2022 Grant Priorities

Theme: Uplifting a healthy resilient community

This year, the Salem Cultural Council will give priority to:

• Prioritizing projects that help Salem thrive during a period when the cultural community is looking to a brighter future in a creative and optimistic way

• Applicants who reside, work, have an organization in Salem or have an established partnership with an organization based in Salem.

• Programs that activate unexpected or underutilized canvases and performance spaces within the city of Salem.

• Programs that take place in Salem or benefit the residents of Salem.

• Programs that celebrate and promote the diversity of our community.

• Programs that are educational and accessible for the community, regardless of age or ability.

In addition to the state criteria, applications will be evaluated using the following review criteria:

• How well the program meets our local priorities
• Evidence of track record and dedication of the applicant
• Ability to address the diverse cultural needs of a community’s underserved populations
• Demonstrated planning (i.e. the ability to complete the project within the cycle year)
• Financial need

For the FY21 Grant Cycle, the Salem Cultural Council is once again participating in the Supplemental Grant Pilot Program, which means that approved grantees will receive their funding upfront, not on a reimbursement basis. For questions about this new process, please email SalemCulturalCouncil@salem.com

Click here for a link to the application and resources to help you complete it

2021 Grant Priorities

More information and applications here!!

Theme: Creating Salem, Together

This year, the Salem Cultural Council will give priority to:

• Projects from local artists who are redefining or expanding the definition of what it means to be the Salem Community in these extraordinary times.

• Applicants who reside, work, have an organization in Salem or have an established partnership with an organization based in Salem.

• Programs that activate unexpected or underutilized canvases and performance spaces within the city of Salem.

• Programs that take place in Salem or benefit the residents of Salem.

• Programs that celebrate and promote the diversity of our community.

• Programs that are educational and accessible for the community, regardless of age or ability.

In addition to the state criteria, applications will be evaluated using the following review criteria:

• How well the program meets our local priorities
• Evidence of track record and dedication of the applicant
• Ability to address the diverse cultural needs of a community’s underserved populations
• Demonstrated planning (i.e. the ability to complete the project within the cycle year)
• Financial need

For the FY21 Grant Cycle, the Salem Cultural Council is once again participating in the Supplemental Grant Pilot Program, which means that approved grantees will receive their funding upfront, not on a reimbursement basis. For questions about this new process, please email SalemCulturalCouncil@salem.com

2019 Grant Recipients

Every year, we receive many applications for grants, always more than our funding allows. While we wish we could fund all of the incredible arts, culture, and humanities programming put before us, we simply cannot. Salem Cultural Council grant allocations are limited to our funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

This year, the Salem Cultural Council set priorities as:

• Applicants that support this year’s theme of “Personal History, Immigration or Identity.” Our hope is to bring attention to the impact of personal history, immigration, and identity on the city of Salem, spanning from past to present.
• Applicants who reside, work, have an organization in Salem or have an established partnership with an organization based in Salem.
• Programs that take place in Salem or benefit the residents of Salem.
• Programs that celebrate and promote the diversity of our community.
• Applicants who have not received funding from the Salem Cultural Council during the past three consecutive grant cycles.
• Programs that are educational and accessible for the community, regardless of age or ability.

In addition to the state criteria, applications will be evaluated using the following review criteria:

• How well the program meets our local priorities
• Evidence of track record and dedication of the applicant
• Ability to address the diverse cultural needs of a community’s underserved populations
• Demonstrated planning (i.e. the ability to complete the project within the cycle year)
• Financial need

Please congratulate our FY2019 grant recipients:

Mark Wacome Stevick: The Onion Wars – a Verbatim Play $580

Saltonstall and Horace Mann Elementary Schools: Sharing Salem – the mural project $1000

Salem United Inc.: Black Picnic Day formerly Negro Election Day $1000

Salem Film Fest/Salem Community Arts Center Inc.: Salem Film Fest Educational Outreach $1000

Salem YMCA: VIBE: This Is Me $1150

Bates Elementary School: Promised Land: Sounds That Shaped America $1245

Ethnic Arts Center: “Protecting the Runaway Slave Girl” Puppetry Skills Workshop $1375

Alexia Rowe: This Is Not A Bill $4040

Leo Blanco: Sugar Road: How music of the Americas was shaped by the

influence of the African Diaspora $4208

2019 Grant Priorities

We are proud to announce the new Salem Cultural Council Priorities for the FY19 Grant Cycle!

