Lowell – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) yesterday began accepting proposals for Arts Elevate: Embedded Community Artist Grants. This new funding opportunity supporting nonprofits in Greater Lowell seeking to partner with professional artists to create sustained, relationship-centered creative programming that supports youth wellness, emotional expression, and belonging.
GLCF will award eight grants of $10,000 each. Eligible nonprofits serve youth in one or more of GLCF’s 21 service communities and partner with a professional artist committed to a minimum of eight hours per week on-site for at least ten weeks during the grant period.
“Arts Elevate grew from a simple but powerful idea,” said Jennifer Aradhya, Founder of Arts Elevate and VP of Marketing, Programs & Strategy at GLCF. “When young people engage in creative expression within trusted community spaces, transformation follows. They discover what they’re capable of. They find where they belong. They realize they have something meaningful to offer the world.”
About This Grant Cycle
Grantees will receive the Arts Elevate Embedded Community Artist Toolkit—a comprehensive implementation guide based on pilot learnings. All funded programs must utilize the toolkit and conduct pre- and post-program evaluations using the Arts Elevate Outcomes Framework to measure wellness, creative confidence, belonging, and emotional growth.
Key Requirements:
- Professional artist partner from GLCF’s 21 communities (preference given to artists in the Arts Elevate Embedded Artist Directory)
- Minimum eight hours per week on-site for at least ten weeks
- Dedicated space for program activities
- Use of the Arts Elevate Toolkit
- Pre- and post-program evaluation as a reporting condition
Timeline & Next Steps
Grant applications opened Monday, October 5, 2026, and close Thursday, November 5, 2026. Organizations interested in learning more are invited to attend a virtual information session on Friday, October 16, at 11 a.m. RSVP to link or email Keene Quiros at keene@glcfoundation.org.
“We are excited to expand this important work from our four original pilot sites to an additional eight organizations,” said Jes O’Hearn, Director of Arts Initiatives at GLCF. “Each new partnership strengthens our creative wellness ecosystem across Greater Lowell, bringing more artists into direct relationship with the young people who need this work most.”
Interested nonprofits can access the full grant guidelines and application at glcfoundation.org. Questions should be directed to Jes O’Hearn, Director of Arts Initiatives at jessica@glcfoundation.org.
Arts Elevate was developed with lead funding from the Barr Foundation through its Creative Commonwealth Initiative.
