Medford – Mass Cultural Council

Established in 1980, the Medford Arts Council works to bring high-quality cultural programming to the community, increase public access to Medford’s many cultural assets, and promote favorable conditions for our creative economy.

On an annual cycle we offer grants to artists, writers, performers, instructors, and cultural organizations seeking to engage the Medford public. We also help sponsor new public arts and humanities initiatives in Medford.

The funds we distribute are an annual allocation from the Massachusetts Cultural Council through their Local Cultural Council program. The Council also receives funding from the City of Medford.

The Council funds public events like the Arts Across Medford festival, Circle the Square, and West Medford Open Studios, as well as dozens of concerts, classes, field trips, performances, and other activities in disciplines including dance, theater, music, science, history, literature, craft and design, and the visual arts.

Contact

medfordartscouncil@gmail.com
781-393-2454
www.medfordartscouncil.org/

Address
85 George P. Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155-3299

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Application Information

FY25 Allocation

$36,200

FY25 Local Priorities

Medford’s local priorities were developed using community input and strategic discussions at our recent public meetings. We will still accept, review, and approve a wide range of proposals including those that may be unrelated to our local priorities. However, we will use the local priorities to encourage, identify, and fund preferred proposals that are particularly suited to Medford’s needs at this time.

Cultural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Projects that elevate the voices and experiences of historically marginalized groups to highlight the current and historical diversity of Medford. Projects that create opportunities for artists and community members who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQX, refugee, immigrant, or person living with a disability. Such projects may include coalition building, research, leadership and youth development with a focus on arts and culture.

Public art: Temporary or permanent art — performing or visual, 2D or 3D, outdoor or indoor, physical or virtual — to be exhibited in public, open spaces in Medford, such as a park, municipal building, or neighborhood square. We will pay attention to the particular qualities of a proposed site and how the project’s design fits in the site, and we encourage projects that are participatory and accessible for all potential audiences. The project should seek to create a memorable experience for the public. See some examples on our public art page.

Projects that seek to enhance the vitality of Medford’s squares and business districts (for example, Medford Square, Haines Square, South Medford, Hillside, West Medford, Wellington, Station Landing, etc.) with cultural activities or displays that rely on visitors’ casual discovery or purposeful attendance.

Projects involving partnerships or collaborations among individuals or organizations. We are especially interested in deeply collaborative processes that fully involve the talents, skills, and resources of multiple contributors and include different perspectives within the community.

Projects in the humanities (literature, history, etc.) or science and technology (natural resources, environmental issues, STEAM, etc.), especially if they focus on Medford-related topics or themes, and/or use local resources or talent. Priority may be given to approaches that show innovation in audience participation, content development, or use of materials. Projects that combine the humanities and interpretive sciences are especially welcome.

Medford Oriented: Proposals will ideally include at least one of the following elements: based in Medford, responsive to Medford history and culture, initiated by Medford residents, encourage collaboration of Medford organizations and groups, and/or expanding engagement in the arts in Medford.

FY25 Local Guidelines

Attendance data and proof of promotion: Grant recipients are required to complete a short assessment form after the completion of their project or event.

Local planning: You must show that you have made specific plans to hold your event or activity in Medford. This means including a specific letter of support from the organization that controls the local venue. For example, if you plan to hold your event at the Medford Public Library, you must include a letter of support from the Medford Public Library saying that they want to host your event. We do not fund applications which show no sign of specific local planning. Please upload your letters using the online application system.

Collaboration: Projects involving collaboration must include a letter from the collaborating organizations confirming their commitment to the project. Please upload your letters using the online application system.

Business support: The Council welcomes proposals that show a collaboration between grant applicants and businesses offering to host, sponsor, or otherwise support cultural events for the public in Medford. Businesses are encouraged to donate a location/space, partially fund an event, or provide volunteer services for grant applicants. The Council will look favorably upon proposals of merit that include a commitment by partner businesses to provide partial funding for the proposed project.

