Worcester Arts Council

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 Council accepts grant applications on an annual basis between mid-August and October 15th, with allocations made before the end of the calendar year. Grants are issued to support arts, humanities and interpretive sciences; visual artists, performing artists, science educators, historians and other humanists; as well as community, civic groups, social service organizations, schools, neighborhood centers, and youth, senior and family associations. For 2012, the Worcester Arts Council granted just over $77,000 to some 43 artists and Worcester-based organizations.

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To assist those interested in applying for the 2013 funding cycle, WAC will host two Grant Writing Workshops: The first on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 6-8 p.m. , Levi Lincoln Conference Room, 3rd Floor of Worcester City Hall, 455 Main Street, Worcester. The second on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 from 6-8 p.m., Levi Lincoln Conference Room, 3rd Floor of Worcester City Hall, 455 Main Street, Worcester. Attendance at a workshop although not recquired, is certainly encouraged for all applicants. The workshops are a great opportunity to meet members of the Worcester Arts Council and get your specific questions answered as you prepare your grant application. Please see complete WAC guidelines for 2013 submissions: http://www.worcestermass.org/WAC or read below- For 2013 the Worcester Arts Council (WAC) will accept grant applications from the following: • Individuals • Non Profit Organizations • Associations that can establish a non profit objective • Schools, Libraries or other public agencies WAC Grants available in 2013: Artist Fellowship Grants – to assist artists in developing their artistic work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation. Artists in any discipline may apply. All artist fellowship applicants must maintain a residential, commercial, or studio address in the City of Worcester. Project Grants- to support public activities in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. Applicant must demonstrate a tangible benefit to Worcester citizens. All grant applicants must maintain a residential, commercial, or studio address in Worcester County. All Project Grants must occur within the City of Worcester. Completed applications together with support materials must be POSTMARKED BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2012 or HAND DELIVERED BY 2PM on MONDAY, OCTOBER 15th to 455 Main Street, Room 402, Worcester, MA 01608 *faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted. The mission of the Worcester Arts Council (WAC) 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 following guidelines are provided for the Worcester Arts Council’s two grant programs: Project Grants and Artist Fellowship Grants. Background The Worcester Arts Council (formerly known as the Worcester Cultural Commission) is a council whose six members are appointed by the City Manager of Worcester for three year terms. WAC receives an annual appropriation of state funds from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and makes these funds available to the community through competitive grant programs. For over 35 years, WAC has awarded grants to individual artists, cultural organizations, neighborhood councils, teachers, public agencies, and cultural institutions for projects that take place in the City of Worcester. WAC is one of the few councils in the Commonwealth that offer Artist Fellowship Grants. WAC Grant Opportunities for 2013 Applications will be accepted for two types of grant opportunities: Project Grants and Artist Fellowship Grants. Applicants may apply for both opportunities or submit several applications for the same type of grant. Separate applications must be submitted for each proposed project, and no entity will receive more than one award. Project Grants Project grants are funded to encourage Worcester County artists or organizations with projects that are innovative; collaborative in nature, benefit the community, reach underserved populations, and demonstrate artistic excellence. All projects must occur within the City of Worcester within the calendar year 2013. Based on community input received during 2012, WAC will give preference to collaborative community projects in the following categories: • Arts education • Public art • Children’s programs • Music/performing arts • Visual Arts Per state mandate, project grants are funded on a reimbursement basis. This means that no grant award is given up front. Monies will be made available only after you have completed your project. Awards historically have ranged from a few hundred dollars up to $5,000. In prior years, WAC has awarded 30-40 project grants with the average grant award of approximately $1,800. Per local mandate, WAC will not fund: • Projects that replace regular curriculum in the arts, or salaries/stipends of municipal employees • food • projects for which the primary purpose is to raise funds • the full cost of capital expenses valued at $500 or above or which have a lifespan of more than three years Who is eligible to apply for a Project Grant? Individual artists, artist groups, arts and cultural organizations, community organizations, and municipal agencies are all eligible to apply for Project Grant Funds. Applicants must maintain a