Grant Priorities & Guidelines

FY 2025 Grant Cycle Closed
September 1 – October 16, 2024

The Andover Cultural Council supports excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, and seeks to fund a range of projects that have a lasting cultural benefit and support working artists.

We are committed to reaching all members of the community through supporting a cross section of activities. Concerts, cultural celebrations, vocal performances, live theater, dance, public art installations, historical research and education, storytelling, and family, student, and senior citizen programs have all been recently supported.

All LCC Applications must be completed and submitted online: https://massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com/

Andover Cultural Council (ACC) Application Priorities

In addition to the Massachusetts Cultural Council Local Cultural Council program
criteria, we prioritize projects that…

  • Are innovative, and, even in the instance of repeat grantees, propose new ideas and new artistic and cultural offerings for the community.
  • Embrace diverse artists/scholars/scientists and diverse target audiences, reflecting the many dimensions of experience, culture, and identity in our town.
  • Include collaborations, involvement, and support of multiple constituencies in Andover.
  • Involve some level of local in-person experience and foster a sense of local community and connection.

Andover Cultural Council (ACC) Application Guidelines

These are in addition to the program guidelines and eligibility rules listed in by the
Massachusetts Cultural Council...

  • Your project must address local needs benefiting the Andover community. It must also be able to proceed with partial funding.
  • Your application must name a lead artist, scholar, or scientist.
  • All projects must satisfy ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. Learn more in MCC’s Accessibility Guide.
  • The project budget must be balanced, realistic, and accurate. It must reflect the entire project budget with as much detail as possible at the time of application. And it must include all income, with notations about whether that income is confirmed, pending, or an identified opportunity.
  • Letters of Support Requirements: letters of support are required for local partners or co-participant, including collaborators, venues, local institutions, or municipal and permitting organizations, etc.
    • The council is unable to provide a venue for your project. Should you need a venue, it is advisable to reach out to a local option and incorporate this into your application.
    • All projects that involve the Robb Center / Andover Elder Services require a letter of support from the Director of Elder Services.
    • All applications for arts-related projects taking place in Andover Public Schools, no matter the department or originating identity, must include a letter of support from the district’s Fine Arts Program Coordinator. 
  • School projects are also urged to seek matching funds from their respective Parent Advisory Committee (PAC).
  • Field trip requests will only be considered from school groups. Funds may not be used for transportation costs.
  • Application System Questions: please contact Greg Torrales, our town’s Massachusetts Cultural Council program officer: greg.torrales@mass.gov
  • While the Andover Cultural Council is available to help applicants as well, please note receiving assistance or accepting feedback on an application does not guarantee approval.
LCC Grant Application Instructions:
  • All Applications must be submitted online via the Mass Cultural Council Grant Application web portal: Application Process – Mass Cultural Council
  • The Mass Cultural Council Application must be submitted by 11:59pm on Tuesday,
    October 16, 2024 via the MCC online application portal.
  • Applicants may submit only one Project Grant application.
  • Hard copies applications will NOT be accepted.
  • The Mass Cultural Council online application consists of four sections:
    • Applicant Information
    • Project Information
    • Budget Section
    • Supplemental Materials
      You can submit supplemental materials up to 3 pdf pages via the Mass Cultural
      Council Application portal

Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) 
10 St James Street, 3rd floor
Boston, MA  02116
Ph: 617-858-2700
www.massculturalcouncil.org

In addition to the Local Cultural Councils, the MCC provides funding through a number of other grant programs including Artists’ Fellowships; Cultural Facilities Fund; Festivals Program; Big Yellow School Bus; and more.  They also provide employment postings through Hire Culture, and Artists’ Space listings. Check out their website for the full list of services and programs.

Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) 
175 Andover Street, Suite 101
Danvers, MA 01923
Ph: 978-777-8876
https://www.eccf.org

Essex County Community Foundation  (ECCF)  inspires philanthropy that strengthens the communities of Essex County by managing charitable assets, strengthening and supporting nonprofits and engaging in strategic community leadership initiatives.

The ECCF Creative County initiative seeks to celebrate Essex County as a vibrant place to live, work, create, and collaborate.  They are focused on investing in artist and the creative community, celebrating it as a vibrant place to live, work, and collaborate. They offer grants with the intent to create a regional voice for arts, culture and creative expression in Essex County; promote transformative community and economic development; and elevate arts and cultural experiences that celebrate diversity, inclusion, and access across communities.

MassCreative
15 Channel Center Street, Suite 103
Boston, MA  02210
Ph: 617-350-7610
https://www.mass-creative.org

MassCreative focuses on working with artists, leaders, partners, and other members of the Massachusetts creative community to advocate for the resources and support necessary for the sector to thrive.  They have a number of programs and support materials in place to use.

New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)
321 Harrison Ave, Suite 420
Boston, MA  02111
Ph: 617-951-0010
https://www.nefa.org

NEFA supports artists with grants and professional resources, and fosters connections between artists, arts programs, and the public.  They also actively work to strengthen the creative economy through research that informs public policy.

Young Audiences of MA
89 South Street, Suite 603
Boston, MA  02111
Ph: 617-629-9262
www.yamass.org

Young Audiences brings learning- focused arts programs directly to pre-k –12 grade students in schools, libraries, community centers, museums, and other centers of learning.  They develop, coordinate, and present programing.

National Endowment for the Arts
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC, 20506
Ph: 202-682-5400
www.arts.go

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is an independent federal agency. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, celebrates America’s  cultural heritage, works to promote equal access to the arts in communities across America. They fund a range of grants for projects only.