Apply For Cambridge Arts Grants: Funding Tripled, New Racial Justice Grants


9/11/2020 • 4 years ago

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Beheard.World performed "Invisible Imprints" at Clement Morgan Park in July 2019. The performance was one of 11 cultural projects for Cambridge’s Port neighborhood funded by Cambridge Arts' grant program.

Beheard.World performed "Invisible Imprints" at Clement Morgan Park in July 2019. The performance was one of 11 cultural projects for Cambridge’s Port neighborhood funded by Cambridge Arts' grant program.


Cambridge Arts invites artists and cultural organizations to apply for financial support via its 2020-2021 grant cycle. Funding for arts grants is tripling this cycle and the cultural council is adding three new funding opportunities: Art for Racial Justice Grants, Cultural Investment Grants for Organizations, and Port Neighborhood Grants.

Cambridge Arts will begin accepting grant applications on Oct. 1, 2020. UPDATE: The deadline to apply for Cultural Investment grants is Nov. 16, 2020. The deadline for all other grants (Local Cultural Council, Art for Racial Justice, and Port Neighborhood Grants) has been extended to Dec. 14, 2020. Details: cambridgeartscouncil.org/grants.

“The City of Cambridge has been planning a major increase to its funding for the arts, and we’re especially pleased at this time to be able to share this increase with the community as artists and creative organizations are facing crises from shut downs to prevent the spread of coronavirus," Cambridge Arts Executive Director Jason Weeks said contributes substantial funding to arts and cultural grants in addition to funding it receives through the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Local Cultural Council Program. In the 2019-2020 grant cycle, Cambridge added $82,000 to $27,600 from the state arts agency. For the 2020-2021 grant cycle, Cambridge has allocated more than $320,000 plus $20,000 from the Cambridge Community Foundation and $5,000 from the Curious George Fund.

• Local Cultural Council Grants
Cambridge Arts participates in the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s annual Local Cultural Council grant program, which offers funding for projects, ticket subsidy programs, cultural field trips for children, public art, and other activities. Individuals or organizations can apply for grants up to $5,000 to support arts programs or field trips. Deadline to apply: Dec. 14, 2020.

• Art for Racial Justice Grants
In response to and to lift up the Black Lives Matter movement, Cambridge Arts’ new Art for Racial Justice Grants will financially support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists to create work addressing resilience and racial equity. Individuals and organizations can apply for grants of $5,000 to support cultural projects that further racial justice and benefit people who live or work in Cambridge. Deadline to apply: Dec. 14, 2020.

• Cultural Investment Grants
Cambridge Arts’ new Cultural Investment grants provide operating support to local cultural organizations that benefit Cambridge residents. Organizations can apply for grants of $9,000 to support operational costs, sustainability, and resiliency in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deadline to apply: Nov. 16, 2020.

• Port Neighborhood Grants
Cambridge Arts’ Port Neighborhood Grants support the creation of new artistic and cultural projects that respond to and benefit Cambridge’s Port neighborhood. These grants are supported by Percent-for-Art funding from the city’s Port Infrastructure Project, a multi-year construction project to reduce flooding in the Port neighborhood. Applicants can apply for up to $9,000 in grant funding to support projects that engage and benefit the Port neighborhood. Deadline to apply: Dec. 14, 2020.