Melrose Cultural Council Adopts More Equitable Grant-Making Process

Melrose, MA: Through a unanimous vote by The Melrose Cultural Council at its March 2022 meeting, the Council passed a resolution to pay future grantees through a direct grant, eliminating a prior requirement that funding be paid on a reimbursement basis only. The direct grant option offers the Melrose Cultural Council the ability to pay out grant funding in full and up front to all future grant recipients.

“This change to how we fund our next wave of grants will lessen the financial burden to our future grantees and create a more equitable grant-making process,” says Council Chair Jason Webb. “By forwarding funding at the time of awarding a grant, our hope is that we will attract grant submissions from a broader and more diverse group of applicants.”

In 2022, the Melrose Cultural Council allocated $18,050 in funding across 22 arts and cultural projects spanning visual art, music, theatre, public art and placemaking, and more. The full list of grantees and grant amounts is available at www.melroseculture.org.

The FY23 grant process opens in September 2022. All grant applications are due no later than October 15, 2022.

The Melrose Cultural Council is the local affiliate (LCC) of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, part of a statewide network in cities and towns funded by the legislature. The Melrose Cultural Council (MCC) supports programs with public benefit that promote excellence, education, cultural diversity, inclusion, and racial equity to foster a rich and vibrant cultural life in Melrose. Programs are funded across a wide array of disciplines, including visual arts, music, drama, dance, writing, culture, history, and humanities. Grants are given to Melrose organizations and MA individuals, artists and presenters in partnership with local organizations.