Grants will fund projects for individual artists and arts organizations in Barnstable County
September 27, 2022 (Cape Cod, MA) – The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod (AFCC) plans to continue its trend of increasing the total amount it grants to arts-related programs and projects when it opens its fall funding cycle at the beginning of next month.
“Even prior to the pandemic, the arts were woefully underfunded. The past two and a half years have widened that gap as arts organizations and artists are working to address the losses they’ve sustained since the pandemic started,” said AFCC Executive Director Julie Wake. “Through our annual grant funding, we’re able to address the needs of the sector by supporting programs that make a direct impact on our community and those who live and visit here. The AFCC is proud that it can provide critical resources to ensure the arts remain at the forefront of the Cape’s identity.”
The AFCC’s latest round of funding will open with a letter of intent, which will be available on its website, www.artsfoundation.org, starting Monday, October 3rd. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, October 28th.
Applicants that meet the AFCC’s eligibility for funding will move to the next stage and be asked to submit a full application, which will be due at the end of November. A final decision on grants will be made by mid-December.
AFCC grants are available to individuals who live and work in Barnstable County and nonprofits and educational institutions based in Barnstable County. The average grant will range from $500 to $2,000, but some applications for up to $5,000 may be considered.
Successful applications will align with the AFCC’s vision to support the arts on Cape Cod to fuel culture and innovation, economic growth, and involvement in the arts community. Priority will be placed on programs and projects which introduce new ideas; build on what is known to benefit the community; create greater opportunities for artists and serve as an economic driver for the region; and expand opportunities for arts access throughout the community while supporting cultural appreciation and inclusivity.
Over the past six years, the AFCC has increased the total amount it has granted and the number of programs funded. Shortly after Wake started in the fall of 2015, the AFCC awarded $15,000 to 17 grant recipients. Last year, the AFCC distributed a total of $77,800 to 42 recipients.
While Wake is proud of the strides the AFCC has made, she knows more is needed. She pointed to the fact that every year, the AFCC receives more requests than it can fund; last year, its grant review committee pored over 56 applications seeking over $102,000 in funding.
This summer, the AFCC received a total of 26 applications, seeking just under $390,000, for the $139,000 in National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant funding it awarded to 14 arts organizations on Cape Cod.
About the AFCC
Now in its 35th year, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s (AFCC) mission is to support, promote and celebrate the arts and culture of Cape Cod. It fulfills its mission by funding grants, fellowships, and scholarships; by increasing access to arts and culture in the region for all on Cape Cod; by advocating for more awareness on the impact the Cape’s creative economy has on our region and beyond; and by building a strong arts community network through membership and its Creative Exchange program.
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