[Essex County Community Foundation](https://www.eccf.org)

Rolling (Closed for 2026; check for future cycles)

Up to $5,000 per artist; up to 5 awards annually

Supports BIPOC artists in Essex County, MA, to advance creative projects and community impact.

The 2026 cycle is closed; monitor the funder site for reopening.

--- ## Description The ALAANA/BIPOC Artist Grant, offered by the Essex County Community Foundation through its Creative County Initiative, is designed to support artists who identify as African, Latine, Asian, Arab, Native American, or other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) backgrounds. The program aims to empower underrepresented artists in Essex County, Massachusetts, by providing resources to develop creative works, foster community engagement, and increase visibility of diverse voices in the arts. --- ## Due Dates - Applications are accepted on a rolling basis when open. - The 2026 grant cycle is now closed due to all funds being distributed. - For future cycles, check the [ECCF Creative County grants page](https://www.eccf.org/cci-grants/) for updates on reopening. --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $5,000 per award. - Up to 5 individual artists funded annually. - Funding supports the development of a work or series of works in any creative genre (e.g., music, visual arts, literature, performance). --- ## Eligibility - Open to individual artists who: - Identify as African, Latine, Asian, Arab, Native American, or other BIPOC backgrounds. - Live and/or primarily work in Essex County, Massachusetts. - Applicants may only submit one proposal to one Creative County Initiative (CCI) grant program per calendar year. - Artists funded by the ALAANA/BIPOC grant in the previous year are ineligible to apply for the same grant in consecutive years. - Grant is for individual artists only (not organizations or groups). --- ## Application Process - Applications are typically submitted via an online form (now closed for 2026). - Rolling deadline when the application is open; awards made until funds are depleted. - Required to submit a grant report if awarded. - Funds may be received directly (taxable) or via a fiscal sponsor (not taxable to the artist). - Monitor the [ECCF Creative County grants page](https://www.eccf.org/cci-grants/) for future application opportunities. --- ## Additional Information - Example projects funded include music albums, visual arts installations, community-engaged art, literary works, and cross-cultural collaborations. - Grant is intended to address historic and systemic exclusion of BIPOC artists from arts funding. - Only one CCI grant application per artist per year is allowed across all CCI programs (Special Project, ALAANA, Last Mile Fund). --- ## External Links - [Creative County Initiative Grants Overview](https://creativecounty.org/grants/) - [ECCF Creative County Initiative Grants](https://www.eccf.org/cci-grants/) - [ECCF Main Website](https://www.eccf.org) - [Contact ECCF](https://www.eccf.org/contact/) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role | Email | Phone | Address | |---------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Karen Ristuben | Program Director, CCI | k.ristuben@eccf.org | (978) 777-8876 | 500 Cummings Center, Suite 5450, Beverly, MA 01915 | | General Inquiries | - | info@eccf.org | (978) 777-8876 | 500 Cummings Center, Suite 5450, Beverly, MA 01915 |

CCI ALAANA/BIPOC Artist - 2026 Grant Application

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