Donations are tax-deductible.
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TRANSPERFORMANCE MUSIC BENEFIT was established to provide support to Northampton’s most promising young artists. Every year, the Northampton Arts Council directly donates a portion of the proceeds from Transperformance to the Parent Teacher Organizations of Northampton High School, JFK Middle School, RK Finn Ryan Road, Leeds Elementary, Bridge Street School, and Jackson Street School. The funds are earmarked for arts education and enrichment. Donations are tax-deductible.
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ArtsEZ Spring Grant Reimbursement Information HERE
Funds are awarded on a reimbursement basis only. Request for payment must be made within twelve months of notification of grant award. In addition, all successful applicants must properly credit the Northampton Arts Council for providing funds to the project in all press materials, posters, programs, announcements, and paid advertising by putting the Northampton Arts Council logo on the press materials. Failure to do so will result in a loss of funding. An example of proper credit would be: "This program is supported in part by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council" as well as adding our logo to the marketing materials.
How does the Arts Council decide which grant proposals get funded?
The volunteer board members of the Arts Council review each grant. Each board member is assigned a grant category and carefully reads every proposal in that category, following up with the artists for additional information if necessary. Each assigned board member then presents the grants in his/her category to the entire board during the grant review meeting. After hearing presentations on all the grant submissions, each board member scores each grant proposal.
_________________________________________________________________
BJ GOODWIN MEMORIAL FUND - Now accepting proposals
In honor of BJ Goodwin--performer, dancer, and educator--the Northampton Arts Council has formed a new grant program for the arts community. The BJ Goodwin Grant is designed to provide direct assistance to a Northampton-based artist, writer or arts organization in recognition of exceptional work and to support the further development of artistic talents. It is our hope that this grant opportunity will also provide artists with recognition and affirmation from their peers and the public. Individuals or organizations that are considered for this grant have already demonstrated their exceptional work within our community and are looking for supplemental funding to bring their work outside our region to another country or another region within the U.S. If you are interested in applying for the BJ Goodwin Grant please email bfoote@northamptonma.gov or call (413) 587-1069.
A good example of a BJ Goodwin proposal is here
History of BJ Goodwin Fund here
BJ Goodwin Donation Sheet here
The Northampton Arts Council accepts donations from the community that go towards the building of this special fund. To donate to the BJ Goodwin Fund click here, please write "BJ Goodwin" in note section to define the donation. Donations are tax-deductible.
_____________________________________________________________________
TRANSPERFORMANCE MUSIC BENEFIT was established to provide support to Northampton’s most promising young artists. Every year, the Northampton Arts Council directly donates a portion of the proceeds from Transperformance to the Parent Teacher Organizations of Northampton High School, JFK Middle School, RK Finn Ryan Road, Leeds Elementary, Bridge Street School, and Jackson Street School. The funds are earmarked for arts education and enrichment. Donations are tax-deductible.
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The J. Scott Brandon Grant Fund has been created to ensure that all interested students at Northampton High School will receive music lessons and supplies for their instruments throughout their high school careers. During the school year, weekly lessons would be provided by a musician at a local music school (Downtown Sounds or Northampton Community Music Center - student’s choice). Ninth and tenth-grade Northampton High School students in need of financial support would be eligible for scholarship funds to receive music lessons. Students would be nominated for the grant by Paul Kinsman, Claire Williams, and one board member of the Northampton Arts Councils’ Schools sub-committee each year in mid-March as course selection wraps up.
For more information click here.
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Conflict of Interest Policy
To ensure that members of the Northampton Arts Council are free from conflicts of interest, board members are required to disclose any current or prospective affiliations they or their immediate family members have with an actual or potential applicant. “Affiliations” applies to employment, board memberships, independent contractual relationships, advisory or policy relationships, substantial contributor relationships, or other financial relationships. In addition, panelists are required to disclose any past or current adversarial relationships with actual or potential applicants. Arts Council board members and staff who apply for a grant recuse themselves entirely from participating in the review process and allocation determinations of their grant application.
____________________________________________________________________
Conflict of Interest Policy
To ensure that members of the Northampton Arts Council are free from conflicts of interest, board members are required to disclose any current or prospective affiliations they or their immediate family members have with an actual or potential applicant. “Affiliations” applies to employment, board memberships, independent contractual relationships, advisory or policy relationships, substantial contributor relationships, or other financial relationships. In addition, panelists are required to disclose any past or current adversarial relationships with actual or potential applicants. Arts Council board members and staff who apply for a grant recuse themselves entirely from participating in the review process and allocation determinations of their grant application.
