Mass Cultural Council Awards $7.2 Million to Nearly 400 Cultural Nonprofits Across Massachusetts
Historic investment supports organizational stability and growth for arts organizations from Chatham to Heath
Boston, Massachusetts – The Massachusetts cultural sector received a major boost this week as the Mass Cultural Council announced $7.2 million in operating support grants to 398 cultural nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth. The funding, distributed through Fiscal Year 2026 organizational support programs, represents a critical public investment in the state’s vibrant arts and culture ecosystem.
Multi-Year Funding Provides Essential Stability
The awards, distributed through the Operating Grants for Organizations and Cultural Investment Portfolio programs, offer something invaluable to cultural nonprofits: flexibility. The grants are unrestricted and designed to help recipients achieve financial stability by allowing them to address any operating need.
Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council, emphasized the community impact of these investments: “Across Massachusetts, cultural organizations keep our communities vibrant by bringing people together through creativity, history and diverse perspectives. These investments fortify cultural nonprofits, empowering them to focus on what matters most – their mission, their people, and their community – so they can adapt, endure, and continue uplifting spirits across the Commonwealth.”
Highly Competitive Process Welcomes 67 New Organizations
This year’s funding continues multi-year investments in 301 previously approved nonprofits while welcoming 67 newly approved recipients. The competition was intense—Mass Cultural Council received 368 eligible applications, making the success rate for new organizations just over 18%.
The newly funded organizations represent the full spectrum of Massachusetts’ cultural landscape, with operating budgets ranging from $52,000 to $4.6 million annually. Significantly, 54 of the 67 new organizations are receiving operating support for the first time from Mass Cultural Council, expanding the reach of state arts funding to previously underserved groups.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion
The funding reflects Mass Cultural Council’s dedication to equitable investment across communities. 34% of the 67 organizations self-describe as being BIPOC-centered, meaning they are led by, or primarily serve, communities that are Black, Indigenous, or comprised of People of Color.
This focus on equity aligns with data from Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Asset Inventory, which identified more than 15,000 cultural organizations operating throughout Massachusetts. As Bobbitt noted: “We are extremely pleased that we connected with 54 new cultural organizations this year who have never benefitted from our operating support programs in the past. Our mandate from the governing Council is to equitably invest our public resources into as many eligible recipients as possible.”
Cultural Sector Drives Significant Economic Impact
The funding comes at a crucial time for Massachusetts’ cultural economy. Arts and culture generate $29.7 billion annually, support over 130,000 jobs, and contribute 4% of the state’s economy. However, new national data from SMU DataArts reveals mounting financial pressures on cultural nonprofits, making these state investments both timely and essential.
Diverse Programming Spans the Commonwealth
The newly funded organizations demonstrate the incredible diversity of Massachusetts’ cultural sector. Examples of first-time recipients showcase programming that ranges from environmental education to youth empowerment:
Marine Conservation and Education
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in Chatham runs the Shark Smart Beach program, where educators set up outreach booths on popular local beaches to engage with the public about white shark activity and promote safety guidelines.
Historic Preservation and Arts
Bellforge Arts Center in Medfield is transforming buildings on the historic former State Hospital campus into a comprehensive arts center featuring a 300-seat performance venue, classrooms, artist studios, and rehearsal spaces.
Youth Development Through Performance
Drug Story Theater in Marshfield works with teens in early recovery, teaching them improvisational theater to craft their personal stories into performances that serve as prevention programming for younger audiences—embodying their mission that “the treatment of one becomes the prevention of many.”
Community Building in Rural Areas
The Hilltown Youth Performing Arts Program in Heath brings together student-performers from across the region, using theater to create community connections that transcend school boundaries while serving a high proportion of disadvantaged youth in Western Massachusetts.
Innovative Science Communication
Multiverse Concert Series in Boston combines live music, sophisticated visual productions, and educational presentations from scientists, partnering with venues like the Museum of Science and Harvard institutions to make science accessible through multidisciplinary programming.
Hip-Hop Culture and Social Change
3rd Eye Youth Empowerment in New Bedford uses skill-based mentoring, arts, and grassroots activism rooted in hip-hop culture to empower young leaders and drive positive social change, with their name symbolizing “the ability to critically evaluate and engage with life’s situations.”
Supporting Cultural Vitality Statewide
As Massachusetts’ independent state arts agency, Mass Cultural Council plays a vital role in “bolstering the cultural sector, thereby advancing economic vitality, supporting transformational change, and celebrating, preserving, and inspiring creativity across all Massachusetts communities.”
The complete FY26 funding lists for both the Cultural Investment Portfolio and Operating Grants for Organizations programs are available online at MassCulturalCouncil.org.
This significant investment underscores the Commonwealth’s recognition that cultural organizations are not just entertainment providers—they are essential community infrastructure that brings people together, preserves heritage, and drives economic growth across Massachusetts.
Media Contacts:
Christian Kelly: 617.858.2709
Carmen Plazas: 617.858.2738
Mass Cultural Council is the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, advancing Massachusetts’ cultural sector by celebrating traditions and talents, championing collective needs, and equitably investing public resources. Learn more at MassCulturalCouncil.org.
