Melrose Cultural Council Grant Program

The Melrose Cultural Council provides grant funding for arts and cultural programming connected to the Melrose community. Funding for the Melrose Cultural Council is provided by the City of Melrose and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. For the current application cycle, the application opened September 1, 2026 and applications are accepted through October 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Applicants are instructed to review the LCC Program Guidelines and the council's eligibility requirements and priorities before submitting an application. Applicants do not need to be registered nonprofit organizations. Funded events and programming must take place during the upcoming calendar year, from January 1 through December 31, 2027. Applicants should ensure that project locations are ADA compliant. The council is actively encouraging applications that address inclusion, diversity, and equity and seeks projects that elevate the voices and experiences of historically underrepresented groups reflecting the current and historic diversity of Melrose residents through arts and culture. This includes projects speaking to the experiences of Massachusetts artists and audiences who identify as BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQIA, immigrant, or who live with disabilities. Priority is given to projects that build community through social connections and dialogue. Innovative ideas, collaborations, and new initiatives are encouraged, while proposals for free public events and activities in outdoor spaces are favorably welcomed. Priority is also given to applications from Melrose organizations, individuals, and organizers, and first-time applicants are encouraged. Out-of-city artists or presenters may apply, but they must include a letter from the local host organization confirming the date and location of the project. Applicants must also satisfy the eligibility and criteria requirements contained in the LCC Program Guidelines. The Melrose Cultural Council does not accept requests for capital expenditures, individual scholarships, or multi-year repeating programs. Grant funds may not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages of any kind. Unlike past grant cycles, the council may fully fund some approved projects, meaning certain projects may not need additional sources of funding. Grants remain competitive, however, and neither an award nor the full amount requested is guaranteed. Awards have typically ranged from $300 to $3,000, although applicants are expressly permitted to request an amount appropriate to their project needs. The stated historical range therefore does not establish a formal minimum or maximum request amount. Applications must be submitted online. Applicants may submit up to three pages of supplemental material online. The council also provides a sample application and an Arts Marketing Toolkit for prospective applicants. Massachusetts Cultural Council is hosting an informational webinar at 6 p.m. on September 10, 2026. The supplied material describes the webinar as an information session rather than a mandatory pre-application step, so it is not treated as application gating. If necessary, additional materials may be mailed to the Melrose Cultural Council, attention Elizabeth Bouchard and Jim Bracciale, Co-Chairs, at 562 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176. The application period runs from September 1 through October 15, 2026, with the final application deadline at 11:59 p.m. EST on October 15. Approved programming must be presented between January 1 and December 31, 2027. No separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other mandatory pre-application gating deadline is stated in the supplied material. Award notification timing and the number of awards to be made are also not stated. Questions and requests for assistance with an application or budget may be directed to melrosecultural@gmail.com. The Melrose Cultural Council can also be reached at 781-979-4440, and its mailing address is Melrose City Hall, 562 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176.

Address inclusion, diversity, and equity where relevant; show how the project builds community through social connections and dialogue; innovative ideas, collaborations, and new initiatives are encouraged; free public events and activities in outdoor spaces are favorably welcomed; priority is given to Melrose organizations, individuals, and organizers; first-time applicants are encouraged