Mass Humanities Announces 2024 Funding Opportunities

11:34AM / Sunday, January 21, 2024Print Story | Email Story

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Humanities, the Commonwealth's leading funder of humanities programs, announced upcoming opportunities for its 2024 grant season.

Application materials for Expand Massachusetts Stories (EMS) grants are available now on the website, with the application window opening on February 5.

EMS grants support projects that collect, interpret, and share stories about the Commonwealth. Special consideration is given to humanities programming, events, and creative works that emphasize the voices and experiences of residents that too often go unrecognized, or have been excluded from public conversation and public history.

This year, Mass Humanities is offering a new grant track for projects that explore different aspects of climate change. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $20,000 for projects that illuminate community knowledge, experiences, and values in response to the climate crisis. Organizations interested in applying for a grant can now choose between the Climate Change Track, Advancing Equity Track, and Open Track.

"We believe that the humanities are crucial to confronting the complex challenges facing every human and every community," said Brian Boyles, executive director of Mass Humanities. "At this pivotal time in our nation, Mass Humanities supports storytellers and changemakers who bring people together to listen, share and imagine a better future. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2024, we look forward to hearing their ideas and celebrating their work."

Mass Humanities launched the EMS initiative in 2021 with the support of Mass Cultural Council and the Barr Foundation. Since then, Mass Humanities has distributed more than $1.8 million to projects across the state that included audio tours, documentary films, oral histories, public events, and archival research.

"Every creative community has a compelling story to tell," said Michael J. Bobbitt, executive director of the Mass Cultural Council. "Today's EMS grant recipients are about to inspire us all through these conversations. I cannot wait to experience, learn and engage with them. Mass Cultural Council is proud to partner with and support Mass Humanities in this effort, which ensures these types of important dialogue happen in Massachusetts."

In 2023, Mass Humanities awarded $751,357 in EMS grants to 42 cultural nonprofit organizations from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. The majority of funds went to organizations receiving their first Mass Humanities grant, while people of color lead 67 percent of the supported projects, and 65 percent of the organizations had annual operating budgets of less than $300,000.

Eligibility requirements and grant guidelines can be viewed on the Mass Humanities grants website. Resources are available in both English and Spanish.

For more information regarding Expanding Massachusetts Stories grants, contact Katherine Stevens, Director of Grants and Programs, at grants@masshumanities.org.

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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