FY2027 Cultural Facilities Fund – Capital Grants
The Capital Grants program supports eligible Massachusetts cultural facilities through grants for acquisition, construction, major repairs, renovation, rehabilitation, accessibility improvements, energy-efficiency improvements and integrated fixed equipment. Applicants must own or lease the facility. Maximum individual grant: $200,000. This is competitive financial assistance, not an equipment procurement notice.
Funder: Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment. This is the Fiscal Year 2027 Cultural Facilities Fund competitive grant round, open October 8, 2026 through December 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected in June 2027.
Eligible applicants: Massachusetts 501(c)(3) organizations primarily concerned with arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences whose facilities are accessible to the public; qualifying municipalities owning cultural facilities that meet the state size and cultural-use conditions; and qualifying public or private higher-education institutions with cultural facilities open to the community beyond their educational mission. Fiscal sponsors are not eligible. Municipal facilities normally must be at least 50,000 square feet and at least 50% devoted to cultural purposes, with an exception for qualifying historic facilities at least 125 years old.
Matching funds: A 1:1 secured cash or legally obligated matching contribution is required for every award before an agreement and fund draw. In-kind donations, ordinary pledges, loans, and the listed ineligible state or operating sources do not meet the match. Applicants need not have the match fully in hand when applying; funding deadlines after award differ by category.
How to apply: Review the full FY27 program guidelines, create or access an organization profile in Mass Cultural Council’s grants management system, complete the mandatory Eligibility Quiz for the desired category, and submit the online application and required supporting information by December 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants can generally request only one category per round; the guidelines allow limited combinations for Systems Replacement Plan and qualifying green-building feasibility projects.
Eligible expenses: Site acquisition, final-stage design, renovations, new construction, fixed HVAC, lighting and other permanently integrated equipment. Excluded: movable equipment, routine operations, ongoing salaries, fundraising, insurance, mortgage or loan payments, legal fees, and unrelated expenses. Proposals must demonstrate community need, benefit to local tourism, financial need, local support, planning and readiness to implement within 12 months of approval.
Supporting materials: Sources-and-uses project budget with contractor estimates, timeline and scope, recent financial statements, lease/deed, required business or strategic plan where applicable, board list, and site photographs. Prior Capital grantees have a two-year wait and previous award disbursement completion rules. Grants are subject to Massachusetts statutory review and MassDevelopment grant agreements.
Official application guidance: https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/cultural-facilities-fund/application-process/capital/