Past Grant Recipient

Karen Dolmanisth, Performance/Installation Artist (Photo by Andrea Burns)

MCC/LCC Fall Grant Program

The Local Cultural Council Program is the most extensive system of grassroots support for the arts, sciences and humanities in the nation. Distributions to each LCC are based on a local aid formula devised by the state. The formula takes into account population and property values, and is weighted in such a way to give larger distributions to less wealthy communities. LCCs gave out approximately $2.9 million in FY 2009.

Last fall, the Arts Council awarded $9,000 to projects in the following categories: dance, film/video, literature, mixed media, music, PASS, schools, theater, and visual arts. In 2008, the Council awarded $13,400 to 19 recipients in a highly competitive round with grants ranging from $200 to $1000. The caliber of applications during every grant round tend to be outstanding, and we are unable to fund many worthy projects. The Arts Council refequently receives over 50 requests for funding every fall. FALL GUIDELINES AND UPDATED APPLICATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MID-SEPTEMBER.

The next postmark deadline is October 15, 2010.

How it WorksThe Local Cultural Council Program was first established in 1982 and was managed by the Massachusetts Arts Lottery Council. Then in 1990, the Arts Lottery Council merged with another state agency, the Mass. Council on Arts and Humanities, to form the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The MCC has overseen the LCC Program since and receives its funding from an annual state appropriation.The LCC network consists of 329 councils serving all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns. Each year, local councils award more than $2 million in grants to more than 5,000 cultural programs statewide. These include school field trips, afterschool programs, concerts, festivals, lectures, theater, dance, music, and film. LCC projects take place in schools, community centers, libraries, elder care facilities, town halls, parks, and wherever communities come together.

ArtsEZ Grants Spring Grant Program

Up to $20,000  is awarded every spring in the following categories: dance, film/video, literature, mixed media, music, schools, theater, and visual arts. The Northampton Arts Council is unique in that we offer this second round of grants every spring with money we raise through events like Transperformance (every August) and Four Sundays in February Series. 

The next grant round wll be May, 2011. Join our mailing list to receive an email announcement.

Other Grant Programs

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 new grant opportunity will also provide artists with recognition and affirmation from their peers and the public.

The Northampton Arts Council is accepting donations from the community that will go towards the building of this special fund.

All donations are 100% tax-deductible.