Status: Application opens June 16, 2025
The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) is excited to launch its next round of Capacity-Building Grants. This grant opportunity is funded by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ ValleyCreates Program and is administered by MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists (A4A) program. The focus is a capacity-building and sustainability initiative for artists who currently live or have studio space in Franklin, Hampshire, or Hampden counties in Massachusetts.
The program pairs a $2,500 grant with coaching, workshops, business/career building, personal financial literacy resources, and artist community-building. After being accepted into the program, grantees complete a brief onboarding call to learn more about the resources available to them.
Program Resources
When selected for the program, artists will receive:
- A $2,500 grant.
- A combination of self-directed and group professional development for artists of all disciplines
- Individualized support and resources from A4A staff and trainers in service of artists’ creative professional goals
- Planning tools to help explore what’s next in your artistic career
- Cohort events for connection and peer learning
- Priority access to A4A’s professional development workshops
- Up to 3 hours of one-on-one coaching sessions with an A4A trainer in support of artists’ goals
(Please note that for most recipients, the Capacity-Building grant will not be regarded as income for tax purposes, and will not result in a 1099 being issued, which would typically be considered taxable income.)
Have additional questions?
Application Timeline for 2025
Application opens: June 16, 2025
Application deadline: July 21, 2025, at 10:00am (EST)
Notification of decisions: by September 12, 2025
Welcome phone calls: October 2025
Welcome kick-off event: October 23, 2025
Planning workshop: November 2025
Mid-way check-ins with grantees: January 2026
Artists’ work slide-share (online): February 2026
Graduation and field trip: Late March 2026
Final check-in call: March 31, 2026 – April 14, 2026
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants are artists aged 18+ of any discipline (painters, sculptors, installation artists, new media artists, craft artisans, designers, filmmakers, photographers, performers, writers, musicians, thespians, dancers, etc.) who live OR have a studio address in Franklin, Hampshire, or Hampden counties.
- These funds are intended to support individual artists only (the Community Foundation has other funding opportunities that support nonprofits and fiscally-sponsored organizations).
Funding cannot support the following:
- Artists who are recipients of previous ValleyCreates Working Capital/Capacity Building or ValleyCreates Project Evolution grants.
- Programming or operations of a 501(c)(3) organization.
Preference will be given to:
- Artists who identify as black, indigenous, or a person of color.
- Artists working in rural communities.
This program promotes equal opportunity and seeks diversity in its applicants and participants. Those who have never received an artist grant are especially encouraged to apply.
Application Deadline
Monday, July 21, 2025, at 10:00am EST. Technical support is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Information Sessions
Information sessions will be offered via Zoom for anyone interested in the ValleyCreates Capacity Building grant opportunity. Register to attend any of the info sessions to learn about the program’s guidelines and timeline, and to ask any questions you may have. The sessions are optional and will be recorded, with the recording available on the CFWM website afterwards.
Wednesday,
June 18 at 1pm
Wednesday,
June 25 at 9:30am
Tuesday,
July 8 at 4pm
Questions?
Please contact Nicole Bourdon at Nbourdon@communityfoundation.org for programmatic support or grants@communityfoundation.org for technical support.
Grants are administered by
MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists (A4A) program
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