This year, the Salem Cultural Council will give priority to:

• Applicants that support this year’s theme of “Personal History, Immigration or Identity.” Our hope is to bring attention to the impact of personal history, immigration, and identity on the city of Salem, spanning from past to present.
• Applicants who reside, work, have an organization in Salem or have an established partnership with an organization based in Salem.
• Programs that take place in Salem or benefit the residents of Salem.
• Programs that celebrate and promote the diversity of our community.
• Applicants who have not received funding from the Salem Cultural Council during the past three consecutive grant cycles.
• Programs that are educational and accessible for the community, regardless of age or ability.

In addition to the state criteria, applications will be evaluated using the following review criteria:

• How well the program meets our local priorities
• Evidence of track record and dedication of the applicant
• Ability to address the diverse cultural needs of a community’s underserved populations
• Demonstrated planning (i.e. the ability to complete the project within the cycle year)
• Financial need

For the FY19 Grant Cycle, the Salem Cultural Council is participating in the Supplemental Grant Pilot Program, which means that approved grantees will receive their funding up front, not on a reimbursement basis. For questions about this new process, please email SalemCulturalCouncil@salem.com.

The Council. The Salem Cultural Council joins communities across the state to make up the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Salem Cultural Council is eager to award grants to individuals that reside, work, or have an organization based in Salem as they work to bring arts and cultural opportunities to our community.

The deadline for the next grant cycle will be in October of 2018. Check back in late summer for additional details. Any Massachusetts resident can apply.

Council Members. As proud residents of Salem, we hope to find meaningful ways to contribute to the vibrant arts and culture scene in our city by awarding grants, supporting community events, and collaborating with the local organizations that bring arts and culture to life in Salem.

For more information about the Salem Cultural Council, please contact us!

Salem Cultural Council 2018 Grant Recipients

Every year, we receive many applications for grants, always more than our funding allows. While we wish we could fund all of the incredible arts, culture, and humanities programming put before us, we do have funding limitations.

This year, the Salem Cultural Council has given priority to: Applicants that reside, work, or have an organization based in Salem, projects that celebrate and promote the diversity of our community, projects or events that are educational in nature for all age groups within the community, and programs that take place in Salem or benefit the residents of Salem. In addition to the state criteria, applications have been evaluated using the following review criteria: How well the program meets our local priorities, evidence of track record and dedication of the applicant, ability to address the diverse cultural needs of our community’s underserved populations, demonstrated planning (i.e. the ability to complete the project within the cycle year), and financial need.

You can find out more about our council priorities and program guidelines on the Massachusets Cultural Council site. For 2019 we will be examining our priorities and offering workshops about the best way to present your applications. If you have any questions, please email us.

The Salem Cultural Council is pleased to award grants to the following applicants for the 2018 grant cycle.

• Salem Film Fest/Salem Community Arts Center Inc.: Salem Film Fest Educational Outreach for $1,000
• Kathryn Mattern: Picture This! A Day in Salem for $210
• Salem Arts Association: Salem Arts Community Engagement for $2,000
• Meghan Collins: Artist Workshops & Camp Fire Art Show for $1,300
• Julie Arrison-Bishop: Four Centuries of Music Festival for $1,250
• Michael Boudo: Multi-Faith Festival for $1,500
• LEAP for Education: Leadership Workshop for $500
• Mickey Northcutt: Punto Urban Art Museum Outreach and Education for $1,500
• The City of Salem and North Shore Community Development Corporation: From the Traditional to the Street: Women in the Arts for $500
• Proprietors of the Salem Athenaeum: 2018 Salem Literary Festival for $1,916
• A3D Inc.: 12th Salem CultureFest for $750
• Kathleen Dailey/Saltonstall School: The Symphony Experience for $560
• Salem Main Streets: Salem Arts Festival for $1,000
• Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Inc: SALEM JAZZ AND SOUL FESTIVAL for $2,500
• History Alive, Inc.: From the Author to My Dear and Loving Husband for $750
• (R)Evolutionary Acts: Acts of Resistance 2018 for $2,250

Congratulations to our 2018 recipients!

