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Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc. (MASS MoCA)

Annual Giving
$0.3M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo
Success Rate
15%

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc. (MASS MoCA)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $207,000 - $326,000 (varies by year)
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $3,000 (capacity-building grants); Residency fellowships valued at $1,300 - $2,600+
  • Geographic Focus: New England (primarily Massachusetts, with programs in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine)
  • Total Assets: $86.3 million
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines via Submittable platform

Contact Details

Overview

The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc., operating as MASS MoCA, was established in 1999 in a converted factory complex in North Adams, Massachusetts. It is one of the largest multi-disciplinary contemporary art centers in the United States, with an annual operating budget of approximately $8-10 million and total assets of $86.3 million.

While MASS MoCA is primarily a museum that receives significant grants from foundations like Mellon and Barr, it operates a notable grant-making program for individual artists through its Assets for Artists (A4A) initiative. Since 2008, A4A has served over 1,800 artists with professional development workshops and enrolled more than 500 artists in its Capacity-Building Program, providing micro-grants of $2,000-$3,000 per participant.

The foundation's mission is "to catalyze and support the creation of new art, expose its visitors to bold visual and performing art during all stages of production, and re-invigorate the life of a region in socioeconomic need." Director Kristy Edmunds has stated: "We need to catch up on the resource equation that supports artists and curators and visitors... I want to see how we can shift toward deepening the programming, supporting the people who make the programming, and increasing the diversity of voices."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Capacity-Building Program (Assets for Artists)

  • Grant Amount: $2,000 - $3,000 unrestricted funds per participant
  • Funding Partner: The Midas Collaborative
  • Program Duration: 6 months
  • Cohort Size: 10-15 artists per cohort, 80+ artists annually
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines via Submittable, staggered 4-6 week application windows

2. Studios at MASS MoCA Residency Program

  • Fellowship Value: Full-ride fellowships covering the subsidized rate of $650/week
  • Residency Duration: 2-8 weeks
  • Additional Stipends:
    • Iris Residency: $250/week general stipend
    • Family Residency: $600 stipend
    • Parent-Artists Residency: $1,000 stipend
  • Financial Aid: Most participants receive partial or full aid, paying $0-$450/week

3. Location-Specific Cohorts Assets for Artists runs multiple location-specific cohorts annually:

  • North Berkshire (MA)
  • Worcester (MA)
  • Pittsfield (MA)
  • Boston (MA)
  • Franklin/Hampshire/Hampden Counties (MA)
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts Statewide

Priority Areas

  • Visual artists (painters, sculptors, installation artists, photographers, video/new media, fiber artists, printmakers)
  • Writers in all literary disciplines
  • Artists from under-resourced communities
  • Low-to-moderate income artists
  • Historically marginalized groups (LGBTQIA+, disabled, BIPOC, veterans, caregivers, immigrants)
  • Emerging and mid-career artists
  • Artists who have not previously received grants

What They Don't Fund

  • Full-time students are ineligible for the Capacity-Building Program
  • Artists who have previously received any Assets for Artists grant (Capacity-Building Program only)
  • Dancers, musicians, and performers requiring soundproofed spaces (residency program)
  • Movement-based arts requiring rehearsal space (residency program)
  • Partners or children during residencies (except August Family Fellowship)

Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership

  • Director: Kristy Edmunds (appointed 2021)
  • Deputy Director: Tracy Moore
  • Director of Curatorial Affairs: Susan Cross
  • Chief Advancement Officer: Nora Trebbe Maroulis
  • Director of Finance: Amelia Wachur

Board of Trustees

  • Chair: Steve Jenks
  • Vice Chair: Gregory Avis
  • Treasurer: Mark Simonian
  • Past Chair (2022-2024): Mariko Silver
  • Notable board members include artist Nick Cave and museum director Adam Weinberg

The board comprises 27 active trustees with diverse backgrounds in arts, business, and philanthropy.

Leadership Quotes on Funding Philosophy

Director Kristy Edmunds has emphasized the museum's commitment to supporting artists:

"Art is not a solitary activity, it always requires support, whether it's an artist who needs assistance with basic materials, to those who physically install, organize or contextualize its presentation, to the people whose experience of those works is what helps give them their enduring value to culture."

