Help engage Wellesley residents in art or culture with a grant from the Wellesley Cultural Council (WCC).
The 2025 grant application period opens on Sunday, September 1 and runs through Wednesday, October 16.
The WCC is the local presence of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and is a grassroots funding network supporting community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. There are 329 local Cultural Councils that were created to enrich the artistic and cultural life of the communities they represent.
WCC members are appointed by the Select Board and aim to foster creative expression and bring art to a wider audience, including the next generation.
By attracting and helping fund high-quality arts and education programs that interest and benefit as many segments of our population as possible, the WCC hopes to bring deeper and richer sense of community among Wellesley residents.
In 2024, the WCC funded a Japanese folktale and origami program for families, performances by the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra and Town Band, and an arts and wellness program organized by the Wellesley Society of Artists.
Apply for a Grant
All local organizations, groups, and individuals are invited to apply for a 2025 grant.
The WCC expects to have between $7,000 and $8,000 to award this year. Average grant amounts tend to be modest and are often reimbursement-based, meaning applicants pay for programs and, if approved for a grant, applicants are reimbursed for those expenses.
Attend an online information session on Thursday, September 5 to learn more about the grant process.
Tips for writing a successful grant application include:
- Set a date and secure space for your program: The WCC wants to ensure that programs receiving grants actually happen. Applicants who have chosen a program date and secured a venue are much more likely to be funded. Ask the coordinator at your venue to write a letter of support for your event to include in your application.
- Serve Wellesley residents: Some applicants propose programs that may serve multiple towns, or take place in other towns or in Boston. While this is allowed, make sure there is a strong case for the WCC in particular, to fund your program.
- Create something different: The WCC regularly receives applications from groups and programs that have been taking place in Wellesley for years. While these are important, the WCC is always interested in new ideas and programs that serve different segments of our Town population.
For questions or information, please contact the Wellesley Cultural Council at culturalcouncil@wellesleyma.gov