Author: Christine O'Donnell

Just a few days left before applications are due!

If you’re having some trouble finding a location in which to share your talents with the City of Newton… we have some good news! Here are some suggestions for you. This is far from an exhaustive list, but will hopefully inspire or point you in the right direction.

Remember you must secure your venue before sending in your application.

Any/all of these locations must be contacted and confirmed before being placed on your application.

Historic Newton
Jackson Homestead – Nicole Downer (617) 796-1450 or ndowner@newtonma.gov

Durant-Kenrick House – (617) 641-9142 or ccowan@historicnewton.org

Spaces at the Newton Public Schools  – formal application online – https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/2723

Lutheran Church of the Newtons – Aileen Murphy aileenkmurphy@gmail.com

Newton City Hall / War Memorial Auditorium

Newton Community Farm – Karyn Novakowski – karyn@newtoncommunityfarm.org

Newton Early Childhood Program (Former Thomas Aquinas Jr College Auditorium) – Josh Morse Jmorse@newtonma.gov

Newton Free Library – Ellen Meyers emeyers@minlib.net

Newton Library Branches
Waban – Collen Nolan of the Waban Improvement Society: WISBookkeeper@gmail.com

Auburndale – 617 552-7158 info@auburndalelibrary.org

Newton Public Parks

Newton Senior Center – Alice Bailey, Executive Administrator, at 617-796-1664 or abailey@newtonma.gov

Second Church/Congregation Dorshei Tzedek (which meets at the Second Church in West Newton on 60 Highland St) – contact is via Dorshei Tzedek – Jen Kaplan jenkap12@gmail.com

United Parish of Auburndale – Betty Meyer Gallery – Doug Robinson-Johnson – office@newtonchurch.org (617) 964-8516

Other suggestions:
Private residences

Churches, Synagogues and other places of worship

Friends, Newtonians, Countrypeople…

Applying for a Newton Cultural Council Grant may feel overwhelming! Especially with just under 4 weeks to go until applications close.

Here are some answers to questions you might find yourself asking… and if you have others, reply to this email!

We’re here to help!

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I’m lost – where do I start the application process?

All applications are done online: click HERE to start!

For this year’s applications (the application cycle open from Sept 1 2018-Oct 15 2018), does it have to be a project that’s happening in 2019?

No! We accept grant applications for projects that take place between July 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019.

What kinds of projects do you fund? 

The Council considers all projects in the arts, sciences and humanities as long as there is a public benefit. That means that while we’d love to help fund the ballet workshops you attended in Moscow, or your gamelan classes in Bali, unless you’re coming back and putting on a series of performances, we can’t help you.

I noticed it says I need to have a “confirmed location” for my project. I don’t even know where to start with that… 

A great question! And a bit of a tough one, because locations always depend on the type of activity you are trying to promote.

Your best bet is to find a location in Newton. Public spaces, outdoor spaces, as well as privately-owned or commercial spaces, are all fair game, as long as you are promoting a public event. You can also charge for your event and still receive a grant. It doesn’t have to be free.

I have an AMAZING project in mind, but it’s going to cost $10,000 – can I request that much money? 

While there’s nothing stopping you from asking for that much, unfortunately, in order to ensure that the NCC can “spread the wealth”, in the past we have capped all grants at $1,500. While we have over $30,000 to distribute this year (so the cap may be slightly higher), it’s unlikely that we will be able to fully fund projects with such a large budget.

It’s also important to note that all funding is, in fact, reimbursements. So, even if the NCC funds $10,000, you’ll have to pay that up front, provide receipts, and then we will repay you. That means your project has to be financially viable without a grant.

Ok – So my grant is actually a reimbursement for specific costs I incur while working on my project.

Correct.

What can those costs include? 

A few pieces of advice… Keep all your receipts, and please remember that the NCC cannot fund the purchase of food or drinks.

Examples of costs that have been reimbursed in previous years include the following:
– Rental of a/v equipment,
– Exhibition costs,
– Printing costs,
– Travel expenses,
– Lighting and seating rentals
– Materials for artists

Am I allowed to submit more than one grant application? 

Yes, you are! If you have more than one project you’d like to share with the community, you can absolutely submit more than one grant application. However, we do try to “spread the wealth” so don’t be surprised if only the strongest of your grant applications is funded.

Thanks for reading! Drop us a line anytime with more questions you may have about the grant process! 

One month to go.

There’s only one more month to apply for a Newton Cultural Council Grant!

Don’t leave your application to the last minute!
There’s nothing worse than scrambling to complete something just before a deadline…

Start your Newton Cultural Council grant application today!

If you need help,  write to us anytime at nccinfo@newtonculturalcouncil.com!