Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts

The MMFA was established in 2012 to help Melrose artists and arts organizations finance their projects. Its goal is both to provide funding for projects occurring in Melrose that benefit the Melrose community and to supplement the budgets of local arts organizations and individual artists in order to encourage both diversity and innovation in arts presentations in the City and to provide broad-based arts experiences to the citizens of Melrose.

Funded by the City’s annual budget, the MMFA is staffed by volunteers appointed by the Mayor who have demonstrated an interest in and knowledge of the local arts landscape.

The MMFA seeks applications from Melrose artists and organizations to fund arts activities that will take place in Melrose. There is no funding deadline, and applications are accepted any time in the City’s fiscal year (July 1- June 30) for activities and events taking place within the same fiscal year.

MMFA will assess each grant request for its local focus, its value to the community, and its innovative qualities. A successful grant will be one that benefits 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.

MMFA grant monies are reimbursement funds, paid after the event has occurred and the appropriate paperwork has been submitted. Proof of expenditures must accompany any reimbursement request.

The MMFA will review grants three or four times within a fiscal year, or in some circumstances, on an as-needed basis.

The MMFA is a Melrose-based and Melrose-funded organization that supplements the work of the Melrose Cultural Council, a state agency. The MMFA encourages local arts organizations to seeks funds from all available sources.

The MMFA requires that all activities it supports include credit to the MMFA as a funding source.

 MMFA Application form,  or  if you have questions email MelroseMFA@gmail.com