The Neighborhood Activation Grant (NAG) program, offered through the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC) in Boston, supports community-driven arts, cultural, and creative activations in public spaces across the city. The program is rooted in MOAC’s belief that artists play an essential role in cultivating healthy, thriving communities and that access to artistic expression is a right for all residents. In its fifth round, this grant aims to fund creative public experiences that foster community wellbeing and contribute to placemaking throughout Boston neighborhoods.

Eligible applicants include individual artists, cultural workers, nonprofit arts organizations, and community groups with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. All applicants must have a strong relationship to the Boston community in which the project will occur and cannot have received more than $20,000 from previous rounds of this grant. The proposed projects must take place within the City of Boston, be free and open to the public, have a specific and identified location, and be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Additionally, applicants must submit a plan to evaluate and communicate the project’s public impact.

A creative activation is defined for this grant as an arts or cultural event in a publicly accessible space that contributes to placemaking and community vibrancy. Projects may include site-specific performance art, immersive installations, festivals, public dialogues centering arts, and similar experiences. Strong proposals will transform space, highlight community identity, incorporate multiple creative disciplines, and meaningfully engage local residents.

Funding will be awarded in tiers: Cultural Festivals at $5,000; Small-Scale Activations up to $10,000; Mid-Scale Activations I up to $15,000; and Mid-Scale Activations II up to $20,000. While the total funding available is $200,000, only five grants will be awarded at the $20,000 level due to high competitiveness. Cultural Festival applicants will also be automatically considered for the Cultural Affairs Grant Program, although grantees can only receive funding from one program.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2025, and projects must occur between July 7, 2025, and July 1, 2026. Applications will be reviewed by a diverse Grant Review Committee made up of MOAC staff and Boston community members. The application process is hosted through Submittable and includes virtual office hours on April 24 and April 30 for applicant support. Payment for approved grants may take up to 30 days after approval, with disbursements for grants over $10,000 occurring in at least two installments.

Applicants must also secure appropriate permits independently and are encouraged to create inclusive and youth-engaged experiences, prioritize historically underserved neighborhoods (e.g., Mattapan, Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park, East Boston, and Chinatown), and develop authentic community partnerships. Ineligible applicants include those receiving over $20,000 in past rounds, FY25 Opportunity Fund recipients (if selected for both grants), and those proposing commercial, ticketed, religious, or pre-July 2025 events.