2020-11-30 Cultural Council Minutes

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Town of Reading ; t -EIVEUTC',I/N CLERK Meeting Minutes R '- A ' ' `, , MA W21 OU 29 PM 2: 32 Board - committee - commission - council: Cultural Council Date: 2020-11-30 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Mary Ann Kozlowski, Nora Bucko, Megan Fidler-Carey, Brian Kimerer, Kathy Natale, Megan Fidler-Carey, Kern Perry, Bharti Joy Paris, )ane Soloway Members - Not Present: , Michael Duncan Smith Others Present: Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Katherine Lopez Natale Topics of Discussion: This meeting was conducted via ZOOM due to the Corona Virus Pandemic restrictions for social distancing. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. Minutes of the October meeting were reviewed, amended, and approved. The treasurer reported that, in addition to the $8000 given by the town for cultural grants, the total remaining in the RCC account that is encumbered for previously approved grants is $4173.73. An additional $3968.23 in interest remained in the account as well, accounting for a total of $8141.96. The town grant must be used by June 30 2021 or returned to the town. The Reading Community Concert Band is the only outstanding grantee that has not submitted a revised completion deadline. A wide ranging discussion ensued about grants, interviews, and other needed actions for next year's grants. The Massachusetts Cultural Council representative expressed optimism to a council member that the state budget would be passed soon and that grants awarded to local councils should be similar in amount to those of last year. The number of local grant applications submitted is lower than last year. Brian Kimerer has sent out an email to our mailing list notifying all that the deadline has been extended for a second time, now to December 14'h. Nora Bucko has also been able to post the new deadline on the town common. The MCC is encouraging potential applicants to think creatively about grants. The Reading council discussed how to encourage citizens to submit more applications despite the limitations imposed by COVID. Among the suggestions that might be given to tentative applicants were: use of Zoom for art lessons or one-act plays for a drama day, art supplies for an online exposition, speakers for English or history classes for example who could supplement or provide the foundation of a unit, classroom materials to support such a Page 1 1