A January to May cohort for artists on Cape Cod and the Islands who are ready to grow their creative business, with one on one coaching, workshops, and a $1,000 working capital grant.
If you have never received an artist grant, this program is for you.
$1,000 working capital grant
January to May 2027 cohort
One on one coaching
Applications due November 6
2027 Applications Now Open!
2027 Applications Now Open!
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 receive:
One on one coaching with Mark Adams and Julia Cumes, plus coaching and coordination with Amy Neill
Small group sessions led by alumni and peers
A network of creatives who support each other
Priority access to professional development workshops
A chance to show your work in a public setting
A $1,000 working capital grant at the end of the program
Membership is not required. Every cohort member receives all program benefits.
Program Timeline
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 to 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
Meet Your Coaches
Mark Adams
Painter, 2023 Artist of the Year
Mark Adams is a Truro painter and the Arts Foundation’s 2023 Artist of the Year. His vibrant watercolors of sea life, boats, and illustrated Cape maps celebrate the history and waters of the Outer Cape. He brings that same thoughtful approach to working one on one with each artist in the cohort.
Julia Cumes
Photographer, 2024 Artist of the Year
Julia Cumes is a photographer and the Arts Foundation’s 2024 Artist of the Year. Growing up in South Africa, she learned early how photography can tell stories, reveal truth, and spark change. Since coming to Cape Cod in 2001 as a photography intern at the Cape Cod Times, she has focused her work on women’s lives, climate, and wildlife conservation.
Virtual Information Sessions
Want to learn more before applying? Join us for a one-hour virtual information session:
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.
Who Can Apply
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
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)
2027 Creative Exchange COHORT
Capacity-Building Grant Program Application
Should you have questions, please contact Amy Neill at aneill@artsfoundation.org.
What Our Artists Say
Joy George
“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.”
Program alum
Alexis Charles
“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.”
Program alum
Program alum
Lauren Wolk
“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.”
Meet 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.