Mass Cultural Council joins many across the nation, and in the Massachusetts cultural sector, in watching and trying to understand the frequent policy changes and decisions being made by the federal government.
Of greatest concern to the Agency at this moment is the dismantling of federal agencies, such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), who are partners in our work. These agencies are charged with supporting key community and cultural institutions, like museums and libraries across the nation. They are key partners in our work to advance the power of culture in every corner and community of the Commonwealth.
Mass Cultural Council strongly suggests all cultural sector stakeholders stay engaged and share their concerns with elected officials – especially at the federal and state levels of government, and to activate when encouraged to by advocacy organizations like MASSCreative. Leading by example, today the Agency wrote to state leaders on Beacon Hill to express its concerns. Read the letter here.
Of Note: MASSCreative advances the advocacy learning, cross-sector alliances and organizing efforts necessary for a more equitable and inclusive arts, cultural and creative sector for all in Massachusetts. MASSCreative is dedicated to partnering with Massachusetts residents, artists, creative and culture workers, as well as local arts leaders and cultural organizations to attract the attention and resources necessary for the creative community to lead here in the Commonwealth.
Last week, the process of dramatically shrinking both the Institute for Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities occurred. These two federal agencies provided nearly $16 million in funding to libraries, museums, and programs in Massachusetts in 2024. Join the MASSCreative Team’s Organizing Huddle on Thursday, April 10th, at 9 AM to share updates on these actions, what it means for the Massachusetts arts and cultural sector, and actions you can take. Register for the online huddle. And here’s more information from our partner at the Mass Humanities.
Creative Sector Day at the State House On April 30th from 10 AM – 3 PM, members of the arts and cultural community from across the Commonwealth will join together at the State House to celebrate the contributions of artists, cultural organizations, creative businesses and arts workers to Massachusetts. Creative Sector Day will start with a formal program in the morning and include performances and exhibits throughout the afternoon. Learn more and register.
Deadline Approaching: Massachusetts Poet Laureate In February, Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order creating the first-ever Poet Laureate of Massachusetts. This new, honorary position is intended to promote poetry and creative expression across the state, serve as the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s ambassador of the arts, and inspire the next generation of writers. Mass Cultural Council is proud to administer the application process, which is now open. The first-ever Poet Laureate of Massachusetts is a new, honorary position intended to promote poetry and creative expression across the state. The Poet Laureate will receive a $15,000 honorarium. Learn more.
Deadline: April 10, 2025
Free event: 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 12-2:30pm at The Embrace in Boston Common. Learn more and register.
NEFA – Public Art Learning Fund The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $3,000 to support professional development opportunities for New England artists to strengthen their public art practices. Through the Public Art Learning Fund, NEFA intends to foster the continued development of more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England.
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Call to Artists Making or Working With Paper The Holyoke Paper Festival is a one-day celebration of arts and culture recognizing the historic significance of Holyoke, MA as The Paper City. Fostering innovation and cultivating tradition the festival will take place on Sat June 7th 2025 at the De La Luz Soundstage,114 Race St, Holyoke, MA 01040. A day long event filled including a fine art exhibition, workshops, guest speakers, local tours & more. Artists making work in, on, about, or of paper are invited to submit 1-3 works that highlight the significance and possibilities of paper. Learn more.
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Poetry Out Loud Join Mass Cultural Council and the Huntington Theatre Company for a celebration of 20 years of Poetry Out Loud at the Massachusetts State House on April 15th at 10:00 am. Learn more and register.
Call For Arts And Crafts Vendors Sell your arts and crafts at the Arts Bazaar at the Cambridge Arts River Festival on Saturday, June 21, 2025, on Memorial Drive along the Charles River. Reach thousands of festival-goers. Apply before April 15 for a $20 discount on fees. The Arts Bazaar is a curated marketplace for a wide range of items both domestically made and imported from around the world that are representative of the many ethnic and cultural backgrounds found in Cambridge. We accept vendors who sell unique, high quality, one-of-a-kind, original and/or handmade works. Questions, feel free to contact us at 617-349-4385 or via e-mail at mmendoza@cambridgeMA.gov Learn more and apply.
Space for Creative Enterprise in Downtown Boston Seeking bold, transformative concepts from operators, cultural organizations, creative enterprises, and landowners to unlock Downtown Boston’s potential. Whether you’re an artist collective, an arts-tech innovator, or a property owner looking to breathe new life into your space, this is your opportunity to collaborate in revitalizing one of Boston’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Learn more.
Call to Boston Area Artists, Performers #HellaBlack is Back! We are looking for artists who are interested in being featured in #HellaBlack Vol 7. This event will be hosted in the historic Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts. We are looking for artists from the Black, African, African American, Afro Caribbean and Afro Latine diaspora to join us for this edition of #HellaBlack curated by Amanda Shea. The theme for this year is SHIFT. How does your art shift when your external and personal worlds are fracturing? In addition, think about what shift means to you in your artwork. Singers, rappers, poets, dancers, musicians, and interdisciplinary artists local to Boston or the Boston metro area can apply. Learn more.
Deadline: April 20, 2025
Call to Artists Applications are now open for the Arts Foundation’s 2025 Grant Programs. We’re proud to support Creative Individuals across Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket who demonstrate artistic excellence and commitment to their craft. Learn more.
Deadline: May 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
New: Artist-in-Residence Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) has announced a new Artist-in-Residence opportunity for artists to collaborate with our legal warriors at the intersection of art, community, and justice—using creative expression and narrative change as tools for civil rights advocacy. Open to artists of all experience levels, the 12-month hybrid residency begins in June 2025 and includes a $25,000 stipend. Through LCR’s events and network, artists will also have opportunities for public engagement and visibility. The residency builds on LCR’s efforts to strengthen culture and the creative economy, including our deep partnership with community allies to help create a cultural district in East Boston (featured here in the Boston Business Journal). We’re seeking a visionary artist to elevate untold stories, inspire public dialogue, and contribute to the tapestry of justice. Submissions to justice@lawyersforcivilrights.org are encouraged by May 2, 2025.
Call to Artists Radiance 2025 is a summer exhibition hosted by ADC Fine Art in Cincinnati, OH, featuring artwork that evokes happiness and warmth. ADC’s mission is to create beautiful corporate, healthcare, and residential environments using artwork from contemporary, living artists. Selected artists will have their work shown in our 13,000 sq. ft. mega gallery located in Cincinnati, Ohio. All mediums and styles will be exhibited including painting, sculpture, photography, glass, ceramics, mixed media, installations, and conceptual works. Questions, contact annie@adcfineart.com. Learn more.
Deadline: May 2, 2025
Emerging Writer’s Contest Since 1971, Ploughshares has been committed to promoting the work of up-and-coming writers. Over the years, Ploughshares has helped launch the careers of great writers like Edward P. Jones, Sue Miller, Mona Simpson, Tim O’Brien, and many more. In the spirit of the journal’s founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We consider authors “emerging” if they haven’t published or self-published a book in any genre. One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. The winners will also receive a conversation with our partnering literary agency, Aevitas Creative Management, regarding their work and writing careers. The 2025 contest judges are R . O. Kwon in fiction, Joshua Bennett in poetry, and Elisa Gabbert in nonfiction. Learn more.
Deadline: May 15, 2025
Image credit: Carl Fleischhauer, (Photographer), Fourth grade, sixth grade, principal, school building, First Korean School, Silver Spring, Maryland, Lucy M. Long, 1956- (Research team member), Silver Spring, Maryland, April 24, 1982, 35mm color slide. From the collection of the American Folklife Center.
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