The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts makes grants in the arts and culture to enrich the quality of life in the region. These competitive grants are made within Franklin, Hamden, and Hampshire counties. Applicant organizations must be IRS designated 501 (c)(3) or 509(a) status. The Community Foundation is located in Springfield, Massachusetts: (413) 732-2858. They are on the web at communityfoundation.org.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council provides direct support to artists through fellowships, in pursuit of its mission to help artists thrive. The fellowships recognize outstanding work, provide the opportunity for further development, and are awarded in a variety of disciplines. The Cultural Council provides assistance and employment to artists with several other services and funding programs. Applications for fellowships and other opportunities are available at massculturalcouncil.org.
Hampshire College is a leading private school in the town of Amherst that offers degrees in the range of arts and cultural fields. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst is the flagship school in the state university system. UMass program offerings cover the range of art, music, and performance disciplines. Federal Pell grants are available to students demonstrating a high level of need. State grants from Massachusetts and other states are available; students must apply directly to their states through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There are also Hampshire Grants and endowed scholarships at Hampshire College. Hampshire College grant information is available at hampshire.edu or toll free (877) 937-4267. UMass grant information is available at umass.edu. The financial aid office is at (413) 545-0801.
The National Endowment for the Arts considers applications from Western Massachusetts in a wide range of cultural and artistic fields. Grant information is at nea.gov. Applications must be made via the grants.gov web portal.