WORCESTER — The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is accepting applications for a new program designed to help artists of color and those who identify as low-to-moderate income navigate the post-pandemic cultural sector. 

Called “The Business of Art,” the program consists of five workshops run by MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists team of artist-entrepreneurs, who also provide one-on-one coaching. According to a release from GWCF, The Business of Art workshops, “will cover a range of topics such as developing a strategic business plan, applying for grants, understanding the basics of taxes and financial planning for artists, decolonizing your creative practice, and more.”

Successful applicants will also have social media support for one to two projects from GWCF’s social media accounts and they’ll receive a $1,000 grant upon successful completion of the program. 

“The cultural sector continues to feel the economic pains of the pandemic, and low-income artists and artists of color are among those who feel the impacts acutely,” said Carolyn Stempler, GWCF’s interim president and CEO. “This program, an innovative new element of our Creative Worcester Initiative, is infusing the cultural sector with financial resources and expert support to address inequities and to fully recognize the arts as a vital community asset.”

The program will run from November 2021 through May 2022. It’s being funded by GWCF’s Creative Worcester Initiative and the Barr Foundation. 

The Barr Foundation is a Boston-based private foundation that provides grants to nonprofits and the public and private sector in order to elevate the arts, put an end to climate change and enhance education in New England and beyond.

GWCF will be accepting applications to The Business of Art until Oct. 18. For more information, please contact Lindiana Semidei at Lsemidei@greaterworcester.org or 508-755-0980 ext. 107.