Cultural Council

2023 Grantee Reception – Open to the public

When: Wednesday, September 20 from 4:00-5:30 PM 

Where: Center Park, Carlisle

Why: Please join us as we celebrate culture and creativity in Carlisle and our surrounding communities!

The Carlisle Cultural Council is hosting a public reception to celebrate the Council’s 2022-2023 grant recipients - the producers of the varied, entertaining, and meaningful cultural programs that they deliver to our communities. The reception is free and open to the public. Come enjoy refreshments, live music by Tedesco Duo, and the natural beauty of Center Park, and learn more about the organizations and people contributing to the cultural vibrancy of Carlisle. Hear from State Representative Simon Cataldo, a great supporter of the cultural community, as well as other speakers. 

September 1 marks the start of the Mass Cultural Council’s 2024 local grant cycle; applications are due by October 17. The Grantee Reception is a great time to meet Cultural Council members, ask questions about the grant funding process, and learn about volunteer opportunities with the Council. 

We would love for you to join us! 

RSVP by September 15 to culturalcouncil@carlislema.gov. Rain date is September 21 from 4:00-5:30 PM.

FY24 Grants Schedule Announced

The Carlisle Cultural Council will be accepting grant applications for the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s FY24 Local Cultural Council (LCC) program between September 1 and October 17, 2023.

Updated guidelines and FY24 program applications will be available online starting September 1 here. FY24 programs may be scheduled to occur from July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024.

FY24 winter grant program: The Carlisle Cultural Council will be conducting an extra cultural grant program in February/March 2024. If you’re planning events, be sure to watch for the announcement.

About the Carlisle Cultural Council

The Carlisle Cultural Council (CCC) promotes and advocates for the arts, music, history, culture and the humanities in Carlisle. Appointed by the Select Board, we serve the community by supporting and producing both participatory and audience-based cultural and arts activities.

The CCC supports local cultural initiatives through an annual grant award process established and funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, that helps deserving organizations and individuals offer a variety of cultural experiences to the people 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 $5 million in grants to more than 6,000 cultural programs statewide, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities.

Read more about the Cultural Council

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

Check out our Grant Recipients!

Take advantage of all the great programs and events that our grantees produce for Carlisle.

Help Cultivate Culture in Carlisle!

Help us deliver a more robust calendar of cultural events and provide even more support to the cultural organizations and individuals who deliver great cultural programming to Carlisle. 

We support and advocate for culture in Carlisle by: 

• Providing modest cultural program grants to Carlisle organizations and individuals, funded by the Mass Cultural Council 
• Co-producing the Carlisle Music Festival @Old Home Day
• Curating carlisleculture.org, a virtual cultural showcase 
• Advocating for COVID-19 recovery funds, public cultural spaces, and more

The Cultural Council receives no operating funds from the Town budget 

With private community support, we can: 

• Produce more programs – Carlisle Music Festival, Art Showcase, etc.
• Fully fund deserving local grant requests
• Support ad hoc and off-cycle program initiatives 

Please consider a tax-deductible contribution of any amount! 

Mail your check to: 

Carlisle Cultural Council 

c/o Carlisle Town Hall

66 Westford Street

Carlisle, MA 01741

Thank you!

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