Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance (or financial aid) for classes and workshops is available for all individuals and families throughout the year.
The Brookline Arts Center is pleased to participate in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program by extending discounts to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare discount cardholders. Through the Card to Culture program, individuals and families with an EBT or MassWIC Card automatically qualify for tuition assistance and do not require submitting a 1040 Income Tax Form or equivalent form. Simply upload an image of your card in the form below to qualify for tuition assistance.
Anyone with a Massachusetts-issued EBT card or MassWIC card, or a ConnectorCare Health Insurance card can get reduced or free admission into cultural organizations across the Commonwealth.
Eligibility
Tuition assistance is generally available to households whose adjusted gross income falls at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) based on City of Boston HUD guidelines.
However, 80% AMI serves as a guideline rather than a strict cutoff. We understand that financial hardship does not always align neatly with income brackets. Households experiencing job loss, medical expenses, caregiving responsibilities, or other significant life events are encouraged to apply even if income exceeds 80% AMI. All applications are reviewed individually in the context of available funds.
Income Information & Documentation
Applicants are asked to:
- Self-report household income
- Indicate the portion of tuition they are able to contribute
- Submit proof of household income once per fiscal year (September–August)
Acceptable documentation includes:
- Most recent W-2 form
- Most recent 1040 (first page only)
- Recent pay stub
- EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card
Please redact sensitive information such as Social Security numbers or bank account numbers before submitting documents. All financial information is kept confidential and used solely to determine tuition assistance eligibility.
Apply for Tuition Assistance
- Spring 2026 applications will be processed between March–April.
- Summer 2026 applications will be processed between May–June.
To apply:
- Complete the Tuition Assistance Application for the upcoming season (linked below)
- Indicate the portion of tuition your household is able to contribute.
- Submit required income documentation.
Applicants may select the tuition amount they are able to pay:
- 80% of tuition
- 50% of tuition
- 30% of tuition
- A different amount based on household circumstances
- I am unable to contribute at this time
You will be asked to upload one of the following:
- Most recent W-2
- First page of 1040
- Recent pay stub
- EBT/WIC/ConnectorCare card
Documentation is required once per fiscal year (August 2025 - September 2026) unless circumstances have changed
Important Notes
- Tuition assistance is awarded based on demonstrated need, available funds, and program capacity.
- Please allow up to six weeks for processing.
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Tuition Assistance requests can be fulfilled up to 2 weeks after the start date of the session if space permits. Until then, we ask for your patience while we work to place students in their requested classes.
- Due to limited funding, not all eligible requests can be approved.
- If approved, you will receive a code to apply during checkout.
- Please do not register for a class before receiving approval. We cannot fully reimburse tuition paid prior to assistance approval.
- Tuition assistance for Ceramics & Jewelry is granted once per individual per fiscal year (September–August).
- Spring 2026 applications will be processed between March–April.
- Summer 2026 applications will be processed between May–June.
Our Commitment
We believe that access to arts education strengthens our community. We are committed to reducing financial barriers while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our programs.
We believe that access to arts education and programming should be available to everyone. Annually, the BAC grants over $40,000 in financial aid. We need your help to continue and expand this program. If you would like to help by sponsoring an individual or family, please contact our office at 617-566-5715.