HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-23 Cultural Council Minutes Town of Reading
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Cultural Council
Date: 2017-10-23 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Public Library Location: Meeting Room
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: Business Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Donna Schenkel, Nancy Ziemlak, Mary Ann, Beth Mosier, ]ane Soloway,
Rosemary Lewis
Members - Not Present:
Nora Bucko
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Rosemary Lewis
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was called to order by Donna Schenkel at 7:05 pm in the Arts and Crafts Room
of the Senior Center.
Minutes were reviewed and approved by all.
Administrative
Officers will remain unchanged: Donna Chair, Jane Treasurer, Mary Ann Publicity,
Rosemary Secretary.
Schedule of upcoming meeting reviewed:
November 6 Meeting with applicants
December 11 Voting meeting
January 8
Mar 5
April 2
May 7 Reception
Nancy will contact applicants and arrange interview schedule.
Brief discussion about changes to the grant application rules, including the fact that
grants can be for capital equipment this year.
Annual Survey/Publicity
Mary Ann prepared a summary of the survey findings which will be sent to Board of
Selectmen, Town Manager and as a press release.
Finances
Jane presented the Treasurer's report. Our grant money for FY18 will be $6437.00,
with $300 for administrative use. There are still 3 outstanding grants from last year that
have not been paid out. Two have submitted for reimbursement. Wood End has still
not submitted their request for reimbursement. Jane has contact them several times.
New Grants:
Donna reported we will have about 20 applications for grants.
There was a long discussion about whether or not we should, as a local council, apply
for a grant and produce a program of our own or in conjunction with another community
group, that would bring people together and support the arts in the town. After
consideration of many views, it was decided that we could better serve the community
by encouraging other groups to apply for grants and present programs that enhance the
cultural climate of Reading.
Donna and Rosemary talked about the Community Conversation sponsored by Senator
Jason Lewis on Tue. September 26, 2017. It was not very well attended, but there were
several interesting take-aways. Most impressive was the statistic that investment in the
Arts in Massachusetts communities affords a 7/1 economic investment. When people
get out to events, they end up patronizing restaurants and stores which supports local
business. MCC has many programs in addition to the local funding that can help
groups with various activities. We should be sure to remind our grant applicants to look
into those as well as our Reading grants. Wakefield has initiated a Cultural Exchange
that give the Arts a place, as well as impetus for holding regular community events that
support cultural activities.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.