residential, commercial, or studio address in Worcester County. All projects must happen within the City of Worcester. No Post office boxes allowed. Individuals - Individual applicants must show that a public benefit results from the project for which they are applying. Although funds cannot be used to support activities that benefit only the individual applicant, a public presentation of an individual’s work may provide the needed public benefit. Nonprofit organizations -Organizations that have tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Associations that can establish a non-profit objective- Organizations that can establish a nonprofit objective- that is, groups of individuals coming together with a common purpose (e.g.: local community band, theater group, poetry group, fashion designers, tattoo artists) that do not have non profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt status but can provide a letter of support from a nonprofit organization acting as their fiscal agent, and that organization’s tax exempt letter. Schools, Libraries, or other public agencies -Public agencies are eligible to apply for funding, but funds may not be used to replace municipal funding (regular curriculum or salaries/stipends for municipal employees). Artist Fellowship grants In 2013, WAC will award two artist fellowships at the level of $5,000. Artist Fellowship grants are a special category of award to assist Worcester artists in developing and exploring their artistic work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation. Artists in any discipline may apply for this grant to cover time, materials, space, rental, production and other components of their ongoing work. Budget submittal NOT required. Through these grants, WAC intends to honor innovative artists who represent the best of our City’s creative community. Fellows must maintain a residential, commercial, or studio address in the City of Worcester. All public components must happen within the City of Worcester. No Post office boxes allowed. *Fellowship applicants eligible to apply for project grant as well, but only one will be funded. Instructions for Completing Project Grant Applications: ? All applicants must submit an official MCC approved Local Cultural Council application, which is attached to these guidelines, duly completed, signed and dated, and include required support documentation as specified in the checklist. It is encouraged to use one additional sheet to continue answers; short answers must appear on the application form in the space provided. ? All portions of the application must be typed no smaller than 10 point in an easy to read font. Handwritten applications will not be accepted. ? Submit 10 collated copies of the application; Signature must appear on all 10 copies. Your application will not be considered unless 10 copies are submitted. ? Support materials are optional but highly recommended. Only one set of support materials should be submitted. Support materials related to the application include slides, photographs, audio and video recordings, critical reviews, publicity materials, resumes, and letters of support from persons or organizations in artistic, cultural, or scientific fields and suppliers as applies to the project. Materials will be returned to applicants only if a pre-addressed package with sufficient postage is included. ? Artist’s support materials (i.e. slides, disks, CDs, DVDs, etc.) must be labeled and placed in a folder with the original application. ? Project grant applications from Organizations must include a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter and list of a list of board members with a list of their professional affiliations and addresses (if applicable). Unincorporated organizations must have a non-profit purpose and provide a 501(c)(3) document of a fiscal agency receiving funds on behalf of the unincorporated organization and a letter stating the agency has agreed to act as such for the proposed project duration. • Applicants must submit a commitment letter from any venue where the program or project will be held and from any contracted artists and/or performers. Instructions for completing Artist Fellowship Grant Application: • Complete the WAC Fellowship Application (minus the budget, which is not required of Fellowship applicants). • Include resume • Provide a full narrative (is this artist statement or separate? If so add pg limit) summarizing your previous work. Briefly describe some of your goals for the year. What do you plan to work on? What specific thing will this award help you to start/complete? Please detail how Fellowship funds will be used. • Submit ONE COPY of Artist’s support materials (i.e. slides, disks, CDs, DVDs, etc.) must be labeled and placed in a folder with the original application. These are required to show previous work. • Include three letters of recommendation pertinent to your work. • Payment is not reimbursement-based and is made available soon after the award. • All portions of the application must be typed no smaller than 10 point in an easy to read font. Handwritten applications will not be accepted. • Submit 10 collated copies of the application; Signature must appear on all 10 copies. Your application will not be considered unless 10 copies are submitted. • Fellowship applicants may also apply as Individual Applicant, but only one application will be funded.

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