NEST (New England States Touring)
The NEST (New England States Touring) grant from Mass Cultural Council funds New England nonprofits to present regional artists, enriching communities with diverse public arts experiences.
Funder: Mass Cultural Council
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 | April 1, 2027 | August 2, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $5,000 per grant; covers up to 60% of artist fees (or 100% if artist fees are $2,000 or less); max two applications per deadline.
Summary: Supports New England-based nonprofits to present regional artists, fostering access to high-quality arts and strengthening the region’s cultural ecosystem.
Description
This grant program funds New England-based nonprofit organizations, schools, tribal governments, and units of state or local government to present professional artists from the New England region. The goal is to enrich communities by supporting public performances, readings, or screenings, and fostering meaningful engagement between artists and audiences. The program supports a wide range of artistic disciplines, including dance, music, theater, literary arts, and more, with an emphasis on projects that provide new arts experiences and encourage cross-sector or community engagement.
There are two main grant tracks:
- NEST 1: For a New England nonprofit to present a New England artist from a different state.
- NEST 2: For two New England nonprofits (one in the artist’s home state, one outside) to jointly present a New England artist.
All artists presented must be NEST-eligible, which requires a maintained artist profile in the CreativeGround directory and meeting specific residency requirements.