How Grant Recipients Are Paid

Direct Grants

FY25 Funding List

Name	Project Title	Amount
Alive Dance Collective, LLC	Storybook Movement Workshop Series with Alive Dance Collective at Arts Collaborative Medford	$1,500
Arts Collaborative Medford Inc.	Placemaking: public sculpture park and garden on Mystic Avenue, Medford	$2,000	Bodies Moving	The Click’s “Let’s Move! Summer Dance Series”	$2,000	Boston Comic Arts Foundation, Limited	Sensory Comics Author Event	$650	Brereton, Laura	Brooks Elementary School 3rd Grade Songwriting Project	$1,500	CACHE in Medford, Inc.	Circle the Square	$2,500	CACHE in Medford, Inc.	Mystic River Celebration	$3,500	Castagna, Robert W.	Poetry in Pictures	$1,500	Champions Dance Sports Club Inc	Introduce Seniors to European Ballroom Dance through Movement, Music, and Rhythm	$1,200	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Level Up with the Whalemobile	$500	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Family Paint Night	$265	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Fairy Tale Ball	$1,000	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Digital Music Workshop for Teens	$1,500	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Spanish Fun Time	$1,000	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Crafting with Local Farm	$1,300	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Dance Caliente	$1,200	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Maker Fair	$2,500	Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library	Teen Drag Makeup Workshop	$900	Coss, Ian	The Listening Box	$3,000	Godin, Katherine	Moments in Medford Outdoor Exhibit	$2,000	Greater Boston Stage Company	Expanding Medford Student Access to Live Performance Through Discounted Tickets	$1,200	Hart, Francis	The “Beat Generation” - A Cultural Review of the 1950s Through Music	$450	John J. McGlynn Middle School	McGlynn Middle School Mural	$2,000	Juventas Music, Inc.	Juventas New Music Ensemble - Free Neighborhood Concert Series in Medford	$1,500	Kalliope Reed Quintet	"The Last Drop of Water" Mystic River Watershed Association Benefit Concert	$2,000	Klein, Ellery	Traditional Music Series at Arts Collaborative Medford	$600	Liendo, Karina	Bilingual Fun Storytelling Program: Latin American Series	$1,925	Looking Back at Medford History Inc.	5th Annual Sarah Bradlee Fulton Day	$2,150	MUSIC Dance.edu	Hip Hop Chair Dance for Seniors!- a dance series	$500	Medford Band Parent Organization	Reviving Winter Percussion in Medford Public Schools	$1,500	Medford Community Chorale, Inc.	“All You Need Is Love”	$2,000	Medford Jazz Festival, Inc.	Medford Jazz Festival	$2,000	Medford Porchfest	Medford Porchfest	$3,500	Medford Public Schools	Summer Arks Workshops Grades 1-12	$1,500	Medford Recreation Department	Condon Shell Summer Concert Series	$2,775	Medford for Palestine	Palestinian Film Series	$1,000	Missituk Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, Inc.	Wongai! Rhythms of West Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean	$1,300	Morris, Dee	Medford Loves to Dance!	$500	Mulberry Forest School	Arts by the River	$2,500	Mystic River Watershed Association, Inc.	Mystic River Watershed Map Mural Refresh	$1,500	Nelson, Elizabeth	Belly Dance Show and Mini Lesson for Seniors!	$395	Rantisi, Tareq	2025 World Music Concert Series	$2,000	Roberts Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, Inc.	Roberts Arts Ramble	$1,500	Ruiz Sanchez, Leonardo	Portraits of Medford: Stories Through The Visual	$3,000	Strauss, Marina	Drumming Circles for Seniors	$1,200	The Beautiful Stuff Project, Inc.	Mini-Mini golf STEAM project at Roberts Elementary	$1,250	The Boston New Music Initiative, Inc.	BNMI’s 15th Anniversary Guerilla Concerts	$200	The Congregational Church of West Medford	Art & Soul Circles	$2,500	The Delvena Theatre Company	Music Through The Years	$495	The Delvena Theatre Company	Bon Appetit Julia!	$695	The Opening Doors Project, Inc.	The Opening Doors Project presents Stephanie McKay at Arts Collaborative Medford	$2,500	Torgerson, Mark	Kadanz Jazz	$1,350	True Story, Inc.	Living in Medford: Past and Present	$1,500	West Medford Community Center, Inc.	Fresh Fridays Words and Music	$2,500

Review Complete LCC Program Guidelines