Worcester Awards $250K For Local Arts, Cultural Programs

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Arts Council has awarded 54 grants totaling $250,299, the city announced Wednesday. The funding will support various arts and cultural programs in Worcester in 2026.

Worcester Arts Council received 163 applications, including 21 fellowship applications and 142 project applications. The council evaluated all submissions based on criteria, including how it would benefit the public, creative and artistic merit, organizational capacity, budget feasibility, impact and innovation.

The council received $236,500 in funding from the Mass Cultural Council this year, and got an additional $10,000 from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. The rest of the money will go toward marketing, survey administration and an annual reception for those who were awarded.

“Arts and culture are a powerful force in preserving our history. Creatives tell our stories, shape our identity, and reflect the diverse voices that make our community strong,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. "I am deeply grateful to our city’s artists, creatives, and cultural organizations for showcasing who we are while envisioning what we can become."

Related: Worcester Ranks Among Top 10 Cities With Best Budgeters In U.S., New Study Suggests

The awardees represent a range of different programs, including Black Artist Collective of New England, Crocodile River Music, and Love Your Labels.

Here’s which individuals and projects received up to $5,000 worth of funding:

• Yona Browne — WAC Fellowship
• Obiamaka Igwenagu — WAC Fellowship
• Ceasar Rodrigues — WAC Fellowship
• Nicole Jean Turner — WAC Fellowship
• 508 C.H.E.E.R.S Inc — Youth Cultural Cooking Program: Preserving Heritage Through Food and Art
• Adaptive Recovery Teaching Incorporated — Community Wellness Theater
• African Community Education Program, Inc — Drumming and Dancing Lessons at African Community Education Program
• Art in the Park — Art in the Park
• ArtsWorcester, Inc. — Future Arts Workers of Worcester
• Bayda Asbridge — Sculpting our Stories
• Black Artist Collective of New England — Black History Month Art Exhibit
• Julie Buschini — Turn the Page Together
• Christon Carney — Musical Inspirations: The Voices We Carry
• Crocodile River Music, Inc — African Music Series 2026
• Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District — Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market
• Joel Dunbar — Print Your Vision: Free Direct-to-Film T-Shirt Workshops
• Edward Street Child Services Inc — Paper or Plastic? – From Recyclables to Remarkable
• Nikki Erskine — Making Art Worc: Crash Courses on the Business Side of Creativity
• First Unitarian Church — A Little Knit Music: Spring Concert Series at First Unitarian
• Guardians of Traditions Inc — Weaving Worcester's Cultures Through Kites
• Jo Ann Warren Studio — Creative Movers Program
• Michelle Koza — Gathering Ground
• Love Your Labels Inc — Threads Youth Fashion & Identity Program
• Anna MacInnis — Worcester Draglesque Fest (WDF)
• Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants, Inc — Worcester African Festival
• Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Inc. — Massachusetts Symphony Fireworks Concert at Institute Park Celebrating 75 Years of Admission-Free Performances & America’s 250th Birthday
• Music Worcester, Inc — FREDERICK: A New Choral Composition on the Life of Frederick Douglass
• Nishkam Media, Inc — The Worcester Youth Filmmaking Workshop
• Open Door Arts — Open Door Gallery at the Worcester Art Museum
• OpporTUNEity Community Connections Inc. — OpporTUNEity Youth Programs
• Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester — Music Matters – Supporting Music Instruction in Worcester
• Becca Pasley — Bicycle Noise Creation Machine
• Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts Inc — RICEMA Cultural Program and Worcester Night Market
• Seven Hills Symphony, Inc — Community Concerts
• Joshua Swalec — 3rd Annual Bladesmiths of the Blackstone Valley: Selected Works
• Tahomey LLC — Wellness Through Dance – 36-Class Series
• The Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, Inc — Play It Forward: Visiting Community Artists Music Program
• The Joy of Music Program, Inc — JOMP Culture Connects
• The Worcester Center for Crafts, Inc — Hot Night in the City 2026
• Lynn Aurelie Thibault — This… Is Worcester
• Tumbao Latin Dance LLC — Get Up & Dance
• Kristen Wagner — MILK
• Mihoko Wakabayashi — Seed to Fashion
• Matthew Wasser — Virtual Lighting Gallery Show
• Wavvz — WAVVZ of Stitching: A Sewing and Fashion Showcase for Emerging Creatives
• WICN Public Radio Inc — Emerging Artist Series Plus
• Robert Wilson — Hard Times Come Again No More
• Worcester Art Museum — Free Day: Arms and Armor Celebration
• Worcester Chamber Music Society, Inc — Worcester Chamber Music Society Free Family Concert: Fairy Tales and Fables
• Worcester Children’s Chorus, Inc — One Voice! Youth Choral Festival
• Worcester County Mechanics Association — Mechanics Hall Free Community Concerts
• Worcester Refugee Assistance Project, Inc — Books, Beats and Brushes
• Worcester Writers' Collective — Worcester Writers' Collective Weekly Writing Workshops
• YWCA Central Massachusetts, Inc — Worcester Wall of Women

Related: Worcester Teams Up With Holy Cross To Offer Summer Program For Local Artists