Deadline: 15-Jan-21
The Mass Cultural Council is currently accepting proposals for the Cultural Facilities Fund.
Categories
- Capital Grants: For the acquisition, design, construction, repair, renovation, rehabilitation or other capital improvements or deferred maintenance of a cultural facility. Any of the following would qualify for consideration under this description:
- New construction.
- Additions to an existing structure.
- Renovations or repairs to an existing structure.
- Fixed/integrated equipment.
- Any combination of the above.
- Feasibility & Technical Assistance Grants (FTA): For costs and expenses related to overall planning and feasibility for a proposed eligible project.
- Systems Replacement Plan Grants (SRP): These are a specific type of Feasibility and Technical Assistance Grant specifically designed for organizations without full-time maintenance staff. The SRP is a 20-year capital needs assessment of the building and its mechanical systems.
Funding Information
- CAPITAL GRANTS: Award maximums for Capital Grants have not been set at this time. Maximum grants for the past few years have been in the range of $200,000 – $250,000. A maximum grant amount will be set by the Cultural Facilities Fund Advisory Committee during the review process.
- FEASIBILITY & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS: Grants up to $50,000 1-1 match.
- SYSTEMS REPLACEMENT PLAN GRANTS: Grants from $7,000 to $12,500 1-1 match.
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities (“Cultural Organizations”) are eligible to apply for grants for cultural facilities:
- Nonprofit cultural organizations: 501(c)(3) organizations that are primarily concerned with the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. The legislation includes but is not limited to museums, historic sites, zoos, aquariums, theatres, concert halls, exhibition spaces, classrooms, and auditoriums (“Cultural Facilities”). Eligible facilities must be owned, leased, or used by one or more nonprofit cultural organizations, and must be accessible to the public.
- Municipalities that own cultural facilities: provided that the cultural facility is at least 50,000 square feet in size, and at least 50% devoted to cultural purposes provided. However, if such building, structure, or site is 125 years old or older and is significant in the history, archaeology, architecture or culture of the nation, the commonwealth, or the community in which it is located, it may be of any size.
- Public or private institutions of higher education that own cultural facilities: provided that the cultural facility provides service and open access to the community and the general public beyond its educational mission and can demonstrate financial need.
How To Apply
- Read the program guidelines below, then review specific requirements for Capital Grants, Feasibility & Technical Assistance Grants, and Systems Replacement Plan Grants.
- If you are a new applicant or want a refresher, watch the information session recording, or drop in on their virtual office hours to ask staff questions.
- Log in or create an organizational profile to access the Intent to Apply and online application.
- Complete the application and submit required and optional supplementary materials by January 15, 2021, at 11:59 pm (ET).
For more information, visit https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/cultural-facilities-fund/application-process/