MCC Grants
The Brookline Commission for the Arts awards grants on an annual basis. As a Local Community Council (LCC) to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), we administer and award grants to artists and arts organizations based on a yearly allocation of funds from the MCC. We fund projects in literature, music, theatre, and the graphic and plastic arts, including publication, performance, exhibition, or education that contribute to the cultural life of Brookline. The Brookline Commission for the Arts supports cultural opportunity and/or diversity in the arts, humanities, or interpretive science—the explanation of scientific subjects in a cultural setting.
Brookline Commission for the Arts COUNCIL PRIORITIES
A hallmark of the LCC Program is the emphasis on local autonomy and decision making. LCCs are free to make funding decisions that best meet the particular needs and priorities of their community within the parameters of the broad state guidelines. Each local council determines its own local eligibility requirements based on a community input process and these are incorporated into their council priorities and published to the council's public web page on the Massachusetts Cultural Council's (MCC) web site and can also be found below.
Application Instructions
Due to the economic impacts of COVID 19, MCC planning for FY21 has been delayed and therefore the Local Cultural Council grant cycle has been delayed by two months. If there are further adjustments to the LCC grant cycle timeline, they will be posted here.
Currently applications will be open on October 1, 2020 and the deadline for submissions is December 14, 2020. Visit the Massachusetts Cultural Council's (MCC) web site to submit your application for an LCC Grant application. Please refer to the Council Priorities for Brookline MCC Grants below, and on the MCC website, when completing the application. The Brookline Commission for the Arts requires grant applicants to use the on-line MCC application. You are strongly urged not to wait until the last minute to submit your application as you may experience delays in processing. Subject to any further delay in the grant cycle due to COVID 19 impact, the December 14 date is a hard deadline and no exceptions can be made. If you can cite an exceptional reason why you need to submit your application using an alternative method (for instance if you do not have access to a computer), please send your request for permission to the email address listed below (Oct 1-Dec 14). Do not send your application to this address. If permission is granted, you will be provided with alternative application materials and instructions.
Brookline.MCC.grants@gmail.com
Council Priorities for Brookline MCC Grants
Applicants must meet all state eligibility and criteria requirements of the LCC Program - click here - and based on feedback from the Brookline community, grant funding will be prioritized based on the proposal review criteria listed below.
Application Guidelines – Please include the following in your plan of work:
Funding:
Supplemental materials or media: Please follow the on-line MCC application guidelines for links and PDF attachments. If applicants believe that additional materials are crucial to the fair review of their proposal, they may send attachments or links to materials that are highly relevant to the proposal to the email address below prior to the grant deadline. Brookline.MCC.grants@gmail.com Applicants must indicate the project title and name of the applicant in the subject line of the email.
Application Review
The Brookline Commission for the Arts will meet during January and February 2021 (dates to be finalized in December) at Town Hall, 333 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445, or via Zoom (depending on COVID 19 conditions) to discuss the applications. These meetings are open to the public. Before the application review meetings, Commission members are assigned as liaisons to grant applicants. Liaisons may contact applicants to clarify questions raised by reviewers. Should you be awarded a grant, the liaison assigned to you will be available to answer any questions you have on reimbursement and advise on the credit that must be given the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the MCC for the award (see below).
You will be informed of the BCA decision by late February, 2021, subject to any further delays.
Some applications may be conditionally approved with a request for modification which the Committee believes would make the project more beneficial to the Brookline community. The funding will be contingent upon this change. Applicants who do not find the request acceptable are under no obligation to complete the project.
If You Are Awarded a Grant
All published materials and announcements regarding the project must include the following statement:
“This program is supported in part by a grant from the Brookline Commission for the Arts, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.”
You must also publish the logo of the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the logo of the Massachusetts Cultural Council on any programs or publicity materials. Click here for BCA/MCC logos. The Brookline Commission for the Arts has a banner and a sign for display during performances. Please contact your liaison for information on obtaining the banner/poster.
Failure to give credit to the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council in announcements and published materials may jeopardize your chances of receiving future grants.
A member of the Brookline Commission for the Arts will be assigned to monitor your project throughout its course. This person will be a liaison between you and the Commission and will be available to answer questions or help solve last-minute problems.
The BCA holds an annual reception, usually in May, to showcase the grant awarded events and projects. This will be subject to COVID19 restrictions at that time.
Important: You must inform the BCA Administrator of all public events related to your project.
Reimbursement: Within 10 days of the completion of the project you must submit your original receipts along with project results report. After the administrator receives this material, the BCA and the Town of Brookline will begin to process your reimbursement. This process can take 6-8 weeks.
Note: The BCA does not provide scholarships, or grants for general subsidies for the purchase of permanent equipment.
Here are the rest of the LCC Program guidelines.
Contact our office by email with any questions.
Important Dates for the remainder of the 2020 Cycle
Application Instructions
Due to the economic impacts of COVID 19, MCC planning for FY21 has been delayed and therefore the Local Cultural Council grant cycle has been delayed by two months. If there are further adjustments to the LCC grant cycle timeline, they will be posted here.
Currently applications will be open on October 1, 2020 and the deadline for submissions is December 14, 2020. Visit the Massachusetts Cultural Council's (MCC) web site to submit your application for an LCC Grant application. Please refer to the Council Priorities for Brookline MCC Grants below, and on the MCC website, when completing the application. The Brookline Commission for the Arts requires grant applicants to use the on-line MCC application. You are strongly urged not to wait until the last minute to submit your application as you may experience delays in processing. Subject to any further delay in the grant cycle due to COVID 19 impact, the December 14 date is a hard deadline and no exceptions can be made. If you can cite an exceptional reason why you need to submit your application using an alternative method (for instance if you do not have access to a computer), please send your request for permission to the email address listed below (Oct 1-Dec 14). Do not send your application to this address. If permission is granted, you will be provided with alternative application materials and instructions.
