Worcester Arts Council

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Worcester Arts Council

Promoting arts & culture in Worcester, MA. WAC is also one of the few Local Cultural Councils in the Commonwealth to offer artist Fellowship Grants.
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The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is a council whose nine members are appointed by the City Manager of Worcester for three-year terms. WAC receives an annual appropriation of state funds from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and makes these funds available to the community through competitive grant programs. For nearly 40 years, WAC has awarded grants to individual artists, cultural organizations

, neighborhood councils, teachers, and public agencies for projects that take place in the city of Worcester.

02/11/2026

✨Worcester Arts Council is proud to announce our 2026 grantees! ✨

We awarded of 54 grants totaling $250,299 in support of arts and cultural programs for 2026! This includes 50 project grants and 4 fellowships.

Congratulations to all the grantees! We can’t wait to see these projects come to life in the year ahead!

Stay tuned to learn more about upcoming WAC funded events

Thank you to and for your continued support of Worcesters creative economy!

10/03/2025

Join us for a special in-person grant workshop presented in collaboration with the Worcester Art Museum Sunday, October 5,10am-12pm.

This hands on session will guide artists, creatives and organizations through the essentials of applying for the WAC project and fellowship grants, helping to strengthen your proposals, answer any questions and get the chance to network with other creatives.

In this exciting collaboration you’ll learn about reduced rates for events at the museum for the WAC FY26 grant cycle and opportunities for WAC grantees to exhibit their work at the Worcester Art Museum.

Join us to explore all the benefits and take your grant proposals to the next level!

09/26/2025

Join us on Zoom Wednesday, October 1 from 7-8pm for our grant workshop.

Whether you’re an artist, performer or cultural organizer, this session will walk you through tips, tools and insights to strengthen your applications and put your best ideas forward.

Don’t miss this chance to learn more about WAC grants and get your questions answered. Zoom link is in our bio.

08/27/2025

It’s about that time again, Worcester! Our FY26 grant applications open Tuesday, September 2! 🚀

Visit worcesterma.gov/wac to learn more, and find the links to our project grant and fellowship applications starting Tuesday.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 16, 2025. ⏰

Stay tuned! 👀

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08/25/2025

✨ WAC Grant Reception, Part 2 ✨ Swipe to relive a few (more) moments from our 2025 Grant Reception celebrating our current year grant recipients, held earlier this year at .

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08/24/2025

“The Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association was founded on the idea that ‘culture is power,’ said association president Casey Denis.

So it will send a powerful message if people come out and celebrate culture at this year’s carnival on Aug. 24.

‘I think it’s something we need now more than ever. Bring your family out. Come and dance. Come celebrate with us,’ Denis said during a recent interview.

Institute Park will be the site for the free Worcester Caribbean American Carnival from noon until 7 p.m. Aug. 24. Meanwhile, at 1:30 p.m. the carnival’s parade will step out from Worcester City Hall and make its way along Main Street before heading left on Salisbury Street to Institute Park.”

Read more about this year’s Worcester Caribbean American Carnival from at the link in our stories, and don’t miss the celebration TODAY, Sunday, August 24!

The Worcester Arts Council is proud to support this project with one of our 2025 grants, thanks to funding from .

📷 Dylan Azari /

08/20/2025

🚨 LAST CALL: TAKE OUR SURVEY & ENTER TO WIN! 🚨

Today’s your FINAL chance to share your input on the Worcester Arts Council’s funding priorities for 2026.

🎸 Complete the 5-minute survey and you could win our grand prize: an Ibanez Performance Series Acoustic-Electric Guitar, courtesy of Guitar Center Foundation & Downtown Worcester BID. (Plus other great prizes, too!)

Find us today, Wednesday, August 20, at the last Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers’ Market of the summer (11am–3pm, Worcester Common Oval, rain or shine). We’ll be at the Worcester Cultural Coalition table—stop by to say hello, chat with us, and take the survey right there.

OR, take it online now at the link in bio ➡️ tinyurl.com/2025WACSurvey

📷: for , from

08/19/2025

A prize that’s good for the mind, body, and community. 💪🏽🌟

Our friends at the YMCA of Central Massachusetts have donated a one-month family membership to their Central Community Branch — and you could win it just for taking our Funding Priorities Survey! 🏋🏾‍♀️🏊🏿‍♂️🧘🏽

(And this is only one of the awesome prizes up for grabs when you share your input!)

The survey takes 5 minutes or less, and your answers will help shape how the Worcester Arts Council funds arts & cultural projects in 2026.

Survey closes this Wednesday, August 20 — don’t wait! Visit the link in our bio or go to tinyurl.com/2025WACSurvey today.

📷 via

08/18/2025

Two scoops of joy, coming right up. 🍦🎨

Scoop’s Scoopz is a new small business serving up sweetness and style (the mural at the shop is as fresh as their ice cream 👀).

YOU could win a $20 gift certificate to Scoop’s Scoopz — all you have to do is complete our Funding Priorities Survey! 🙌🏽🍨

It takes 5 minutes or less, and your input will help shape how the Worcester Arts Council funds arts & cultural projects in 2026.

Survey closes Wednesday, August 20 — visit the link in our bio or go to tinyurl.com/2025WACSurvey today.

📰 EXTRA, EXTRA: Scoop’s Scoopz was recently featured in the Telegram & Gazette! Read the story now at the link in our stories.

📸 .jung for

08/17/2025

Here’s your chance to see a holiday classic at one of Worcester’s most-loved cultural institutions. 🎭✨

The Hanover Theatre has generously donated two tickets to this season’s production of A Christmas Carol… and you could win them just for taking our Funding Priorities Survey! 🎄

(This is also just one of the great prizes you’ll be entered to win when you complete the survey. 👀)

It only takes 5 minutes, and your input will help shape how the Worcester Arts Council funds arts & cultural projects in 2026.

HURRY! Survey closes Wednesday, August 20 — visit the link in our bio or go to tinyurl.com/2025WACSurvey today.

📷 David Costa Photography. John Little and Daniel Reardon, members of AEA

08/16/2025

Art you can eat? 😍 Sì, per favore. 🇮🇹

Our good friends at Giovanni’s Italian Bakery & Deli are hooking you up with a chance to win a $40 gift card *just for taking our Funding Priorities Survey!*

(AND, this is just one of the awesome prizes you could take home by completing the survey. Stay tuned as we share more. 👀)

The survey takes 5 minutes or less and your answers will help shape how to Worcester Arts Council will allocate its grant funds for arts & cultural projects in the city in 2026.

The survey closes Wednesday, August 20, so don’t wait — visit the link in our bio or go to: tinyurl.com/2025WACSurvey now.

📷 via

08/15/2025

The 12th Annual Worcester Caribbean American Carnival is coming up on Sunday, August 24! Join for an incredible day celebrating Caribbean culture. It starts with a high-energy, joy-filled procession from the Worcester Common to Institute Park, where the party continues. 🎉

➡️ Follow for all the details.

The Worcester Arts Council is proud to support this project with one of our 2025 grants, thanks to funding from .

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Address

Worcester City Hall 4th Floor 455 Main Street
Worcester, MA
01608

Website

http://www.worcesterma.gov/cultural-development/worcester-arts-council

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