WORCESTER—The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) has awarded $235,030 in grants to 51 arts and cultural programs in Worcester for 2025, the city announced Wednesday.
For its 2025 grant cycle, WAC reviewed 164 applications, evaluating them based on public benefit, artistic merit, budget feasibility, and alignment with the council’s annual funding priorities, which are shaped by community input.
“The arts and creativity are the heartbeat of Worcester, enriching our community, driving economic vitality, and inspiring us all,” City Manager Eric D. Batista said in the announcement. “Our collective commitment to the arts is not just about preserving culture; it is about shaping a more equitable and resilient future for all.”
WAC received $236,500 from the Mass Cultural Council (MCC) and an additional $10,000 from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF) to support artist fellowships. The remaining funds will be used for marketing, survey administration, and an annual reception for awardees.
The 2025 grant recipients include a diverse mix of artists, organizations, and projects. The full list of awardees and their funding amounts is as follows:
2025 Worcester Arts Council grant recipients
- Claudio Eshun – WAC Fellowship – $5,000
- Brandon Esteves – WAC Fellowship – $5,000
- Caitlyn Marsh – WAC Fellowship – $5,000
- Fanta Sessay – WAC Fellowship – $5,000
- 4th Wall Stage Company, Inc. – Shakespeare History Plays Seen Through a Disability Lens – $5,000
- African Community Education Program, Inc. – Crocodile River Music – $5,000
- Sharon Amuguni – The Poet’s Cauldron – $5,000
- ArtsWorcester, Inc. – Future Arts Workers of Worcester: Inaugural Exhibition – $5,000
- Nicholas Baker – The Dog Days are Now – $5,000
- Building Futures, Inc. – Rhythms of the World – $3,500
- Casita Cultura Latina, Inc. – Día de los Muertos in the Woo – $5,000
- Crocodile River Music, Inc. – 2025 African Music Series – $5,000
- Suely Dibara – Brazilian Festival of Worcester – $5,000
- David Dominguez – Salvadoran Festival – $5,000
- Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District – Downtown Worcester Winter Festival 2025 – $5,000
- Edward Street Child Services, Inc. – “Tell Me About It” – Trauma-Informed Art Activities for Young Children – $5,000
- First Unitarian Church – Totally Organ-ic! Concert Series – $4,800
- Flagg Street School – Youth-led Library Mural – $2,500
- Friendly House, Inc. – Refugee Arts Showcase – $5,000
- Yasmin Goris – Latino Art Fusion – Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration – $5,000
- Gregory Hamilton – Worcester Portrait Exchange – $1,600
- Joy of Music Program, Inc. – JOMP Culture Connects – $5,000
- Patricia King – Tax Returns for Artists, Entrepreneurs, and Craftspeople – $5,000
- Shirish K. Korde – Aikya – $5,000
- Ashley P. L’Esperance – Songwriters at the Hub 2025 – $5,000
- Anna MacInnis – The Worcester Draglesque Festival – $5,000
- Mass Audubon Central Region – Broad Meadow Brook Visitor Mural – $2,000
- Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, Inc. – Massachusetts Symphony In Concert With Manolo Mairena – $5,000
- No Evil Project, Inc. – No Evil Project: Art & Conversations – $5,000
- Open Door Arts – Open Door Gallery at the Worcester Art Museum – $5,000
- OpporTUNEity Community Connections Inc. – OpporTUNEity Youth Programs – $5,000
- Elis Ortiz – Unveil: Art of A Puerto Rican Tale – $5,000
- Pernet Family Health Service of Worcester, Inc. – Food for Thought: Youth Program & Food Pantry Collaboration – $4,000
- Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts Inc. – RICEMA Cultural Programs and Lunar Festival – $5,000
- Brittany Severance – The Guy, the Girl, and the Gilded Goat (short film)/Hunky Dory (art exhibition) – $4,980
- Bill Shaner – The Unhoused Herald – $5,000
- Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, Inc. – Annual Asian Festival – $5,000
- The Worcester Center for Crafts, Inc. – Annual Arts Festival – $5,000
- Doug Urquhart – Arizona Doug’s Music Through the Decades – $900
- Doug Urquhart – Ed-Sullivans’ Band 60’s Music – $750
- WICN Public Radio, Inc. – Emerging Artist Series – $5,000
- Worcester Art Museum – Pride Community Day – $5,000
- Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association, Inc. – Worcester Caribbean American Carnival – $5,000
- Worcester Center for Performing Arts, Inc. – WYSH (Worcester Youth Speak Honestly) – $5,000
- Worcester Chamber Music Society, Inc. – Animal Adventures: Worcester Chamber Music Society’s Annual Free Family Concert – $5,000
- Worcester County Mechanics Association – Free Community Concerts – $5,000
- Worcester Hip Hop Congress, Inc. – Worcester Generations – $5,000
- Worcester Historical Museum – Worcester Women’s History Project – 175th Anniversary of the National Women’s Rights Convention in 1850 – $5,000
- Worcester Refugee Assistance Project, Inc. – Beats, Brushes, and Books – $5,000
- Worcester Roots Project, Inc. – Therapeutic Garden Mural to Support Mental Health – $5,000
- Worcester Youth Orchestras, Inc. – Intergenerational Side-by-Side Concert – $5,000
The Worcester Arts Council, a volunteer-run municipal body, plays a key role in distributing state and local funding to arts and culture programs. The current council members include Chair Chris Michelotti, Secretary Amy Sciannameo, Treasurer Osaghale “Sage” Aisagbonhi, and members Victor Rivera, Amanda Dye, Jennifer Griffin Gaul, Angelique Webster, Cassie Tortorici, and staff liaison Meg O’Rourke. There is currently one open seat on the Council.
For more information, visit the Worcester Arts Council website.
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