Get application assistance and apply by Thursday, October 15
SOMERVILLE—The City of Somerville’s Arts and Culture Division has launched the FY27 cycle of its Local Cultural Council (LCC) Grant Program to support arts, culture, and creative opportunities for community members. Applications for grant funding are open until Thursday, October 15.

Funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and the City of Somerville, LCC grants are available for projects in the community, individual fellowships for local artists, and to support schools with art projects or cultural field trips. FY26 grant recipients included the New England Hong Kong Festival, Somerville Public Schools, East Somerville Main Streets, the Gilman Square Arts and Music Festival, and more.

“Arts and culture are in our DNA as a city and are a huge economic driver for Somerville. These LCC grants are a direct way we can support continued creativity and provide opportunities for creatives who live, work, and collaborate with our city — and for residents to experience art and be inspired,” said Mayor Jake Wilson. “As someone who has applied for and received a past LCC grant as a resident, I love this program and I’m so looking forward to seeing the projects that emerge from this year’s grant process.”

Grant types include projects and fellowships. Somerville is one of only four municipalities in
Massachusetts to give out fellowship funding, which helps individual artists advance their work overall. The last grant cycle, in 2026, drew 158 grant applications, and grants ranging from $400 to $5,000 were issued to 69 projects. Eighteen fellowships were also funded at between $500 and $3,000.

“For years, this grant program has been a way of investing directly in our local artists and cultural organizations. These award sizes may be small, but they make a big difference in sustaining and expanding artistic work in our city. And every grant supports artists not just in their creative work, but also in providing a specific public benefit, be it a performance, a workshop, a classroom visit, or a reading; these offer chances for expertise and inspiration to spread, and for collaborations to form,” said Councilor At Large Ben Wheeler.

Join the Grant Review Panel
Grant applications are reviewed and awarded by Somerville Arts and Culture staff and board members and a panel of local creatives with backgrounds in a range of artistic disciplines such as cultural heritage, performing arts, music, visual art, literature, and more. Apply to serve on an LCC panel until Thursday, October 1, at somervillema.gov/lccgrant.

“Our LCC grant program wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our board and review juries. This is a great opportunity to learn about the local arts landscape, get your feet wet in the grant world, and share your knowledge and expertise relating to a genre you know well,” said Rachel Strutt, Interim Director of Somerville Arts and Culture.

Get Application Assistance: Upcoming Information Sessions & Workshop

LCC Information Session
Date/Time: Monday, September 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Connexion (149 Broadway)
Focus: Learn about the LCC grant process, ask questions, and get assistance with application forms.
RSVP at bit.ly/4guS6fB

Virtual LCC Information Session
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 22, 6 p.m.
Location: Virtual via Zoom. Join at bit.ly/3SMIjZh
Focus: Learn about the LCC grant process, ask questions, and get assistance with application forms.

Technical Workshop
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 7, 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Central Library (79 Highland Ave.)
Focus: Work with SAC Board members to prepare and submit your grant application.
RSVP at https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/2027-lcc-grants-technical-workshop/

Application Deadline: Thursday, October 15

Tip: Our number one tip for submitting a strong application is to read the LCC grant guidelines carefully and submit strong supporting materials.

For all information on the LCC grant program, please visit somervillema.gov/lccgrant.

To view this update and more City news on the City website, visit somervillema.gov/news.