local priorities

In accordance with our requirement as a Local Cultural Council receiving more than $20,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, we have identified local priorities to guide our decision-making process for awarding grants.

Medford’s local priorities were developed using community input and strategic discussions at our recent public meetings. We will still accept, review, and approve a wide range of proposals including those that may be unrelated to our local priorities. However, we will use the local priorities to encourage, identify, and fund preferred proposals that are particularly suited to Medford’s needs at this time.

  1. Cultural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Projects that elevate the voices and experiences of historically marginalized groups to highlight the current and historical diversity of Medford. Projects that create opportunities for artists and community members who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQX, refugee, immigrant, or person living with a disability. Such projects may include coalition building, research, leadership and youth development with a focus on arts and culture.

  2. Public art: Temporary or permanent art — performing or visual, 2D or 3D, outdoor or indoor, physical or virtual — to be exhibited in public, open spaces in Medford, such as a park, municipal building, or neighborhood square. We will pay attention to the particular qualities of a proposed site and how the project’s design fits in the site, and we encourage projects that are participatory and accessible for all potential audiences. The project should seek to create a memorable experience for the public. See some examples on our public art page.

  3. Projects that seek to enhance the vitality of Medford’s squares and business districts (for example, Medford Square, Haines Square, South Medford, Hillside, West Medford, Wellington, Station Landing, etc.) with cultural activities or displays that rely on visitors’ casual discovery or purposeful attendance. 

  4. Projects involving partnerships or collaborations among individuals or organizations. We are especially interested in deeply collaborative processes that fully involve the talents, skills, and resources of multiple contributors and include different perspectives within the community.

  5. Projects in the humanities (literature, history, etc.) or science and technology (natural resources, environmental issues, STEAM, etc.), especially if they focus on Medford-related topics or themes, and/or use local resources or talent. Priority may be given to approaches that show innovation in audience participation, content development, or use of materials. Projects that combine the humanities and interpretive sciences are especially welcome.