Cultural Council

About the Carlisle Cultural Council

The Carlisle Cultural Council (CCC) promotes the arts, music, history, culture and the humanities in Carlisle. Our goal is to serve our community by supporting and producing both participatory and audience-based cultural and arts activities which benefit local residents.  

The Carlisle Cultural Council is appointed by the Select Board to support local cultural initiatives. The CCC supports these initiatives through an annual grant award process established by the Massachusetts Cultural Council that provides funds to deserving organizations and individuals to offer a variety of cultural experiences to the residents of Carlisle. The Council can also raise money independently in order to support additional cultural programs produced by the Council or other organizations. 

What we mean by culture: music, dance, theater, fine art, pop art, sculpture, photography, multimedia, fiber arts, ethnic customs, culinary arts, humanities, literature, poetry, nature, gardening, woodworking, ceramics, storytelling, history, science, language and more…

The Carlisle Cultural Council is part of the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program. Each year, LCCs award more than $3 million in grants to more than 6,000 cultural programs statewide, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities.

Like us on Facebook! We regularly post about local cultural programs and other related topics.

FY22 Cultural Grants

We are excited to announce the recipients of our FY22 Local Cultural Grants! Our grants this year support a wide range of visual arts, music, science and multidisciplinary programs. 

Benefits of Native Planting - Carlisle Garden Club

Carlisle Old Home Day - Carlisle Old Home Day Association

Bentwood and Wattle fence Crafting Workshops - Friends of Center Park

Celebrating Carlisle's Preserved Open Spaces - Carlisle Conservation Foundation

Fall Concert featuring the CCO Strings - Carlisle Chamber Orchestra

Oldies Piano & Vocal Concert - Daniel Kirouac on behalf of Carlisle COA

Celebrating Carlisle's Diversity - Carlisle Communications

CPS Garden Lending Library - Carlisle Parent Teacher Organization

Nature and Art Therapy - Virginia Thurston Healing Garden

Learn How to Play the Ukulele - Gleason Public Library

Bach's Lunch Concert Series - Indian Hill Music

AWAKE! - Nashoba Valley Chorale

2021-2022 Concert Season - The Concord Orchestra

The entire greater Carlisle community is invited to support these artists and creators by attending and participating in these wonderful local performances and events. Check for schedules, location/login information and health protocols in the Carlisle Mosquito or on organization websites. 

FY21 Cultural Grants

Our FY21 grants supported a wide range of visual arts, music, humanities, theater arts and multidisciplinary programs. See the full list of FY21 grants here.

Cultural Council 2020 Community Survey

Thank you to all the Carlisle residents who responded to our survey. See a summary of the results here.

New Council Members Wanted!

The Cultural Council is always open to new members who want to help create and run programs, collaborate with other cultural organizations, and participate in the annual grant funding process. Members are appointed by the Select Board for 3-year terms. If interested, please email culturalcouncil@carlislema.gov

Questions? Contact culturalcouncil@carlislema.gov