For Nonprofits
Providing resources to support artists and organizations in presenting their projects at the Jean McDonough Arts Center. 2026 application process will open on October 1.
The Jean McDonough Arts Center, in partnership with Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and thanks to the support of the Barr Foundation, is pleased to announce the JMAC Access Grant Program for 2026.
The JMAC strives to ensure that every cultural organization, large and small, can have a home in downtown Worcester. Through the Access Grant Program, we are able to provide selected cultural organizations and individual artists/creatives with the resources needed to share their stories and programs openly with Central Massachusetts audiences. The JMAC has proven to be a critical cultural home and convening space – especially for Worcester’s historically marginalized communities and underserved artists – by helping organizations and artists create new work, generate income, and positively impact their community.
Through a three-phase application process, organizations and artists can apply for financial support to present their projects at the JMAC in the near future. The grant covers project development, implementation and marketing costs incurred by the organizations and artists, as well as the usage costs of the JMAC space desired for the project.
Application Timeline
Application Round 1: Letter of Intent
- LOI Form opens online on Wednesday, October 1, 2025
- LOI Form Submission deadline is Monday, December 1, 2025 (by midnight)
- Notification to applicants if they are moving to Phase 2 by Friday, December 19, 2025
Prep for Round 2: JMAC Collaboration
- All applicants moving forward are expected to book a meeting with the JMAC Team during the month of January, 2026.
- These in person meetings will allow applicants to engage with the JMAC space, and engage with JMAC staff to discuss their proposed projects (e.g. budget, space utilization, planning timeline, setup and presentation timeframe, etc.). This a great opportunity to sharpen your proposal in preparation for Phase 3.
Application Round 2: Project Narrative in Detail
- Application Form opens online on Friday, January 2, 2026
- Deadline for submission is Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at midnight
Awardees will be notified by Friday, February 27, 2026. Awardees will have until Tuesday, March 31, 2026, to formally book their event on the JMAC calendar, after which grants payments will be issued.
Selection Criteria
General Criteria
- Creativity of project and space usage
- How the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are reflected in the project
- Demonstration of ability to execute with coaching support
- That the project will matter to the organization or artist
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older
Selection Priority (in order)
- New projects from new or returning presenters
- New projects already scheduled to occur in the JMAC after 6/30/25, but not fully conceived or funded
- Returning projects with demonstrated intention to evolve or iterate
Geographic Priority (in order)
- Worcester County based organizations or artists
- Organizations or artists with authentic ties to Worcester County
- Organizations or artists with a compelling reason for wanting to present in Worcester
About the Application Process
- For Round 1: Letter of Intent, applicants will submit a broad strokes overview of their project, including estimated projected expenses.
- For Round 2: Project Narrative, applicants will answer a series of short-form questions in detail and provide a detailed budget. In preparation for Round 2, all applications are expected to schedule a meeting at the JMAC to work through project details with the JMAC Team.
- In all rounds, the requested budget will reflect only the organization’s or artist’s discretionary expenses, and exclude expenses related to rental or usage of the JMAC.
About the Budget Process
Budget submissions must include both creative discretionary costs and JMAC usage costs. Applicants should use the following figures to develop their creative discretionary and space usage plans.
JMAC Space | JMAC Cost (paid to venue) | Maximum Creative Cost (paid to grantee) |
Worcester PopUp – One Day or Per Day (for program series) | $ 2,500 | $ 1,075 |
Worcester PopUp – One Week | $ 3,500 | $ 1,500 |
BrickBox Theater – ½ Day (6 Hours) | $ 3,750 | $ 1,600 |
BrickBox Theater – Full Day (Up to 12 Hours) | $ 6,250 | $ 2,675 |
BrickBox Theater – Two Days | $ 8,750 | $ 3,750 |
BrickBox Theater – Four Days | $ 14,250 | $ 6,100 |
Rehearsal Space – One Day or Per Day | $ 2,500 | $ 1,075 |
Budget Process Notes:
- JMAC costs include space usage, usage of installed technical equipment, and basic staff support for usage.
- Depending on the scale of the project, applicants may want or need to supplement their discretionary budget with other sources of income.
- When grants are paid, recipients will receive direct payment for their discretionary expenses. Concurrently, the JMAC will receive payment for their rental and usage expenses.
- Ticketed events taking place in BrickBox Theater must use the JMAC’s online platform. There is a fee for usage, after which ticket revenue will be passed on to the presenter. After the event, the organization or individual will be provided with a roster of all ticket buyers, including their contact information.

Questions?
Contact Jonathan Cohen
Vice President of Community Impact
508-755-0980