Welcome to the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s online application for our Community Equity Grants for Creative Individuals. Funding of our 2025 grants is through support from both the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). 

Grants for Creative Individuals equitably advance creativity throughout Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket by providing funding to individuals who demonstrate achievement of creative expression and commitment to their artistic/cultural practice.

We welcome applications from Barnstable County, Dukes County, and Nantucket County artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners in all artistic/creative disciplines. 

Please read the 2025 Artist Annual Grant Program Guidelines before completing this application.

Grant awards will be between $2,500 and $10,000. Artists will be asked to create a budget, including income and expenses, with clear details on how funds will be used (output).

Please note, the Grants Review Committee will be evaluating each application based on this rubric (click here).

Timeline

Applications Open: Friday, March 7, 2025 at 9 AM

Application Deadline: Friday, May 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Grant Awards: Late May/Early June 2025

Award notifications are expected to be announced via email at some point in late May/early June with checks mailed shortly thereafter.

Grants Funding Period: June 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

A mid-year progress report will be due in December 5, 2025. 

Grant recipients will be expected to complete their grant activities by June 30, 2026, and submit a final report 30 days after completing the awarded project or initiative. All reports are due no later than 30 days after the end of the funding period or by July 30, 2026. Final reports will be completed and submitted through the online application system.

Application Process

This application will be completed and submitted through an online system using Submittable.

It is highly recommended that you begin your online application process well before the deadline to ensure there is proper time to submit your application.

The most successful applications we have received have clear evidence that significant time was spent in preparation of the narrative, the budget, and all sections of the application. We advise applicants not to wait until the final day to start their application process or to submit their application in the last few minutes before the deadline.

Please note that your project budget should include both income and expenses. Income should include the grant amount you are seeking from the Arts Foundation. Your income should equal your expenses.

If you have any questions regarding the application, please email us at info@artsfoundation.org.

Community Equity Grants for Creative Individuals

Community Equity funding provides stipends to artists conducting arts and culture projects or programs that create access to the arts for all, breaking down barriers and fostering connection across Cape Cod. These projects aim to engage audiences of all ages and abilities, while addressing critical community challenges such as immigration, social justice, youth development, housing, mental health, healthcare, addiction, food insecurity, water quality, or climate change.

The Arts Foundation is dedicated to removing barriers to participation in the arts, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of creativity. We believe in the arts as a platform for connection, empowering artists to bring people out of isolation, inspire dialogue, and amplify voices in their communities.

Sample eligible activities include:

  • Innovative projects that expand access to arts and culture for underserved communities or which tackle pressing community challenges through creative engagement.
  • Art exhibitions, workshops, or programs that celebrate and promote the art, culture, or experiences of diverse and historically underrepresented populations.
  • Collaborative programs that foster connection, create inclusive spaces, and encourage participation across all demographics and communities.

These examples are not exhaustive but provide a glimpse into the types of projects that align with this funding opportunity.

View our 2024 Artist Grants here for more details on the type of projects we have funded in the past.

Eligibility for Funding 2025

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for funding: 

  • Applicant must be a practicing artist. Community Equity Grants for Individuals defines a practicing artist as an individual recognized by their peers, critics, or other professionals as committed to producing art on a regular basis. Artists meeting this criterion are typically paid for their work, earning a portion of their living from their creative work. Artists of all disciplines (performing, visual, literary, media, etc.) are encouraged to apply. 
  • Applicant must be 18 years old or older. 
  • Students pursuing any degree are NOT eligible.  
  • Applicant has at least a two-year history of public engagement, presentation, or publication. 
  • Applicant must be the lead artist in every aspect of their project. 
  • Applicant cannot be disbarred, suspended, or have any other exclusions or disqualifications from receiving federal funding.
  • Applicant must maintain a residence in Barnstable County, Dukes County, or Nantucket County and expect to do so through the grant period: June 2025 – June 30, 2026
  • Applicant must produce arts and/or culture that benefits and focuses primarily on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and/or Nantucket. 
  • Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen with a Social Security number to be provided upon notification of a grant award. 
  • Applicant must use funding within the grant year – June 2025 – June 30, 2026

Additional Eligibility Considerations 

  • In line with the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s commitment to mitigate systemic inequities, the grants program will prioritize applications submitted by artists belonging to identified groups that have historically been underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or socioeconomic status. 
  • Grants will not be awarded for similar activities for more than one year. 
  • Applicants with incomplete or outstanding grant obligations or past-due reports from previous Arts Foundation  grants are not eligible to apply.  Feel free to contact us if you are unsure at info@ArtsFoundation.org.
  • Grants will not be awarded to two or more parties for the same project, program, etc. Collaborative efforts will need to determine one eligible lead artist to be the applicant responsible for the application and disbursement of funds to partners and required reporting on the progress of the project, if awarded. 

Grant Info Sessions

March TBD at 10 am for artists (9 am for organizations)

Friday, April 4, 2025 at 10 am for artists (9 am for organizations)

Join us for an Info Session on the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s Community Equity Grants for Creative Individuals. We’ll cover eligibility, project ideas, budget, the application process, and tips for crafting a compelling proposal. 

Please reach out with any questions you may have at info@artsfoundation.org.