Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts Accepting Grant Proposals for FY2024
The City-funded Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts (MMFA) is accepting grant applications from Melrose artists and organizations to fund arts activities that will take place in Melrose during the current fiscal year. There is no funding deadline, and applications are accepted any time between July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
This fiscal year, per the request of Mayor Brodeur’s administration, the MMFA funding available to local artists and organizations has increased from $10,000 to $20,000.
“I am grateful to our many local artists and arts organizations who work tirelessly to ensure Melrose residents can experience a rich cultural life. I’m also particularly thankful for the continued work and energy of our MMFA Committee,” said Mayor Brodeur. “It was a priority of my administration to increase the Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts. By doing so, we ensure that the City continues to make investments in local arts and culture, both of which are beneficial to our residents and good for the economy.”
Each grant request will be assessed for its local focus, its value to the community, and its innovative qualities. A successful grant application will benefit the community at large and exposes the community to some aspect of the arts. Each project must include an opportunity to share its outcome with the Melrose community in the form of a demonstration, art show, or performance.
The MMFA reviews applications on a rolling basis and grants are awarded until all funds have been distributed. MMFA grant monies are reimbursement funds, paid after the event has occurred and the appropriate paperwork has been submitted. Proof of expenditure(s) must accompany any reimbursement request.
The Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts has endeavored to serve a diversity of grantees serving the Melrose community, including individual artists, anchor organizations and emerging new organizations. Local support of the arts and culture sector is critical, especially in this anticipated multi-year post-pandemic recovery period, as evident by the high demand of grant requests received this year.
Apply For a Grant Today
Complete information on the MMFA, including application materials can be found on the City’s website: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/office-planning-and-community-development/pages/melrose-messina-fund-arts.
The MMFA is staffed by volunteers, appointed by the Mayor, who have demonstrated an interest in and knowledge of the local arts landscape. Questions can be directed via email to the MMFA volunteers at MelroseMFA@gmail.com.
About the Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts
The Melrose Messina Fund for the arts (MMFA), named after Joseph Messina, longtime Fine Arts Chair of Melrose Public Schools, was established by Mayor Rob Dolan in 2012 to help Melrose artists and arts organizations finance their projects. Funded through the City’s annual budget, its goal is to provide funding for projects in Melrose that provide broad-based arts experiences to the community, and to supplement the budgets of local arts organizations and individual artists to encourage diversity and innovation in arts presentations in the city.