Applications open September 8 for our 2027 Capacity-Building Program, with a select cohort of artists chosen in January.
Applications are juried by a panel of creative peers who have achieved success in their field, and understand the needs of Cape artists and the challenges they face. This program promotes equal opportunity and seeks diversity in its applicants and participants. If you have never received an artist grant, we encourage you to apply. This program is intended for you!
2027 Cohort Applications Open on September 8!
2027 Cohort Applications Open on September 8!
A Creative Ecosystem Where Artists Thrive
The Capacity-Building Program empowers artists to embark on meaningful careers aligned with their values, enhance their creative endeavors, build purposeful networks to support their work, and access resources necessary to attain sustained success.
A cohort experience running January through mid-May that guides artists in creating a roadmap that identifies goals for their creative business and action steps for achieving them. Artists in the cohort have access to workshops focused on strengthening and growing their business, one-on-one and group coaching in the creation of a business plan, connection to other creatives to support one another on their professional journeys, and a $1,000 working capital grant upon program completion.
Eligible applicants are:
Artists of all disciplines (visual arts, writing, film, dance, music/sound, theater, performance, social practice, etc.)
Residents of Cape Cod (Barnstable County), Nantucket (Nantucket County), or Martha's Vineyard (Dukes County)
Not eligible:
Full-time students enrolled in a degree program
Artists living outside of Cape Cod, Nantucket, or Martha's Vineyard
Artists who have already participated in the Capacity Building Grant Program
Program Timeline
January — May 2027
September 8, 2026: Application opens
November 6, 2026: Application closes (deadline to apply)
December 2026: Applications reviewed and cohort selected
January 6, 2027: Cohort onboarding
January – May 2027: Cohort workshops and peer meetups, Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7 PM
May 12, 2027: Program completion and release of $1,000 working capital grant
Selection Criteria
A select cohort of artists will be chosen for 2027. Applications will be evaluated based on:
History of creative work (emerging or established)
Readiness to benefit (why this is the right moment in your career for business training, and how clearly you can articulate goals for your practice)
Access to resources (priority is given to artists with limited financial or artistic opportunities and those from under-resourced communities)
Virtual Information Sessions
Want to learn more before applying? Join us for a one-hour virtual information session:
Thursday, October 8 at 10 AM
Friday, October 30 at 10 AM
Workshops Include:
Effectively Balancing Business and Art with Queen Allotey-Pappoe
Taxes for Artists and Creative Freelancers with Hannah Cole, Sunlight Tax
Writing About Your Work with Alyson Stanfield
Speaking About Your Work with Alyson Stanfield
Branding for Creative Business with Sarah Dudek
The Power of Websites with Jessica Burko
Arts Advocacy 101 with Emily Ruddock, MassCreative
Press and PR with Chris Kazarian
Essentials of Digital Marketing with Francesca Olsen
Grant Writing with Julie Wake & Chris Kazarian
Plus peer meetups and a mid-program social.
*Workshop lineup subject to change.
2027 Creative Exchange COHORT
Capacity-Building Grant Program Application
Should you have questions, please contact Amy Neill at aneill@artsfoundation.org.
What People Are Saying
“The Arts Foundation's Capacity-Building Program is so important for Cape Cod's creative community, and I am very proud to be part of it. Not only does it provide connection and collaboration, but, most importantly, inspiration. My experience was nothing but a positive one, and the connections I have made will grow and enrich the culture here on Cape.”
-Nick Zaremba
“For me, the most powerful part of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Artists Cohort was the understanding and wisdom we shared. Although we work in various mediums and are at different stages of our careers, everyone understands what it means to be an artist. Working on the business plan helped me not only refine my goals but figure out what I want to be doing and how to move forward with my career. Lastly, I found our Arts Foundation of Cape Cod facilitators to be supportive, intelligent, and well-informed. Being part of the Arts Foundation Artists Cohort Group was a transformative experience for me.”
-Jennifer Langhammer
“Being a part of the Creative Exchange Cohort was what I truly needed to help me feel confident in not only selling my art, but also helping me create a sustainable creative practice. I really enjoyed our group coaching session where everyone offered feedback on our website or lack thereof and our social media accounts. It was very inspirational and motivated me to get my website up and running by our next session. I also really appreciated getting to know other artists in other mediums and backgrounds. Thank you, Arts Foundation!”
-Alexis Charles
“Being part of the program during the winter brought me inspiration, connections, opportunities, and support! It really makes you slow down and think about what you want to achieve with your craft.”
-Deviber
“The Arts Foundation Cohort was incredibly valuable for me. I learned a lot of critical things and always felt I was surrounded by "my people." Although we're spread across the Cape geographically, I've made lasting connections and appreciate when we bump into each other at different events. Thanks, Arts Foundation!”
-Susan Moffat
“The essence of what I received from this program is that putting my art into the world really does matter. Having the support of a group that is all about nurturing artists and helping them to get seen has been a real boost in how I feel about myself as an artist, and also in terms of getting new ideas and gaining some new connections to make that happen. Thank you, Arts Foundation!”
-Jennifer Stratton
“When I began this program, I came in with a persistent question: Is it still worth it? What I leave with is something far more meaningful than a business plan or a set of tools — although those have been invaluable. I leave with a deeper sense that I am, in fact, a valid and worthy artist, that the work I feel called to do matters, and that it is not too late — it is exactly the right time. This program helped me understand that returning to art now is not a detour — it's a continuation, maybe even a culmination. I leave with a renewed sense of joy — the joy of making, of belonging to this creative community here on Cape Cod, and of finally, truly, allowing myself to be the artist I was meant to be.”
-Joy George
“As a novelist, picture book writer, poet, filmmaker, and mixed media artist, I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire and know a lot of people in the creative community, but it’s always wonderful to discover just how much I don’t know. How much I can still learn. How exciting it can be to encounter new opportunities, new people, new ways to respond to the world. Being part of the Arts Foundation’s Creative Exchange Capacity-Building Cohort added a lot of fuel to the fire. It truly helped me build my capacity for making art, engaging with other artists of all kinds, seeing new paths I might not have otherwise taken, new territory I might not have otherwise explored. I’m therefore grateful to the Arts Foundation, the donors who fund the program, and the other cohort participants. My life is richer for the experience.”
-Lauren Wolk
“The Artists Cohort shared and supported known activities for business success for creatives. The art world is not unlike other businesses with a set of acknowledged protocols. Most artists are aware of these but are not trained to utilize them. Participation in the cohort gave meaningful training in understanding and utilizing these tools. Perhaps the other real advantage of participation is the inclusion in a broader community of artists and location. Cape Cod is not a huge place, but there is a segmentation that can keep artists from knowing other artists elsewhere on the Cape. By mixing people from upper Cape, lower Cape, and yes, even the Islands, those in the cohort got to know and hopefully collaborate within a larger framework.”
-Jay McDermottMeet Our Past Recipients
Applications for this program are juried by a panel of creative peers who have achieved success in their respective fields and understand the unique needs and challenges that Cape artists face.
2027 Creative Exchange COHORT
Capacity-Building Grant Program Application
Should you have questions, please contact Amy Neill at aneill@artsfoundation.org.