Boston Cultural Council

Overview

The Boston Cultural Council distributes general operating grants annually to small and mid-sized arts and cultural organizations whose work strengthens Boston and its communities. These grants provide flexible support for an organization's overall mission, operations, and capacity building.

Grant Amounts & Focus Areas

• $10,000, $7,500, and $5,000 (dependent on organizational budget)
• Expanding Access: Organizations expanding access to arts and cultural opportunities for historically underserved Boston neighborhoods
• Creative Career Pathways: Organizations providing paid learning and employment opportunities supporting people entering creative careers
• Organizational Instability: Organizations navigating significant financial, operational, or space-related challenges

Eligibility

• Annual operating budget is under $2 million, based on most recently completed fiscal year
• Arts, culture, or creative expression is central to your mission and programming
• Your organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or works with an eligible fiscal sponsor
• Your organization is based in Boston or provides at least 50% of your public programming within Boston

Key Dates

• Application opens: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
• Application deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Office Hours: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. and Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 10:00-11:00 a.m.
• Anticipated Notification: Early March 2027
• Anticipated payment: End of April 2027

Application Support

One-on-one, 20-minute consultations are available through the Arts Action Consortium to review written applications for content, context, and clarity. Consultations available Thursday, October 1, 2026 between 1-4 p.m. and Thursday, October 8, 2026 between 12-3 p.m. Frequently Asked Questions are also available online.