Worcester Arts Council Project Grants

The mission of the Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is to promote excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for Worcester residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our city. WAC accepts grant applications on an annual basis between September 1st and October 15th. Applicants are notified of the Council’s funding decisions in January of the following year. Grants are awarded to support the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, visual artists, performing artists, science educators, historians, and other humanists, as well as community, civic groups, social service organizations, schools, neighborhood centers, and youth, senior, and family associations. Project grants are funded to encourage Worcester County artists or organizations to develop projects and programs in the city of Worcester that are innovative, collaborative in nature, have public benefit, reach underserved populations, and demonstrate artistic excellence. Awards have historically ranged from several hundred dollars up to $5,000. For example, in FY23, WAC awarded 58 project grants at an average of $4,237.