 

5 Reasons to Apply for a Salem Cultural Council Grant

 1.  We want to fund YOU.

The Salem Cultural Council exists to support you and other members of the community. We are eager to award monetary grants to benefit the Salem community, and we would love for YOU to be a recipient.

2.  You have a vision for what Salem would love.

You live here, or you work here. You see the arts and cultural opportunities that are available, and you have a vision for something you know the community would love to see or experience. Describe that vision in an application, and receive funding to bring it to life.

3.  You see a need that can be met with funding support.

You see a need in the community, and to meet that need, you need funding.
Apply for a grant!

4.  Grants exist to bring opportunities to Salem.

Cultural Council funding is meant to help community members bring new and exciting opportunities to their communities, and we need your help identifying what will be most meaningful for Salem.

5.  Applications are due soon!

Applications are due on Sunday, October 15, 2017. The online application will ask for information about you, your project idea, and how you will bring it to life. Apply today!

Visit SalemCulturalCouncil.wordpress.com or contact salemculturalcouncil.gmail.com.
Application details are available at http://www.mass-culture.org.
Applications must be submitted online by Monday, October 16, 2017.

Photo by Billetto Editorial on Unsplash

Now Accepting Grant Applications

The Salem Cultural Council is Now Accepting Grant Applications Supporting Projects in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences

Proposals for Community-Oriented Programs are Due October 16

Salem, MA, September 1, 2017 – The Salem Cultural Council is accepting applications from organizations, schools, and individuals for grants that support cultural activities in the community. The application deadline is  October 16.  These grants can support a variety of artistic projects and activities in Salem, including exhibits, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, or performances in schools, workshops, and lectures.

The Salem Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCC) 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 Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

Last year, the Salem Cultural Council distributed more than $14,000 in grants to the community, supporting projects/programs such the Salem Culturefest, the Salem Arts Festival and various artists within the community.

For local guidelines and complete information on the Salem Cultural Council visit SalemCulturalCouncil.wordpress.com or contact salemculturalcouncil@gmail.com. Application forms and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at http://www.mass-culture.org.

Press inquiries: Liz Polay-Wettengel

Phone: 617-593-5416

E-mail: salemculturalcouncil@gmail.com

Public Meeting Scheduled Thursday, September 7th

The Salem Cultural Council is scheduling a public meeting for Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 7:00pm. This meeting will take place at 120 Washington Street in the small conference room.

The proposed agenda is as follows:

• Introductions
• FY18 Grant Cycle – Immediate Next Steps and Roles
• Council Priorities. A discussion and vote on these priorities
• Elections – Chair, Secretary, Treasurer
• Recurring Meeting Time
• Setting a Date for our next Public Meeting

This meeting is open to the public and we welcome your participation.

2018 Grant Applications Open September 1st 2017

We are excited for this new grant cycle here at the Salem Cultural Council. We have new members and we are looking forward to adding to the vibrant arts and culture scene here in Salem.

Have an idea you want funding for? The application process is getting started. Deadline for submissions is October 16th, 2017.

For more information, please visit the Massachusetts Cultural Council information page about how to apply for a grant through your Local Cultural Council.

Photo courtesy of John Andrews/Creative Salem

Review meeting on November 9, 2016

The Salem Cultural Council will meet on Wednesday, November 9 at 7 pm to review all of the grant applications we received for 2017. We will meet at the City Hall Annex at 120 Washington Street on the second floor.

To learn more about the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) application, the process, and eligibility, see the MCC website.

Stay tuned for our announcement of the 2017 awards.