creative county initiative
grants
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, CCI’s 2020 Partnership grant cycle is postponed until further notice. The CCI Steering Committee and ECCF staff are committed to supporting the arts and culture community of Essex County during this crisis.
our commitment
Through 2022, ECCF will invest over $400,000 in new collaborative placemaking and public art projects encouraging partnerships between the arts, municipal, business, and philanthropic sectors.
our goals for creative county grants
- Deepen engagement and investment in the creative sector
- Enhance the visibility, reputation and new funding avenues for the arts
- Inspire collaborative placemaking and public art projects by providing tools, templates, and best practices
- Increase capacity for cross-sector work and leadership development
meet the creative county initiative phase 1 grantees
In 2019 ECCF invested more than $300,000 in the 12 collaborative art and culture projects below. Learn more.

ECCF’s Creative County work is powered by the contributions of our generous community.
arts and culture
news
Lights, History, Agriculture! ECCF Funds Six New Public Art Projects
Merrimack Valley photographers, writers and people seeking calm have probably found themselves at some point on the edge of the Spicket River in Methuen, where Essex County’s only natural waterfall – which once powered 19th century textile mills – drops 100 feet and tumbles over a bed of rocks on its way to the Merrimack in Lawrence.
May 20 | Assets for Artists – Making a Plan in a Time of Uncertainty
with Laura Baring-Gould Thursdays, May 20 & 27 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm This free TWO-PART workshop is only open to artists who currently reside in Essex County and is in partnership with Assets for Artists. Learn more and register.
Apr. 7 | Assets for Artists – The Art of Licensing
with Allison Cole Wednesday, April 7 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm This free workshop is only open to artists who currently reside in Essex County and is in partnership with Assets for Artists. Learn more and register.
Mar. 17 | Assets for Artists – Taxes for Artists
with Amy Smith Wednesday, March 17 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm This free workshop is only open to artists who currently reside in Essex County and is in partnership with Assets for Artists. Learn more and register.
Creative County Monthly Meet Ups
Creative County Initiative Monthly Meet Ups Hosted by Karen Ristuben, Program Director for the Creative County Initiative and John Andrews, founder of Creative Collective MA These monthly Meet Ups are a casual opportunity to meet your creative peers for both open...
get in touch

Karen Ristuben
Program Director
Creative County Initiative
k.ristuben@eccf.org
community voices
“The work of ECCF’s Creative County Initiative to illuminate the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, provide funding for the Lawrence Public Library mural project, and support Iluminaçion Lawrence overall is a powerful catalyst to celebrate the city’s spirit of resilience and incredible sense of community.”
– MAYOR DAN RIVERA, CITY OF LAWRENCE
how can we help?
We would love to hear from you.