"Direct economic impact through the creative economy and cultural tourism is stated in our original charter 25 years ago, and is an integral part of our vision for the future."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Capacity-Building Program:

  1. Applications open on staggered timelines throughout the year
  2. Submit via Submittable platform or partner organizations
  3. Applications available in English and Spanish
  4. Accepts written, audio, or video responses
  5. Join the mailing list for announcements of upcoming cohorts

Studios at MASS MoCA Residency:

  • General Application: Opens 2 months before deadline
    • Deadlines: May 1 and November 1 annually
    • Includes consideration for financial aid and fellowships
  • Early Application: Opens 2 months before deadline
    • Deadlines: February 1 and August 1
    • For artists who can self-fund at $650/week
    • Awards made 9-15 months in advance
  • Alumni Application:
    • Deadlines: February 1 and August 1
    • Must wait 2 years after initial residency

Decision Timeline

  • Capacity-Building Program: Applications close 4-6 weeks after opening; decisions announced approximately 6 weeks later
  • Residency General Application: Awards announced 6-9 months before residency dates
  • Residency Early Application: Awards announced 9-15 months before residency dates

Success Rates

  • Massachusetts Statewide Cohort: Approximately 10-15 slots from ~500 applications (2-3% acceptance)
  • Local/Regional Cohorts: Approximately 10-15 slots from 30-40 applications (~25-50% acceptance)
  • Residency Program: Highly competitive for general application with financial aid

Reapplication Policy

  • Rejected applicants are welcome to reapply
  • The jury changes each year, so previous rejection does not preclude future acceptance
  • Recommendation: Include newer work in subsequent applications
  • For residency alumni: Must wait 2 years before applying for Alumni Residency

Application Success Factors

What They Look For (Capacity-Building Program)

Assets for Artists explicitly states their selection criteria:

"Our jurors prioritize applicants who seem 'poised to take advantage of all that the Capacity-Building program has to offer.' Quality of work is secondary to commitment to practice and readiness for professional development support."

Equity Considerations:

  • Race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability
  • Status as caregiver/parent
  • Veteran or immigration status
  • Financial difficulty
  • Access to previous opportunities

Warning from A4A:

"Artists should not apply if they are only interested in the grant funds and not the rest of the program, as they will likely be rejected. Similarly, artists who have had access to a variety of professional development opportunities, grants, and other resources may be de-prioritized in the selection process unless they can articulate how this program will serve them in new ways."

What They Look For (Residency Program)

"Scoring is based on the quality of work as well as the compellingness of the proposed project to be worked on while in residence."

Artist Statement Tips:

"Feel free to briefly highlight a project you found successful, what you feel is notable about your artistic journey, and/or what you are currently excited about or driven by."

For Work Samples:

  • Provide descriptions including medium, materials, year
  • Identify each item by file name
  • CV/bio maximum 3 pages
  • Untraditional formats accepted

Recently Funded Projects

Assets for Artists works with artists across all disciplines including:

  • Visual artists and sculptors
  • Writers and literary artists
  • Fiber and textile artists
  • Photographers and video artists
  • Installation artists
  • Social practice and public artists

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Focus on readiness, not just quality: A4A explicitly prioritizes artists who demonstrate commitment to professional development over those with impressive portfolios but less engagement with the full program.

  2. Be honest about financial need: The program specifically targets artists from under-resourced communities. Equity considerations are built into the scoring rubric.

  3. Previous grantees cannot reapply: Once you've received any A4A grant, you're no longer eligible for the Capacity-Building Program. Make the most of your single opportunity.

  4. Local cohorts are less competitive: Massachusetts Statewide cohorts receive ~500 applications for 10-15 spots, while local cohorts may receive only 30-40 applications.

  5. For residencies, include new work when reapplying: The jury changes yearly, but they want to see you've been active since your last application.

  6. Financial aid is common: The majority of residency participants attend with full or partial financial aid. Don't let cost deter you from applying through the General Application.

  7. Join the mailing list: Cohort openings are announced through the A4A mailing list, and application windows are short (4-6 weeks).

References

Accessed December 2024

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