Assets for Artists currently supports rural Connecticut artists through an initiative with the USDA.

We offer capacity building grants, 1-on-1 coaching, and business and finance workshops specifically catered toward rural artists. Whether you’re working in Torrington, Winsted, Mansfield, New London or in a community in between, we are here to strengthen the financial success of your creative practice. Our Connecticut work is in partnership with the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA), Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, and the Cultural Coalition.

2024 CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM

We know that artists require working capital to build the success of their creative practice and tools and community to help sustain it. We are pleased to partner for another year with the Connecticut Office of the Arts to support a Capacity-Building Grant Cohort for Connecticut artists! Thanks to additional support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) this grant will prioritize applicants who reside in Connecticut’s rural counties and/or rural municipalities.

Applications are currently closed.

Join our mailing list for future opportunities.

program overview

MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists Capacity Building Grant Program pairs an unrestricted micro-grant of $2,000 with professional development tools for artists to design and build their creative future. In this program, each artist determines what they need from a broad array of opportunities, which means that each artist's path through the program will look a little different. There are no requirements, only opportunities. After being accepted into the program, grantees complete a brief onboarding call with one of A4A's Program Managers to learn more about the resources available to them. This also gives our team a chance to learn more about you and your creative goals.

details

Each grantee will have access to:

• An unrestricted grant of $2,000 paid out at a time of your choosing.

• Free, priority access to Assets for Artists online workshops for the year (some specifically designed with your cohort in mind).

• At least one, free individual coaching session with an A4A trainer of your choice.

• Support for setting goals and making an action-oriented plan to reach them.

• Peer-networking opportunities within your cohort of fellow grantees.

  Full program details in our FAQ.

Attend our live APPLICATION Q&A!

Tues., October 10 | 10:00 - 11:00 AM | REGISTER HERE

ELIGIBILITY

This Capacity Building Grant is designed to support Connecticut based artists, writers, performers, or other creatives who have had limited access to resources and/or faced significant barriers to pursue artistic and educational opportunities, with special attention to artists in rural communities. Because of these hurdles, this grant is intended to provide tools, strategies and community that will put artists on a pathway to a more sustainable, creative future.

• Applicants must be full-time Connecticut residents. 

  Yes, we really mean CT-based artists only. You must also maintain full-time residency throughout the duration of the program. All full-time CT residents can apply, regardless of US citizenship or immigration status.

• Regional criteria and designation.

  Because of our partners, the USDA’s focus on rural towns and counties and the State of Connecticut prioritizing funding to communities identified as Distressed Municipalities, Public Investment Communities, and Educational Alliance Districts, artists applying from communities with these different designations will receive additional points on their application (with multiple designations resulting in multiple points). Find your town and its corresponding score here to determine how many additional points your application will be awarded.

• Open to artists and creatives of any discipline.

Our Capacity-Building Grant program is open to artists and creatives of any discipline. We define “artist” very broadly to include visual artists, writers, musicians, dancers, theater practitioners, craftspeople, jewelers, fashion designers, puppeteers, fiber artists, drag performers, social practice and public artists, photographers, filmmakers, woodworkers, traditional artisans, and more!

• Readiness to take your practice to the next level.

  The Capacity-Building Grant is best suited for creatives who are excited to engage with program offerings, ready to build a more sustainable practice and expand their network of creative peers.

SCORING RUBRIC

Each applicant will be scored by members of our artist jury.

Due to this program’s emphasis on supporting rural artists in historically under-resourced communities, each applicant will receive a “geographic score” based on their home address (details in “Eligibility” above). Find your town and its corresponding score here to determine how many additional points your application will be awarded.

Jurors will also assess how much access to other opportunities and resources the applicant has received, with artists who have faced a disproportionate number of barriers receiving a high Equity Score.

download A PREVIEW of the application here.

Read our FAQ. Then contact: assetsforartists@massmoca.org

Ongoing Opportunities

1-ON-1 BUSINESS COACHING

Every rural Connecticut artist who participates in one of our workshops is eligible to register for 1-on-1 coaching with one of Assets for Artists’ staff. We're here to help you navigate the challenges or opportunities you’re currently facing. Information is provided directly to artists during our workshops.

FREE ONLINE & IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS

Assets for Artists offers an ever-evolving selection of workshops to address the most urgent needs, challenges, and opportunities facing artists in our region. Learn from our amazing artist-trainers and build connections with artist peers - you’re not alone!

All workshops are FREE and held via Zoom, with pre-registration required to keep the cohorts at a size that maximizes participation and peer support. 

Programming throughout Southern New England is made possible thanks to the Open For Business Fund at the Wells Fargo Foundation. Our Connecticut programming is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA), Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, and the Cultural Coalition.