ValleyCreates

Connecting the arts and creative communities across Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties

Join us in creating an even better arts and creativity sector across the region.

Art and creativity bring people together, create community dialogue, and inspire imaginative approaches to community challenges. And, arts expressions not only enhance communities, but they help cities and towns attract tourism and creative talents and spur innovation and economic growth.

Our Valley boasts extraordinary artists and creative energies which enhance the quality of life of local residents in countless ways. Looking ahead, the Community Foundation aims to create an even more vibrant arts and creativity sector that is interconnected and collaborative, actively engages the full and diverse community with programs and artistic expression opportunities, and is recognized as a force for economic vitality and civic engagement across the region.

We recognize that gaps and inequalities currently exist across our arts and creativity sector. Below are the needs identified by people in our region’s arts community. Our ValleyCreates grantmaking seeks to address these issues in our region’s artistic communities. Ultimately, we all will benefit.

ValleyCreates Grant Opportunities

Capacity Grants

The Capacity Grant (formerly Working Capital Grants) is a capacity-building and sustainability initiative for artists who currently live or have studio space in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties in Massachusetts.

The program, offered in partnership with MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists, pairs a $2,500 grant with coaching, workshops, and artist community-building. The Capacity Grant program has been designed so that each artist determines what they need from a broad array of opportunities, which means that each artist’s path through the program will look a little different.

Past Working Capital Artist Grantees

Project Evolution Grants

When open, this opportunity becomes available to current and former grantees of ValleyCreates’ (working) capital grant program.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ ValleyCreates Initiative is a multi-faceted grant that combines project grant support with cohort learning, 1:1 coaching, and additional project-administration-oriented professional development, to ensure that artists have the tools they need for their project to succeed.

Past Project Evolution Artist Grantees