Brookline.MCC.grants@gmail.com
Council Priorities for Brookline MCC Grants
Applicants must meet all state eligibility and criteria requirements of the LCC Program - click here - and based on feedback from the Brookline community, grant funding will be prioritized based on the proposal review criteria listed below.
- Cultural Impact: Contribution to the cultural life of Brookline.
- Potential: Projects that provide a clear benefit to the Brookline community beyond the specific activity funded.
- Target Audience: Projects that include diverse and under-served audiences. Due to COVID19, it is permissible for projects and events to be broadcast virtually.
Application Guidelines – Please include the following in your plan of work:
- Specific Aims: Objectives clearly stated in list or summary form, with the project's benefit to the Brookline community in mind.
- Timeline and Confirmed Venue: Overview of key dates and venue: either the venue or the participating artist(s) must be Brookline based. Due to COVID19, virtual activities and events are permissible but there is a strong preference for these to be associated with Brookline organizations.
- Marketing Plan: How you plan to market and communicate your event. Promotion of both virtual and non-virtual activities and events should target and attract Brookline audiences.
- Project Description: Please be brief and clear. All non-virtual projects must show adherence to appropriate local and state COVID19 guidelines: BCA decisions will be informed by this information.
- Budget: Clear indication of costs associated with the project and any funding beyond a grant from Brookline; if either the venue or performing artist(s) is/are not in or from Brookline, or if callaborating with separate Brookline artists, clearly delineate the cost(s) associated with the Brookline-based portion of the project.
- Note: Representation will be expected at the Commission's Spring Annual Grantee Reception, unless cancelled due to continuing COVID19 concerns. Further information will be communicated at the time of the grant award notification.
Funding:
- Applicants may apply for funding for projects that will be completed during the calendar year following the application deadline.
- Any individual or organization may only be funded for a maximum of three consecutive years.
- There is no limit to the total number of grants provided to any individual or organization.
- Award funds will be available to the grantee as reimbursement for expenses based on receipts or other suitable forms of expense documentation.
- Reimbursement cannot be provided until a written report describing the outcome of the project is submitted to the Brookline Commission for the Arts Administrator.
Supplemental materials or media: Please follow the on-line MCC application guidelines for links and PDF attachments. If applicants believe that additional materials are crucial to the fair review of their proposal, they may send attachments or links to materials that are highly relevant to the proposal to the email address below prior to the grant deadline. Brookline.MCC.grants@gmail.com Applicants must indicate the project title and name of the applicant in the subject line of the email.
Application Review
The Brookline Commission for the Arts will meet during January and February 2021 (dates to be finalized in December) at Town Hall, 333 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445, or via Zoom (depending on COVID 19 conditions) to discuss the applications. These meetings are open to the public. Before the application review meetings, Commission members are assigned as liaisons to grant applicants. Liaisons may contact applicants to clarify questions raised by reviewers. Should you be awarded a grant, the liaison assigned to you will be available to answer any questions you have on reimbursement and advise on the credit that must be given the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the MCC for the award (see below).
You will be informed of the BCA decision by late February, 2021, subject to any further delays.
Some applications may be conditionally approved with a request for modification which the Committee believes would make the project more beneficial to the Brookline community. The funding will be contingent upon this change. Applicants who do not find the request acceptable are under no obligation to complete the project.
If You Are Awarded a Grant
All published materials and announcements regarding the project must include the following statement:
“This program is supported in part by a grant from the Brookline Commission for the Arts, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.”
You must also publish the logo of the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the logo of the Massachusetts Cultural Council on any programs or publicity materials. Click here for BCA/MCC logos. The Brookline Commission for the Arts has a banner and a sign for display during performances. Please contact your liaison for information on obtaining the banner/poster.
Failure to give credit to the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council in announcements and published materials may jeopardize your chances of receiving future grants.
A member of the Brookline Commission for the Arts will be assigned to monitor your project throughout its course. This person will be a liaison between you and the Commission and will be available to answer questions or help solve last-minute problems.
The BCA holds an annual reception, usually in May, to showcase the grant awarded events and projects. This will be subject to COVID19 restrictions at that time.
Important: You must inform the BCA Administrator of all public events related to your project.
Reimbursement: Within 10 days of the completion of the project you must submit your original receipts along with project results report. After the administrator receives this material, the BCA and the Town of Brookline will begin to process your reimbursement. This process can take 6-8 weeks.
Note: The BCA does not provide scholarships, or grants for general subsidies for the purchase of permanent equipment.
Here are the rest of the LCC Program guidelines.
Contact our office by email with any questions.
Important Dates for the remainder of the 2020 Cycle
|
By this Date
December 31, 2020 10 days from completion of project |
You should do/have done the following
All projects must have been completed and reimbursement applied for, unless you have received permission for an extension due to COVID19 restrictions. Final narrative and financial report/reimbursement application due. Include original receipts |
Important Dates for the 2021 Cycle - Applications open October 1, 2020
|
By this Date
October 21, 2020 December 14, 2020 By early March, 2021 December 31, 2021 10 days from completion of project |
You should do/have done the following
Deadline for early submission (allowing for notification of incomplete applications) Final application deadline for 2021 grants Decisions announced All projects must have been completed and reimbursement applied for Final narrative and financial report/reimbursement application due. Include original receipts |
Grantees who will be unable to complete their project during the grant period must notify the Commission before the end of the year and propose an alternate completion date. An extension may be approved or the award may be canceled, at the discretion of the Commission.
