HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-09 Cultural Council Minutes rrA4 Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
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Cultural Council UO AL
Date: 2019-12-09 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Arts and Crafts Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Donna Schenkel, Mary Ann Kozlowski, Nora Bucko, Brian Kimerer, Jane
Soloway, Nancy Ziemlak, Kathy Natale, Rosemary Lewis
Members - Not Present:
Megan Fidler-Carey
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Rosemary Lewis
Topics of Discussion:
Call to order at 6:35 pm.
Minutes were approved.
Treasurer's report was presented by Jane. She had received statements through October 31, 2019.
There are 4 grants from last cycle remaining to be paid—Color and Sound, Reading Art, Reading
Community Singers and NE School of Ballet. The balance in our account is $12,426.52 plus the $5000
from the town ($17, 426). Some money is set aside for administrative purposes. Money available for
grant awards is $15,200. There was discussion about whether we need to award all the money
available or whether some can be carried over. Jane stated that we must use the money from the
town first to ensure that we will be able to receive it again in the future. Other funds can be carried
over.
After deliberation, the following grants were awarded, with members recusing themselves during
voting when necessary for conflict of interest reasons, (ie. Brian has involvement with the Art Walk;
Norah and Rosemary have involvement with Irish Set Dancing.) The following is a list of the grants
approved:
Reading Community Singers Holiday Concert $ 1,605
Killam Susan Hood Author Visit 750
Senior Center The First Lady performance 283
Colonial Faire at Parker Tavern 700
Reading Concert Band Spring Art-Themed Concert 500
Birch Meadow Poet-in Residence 2,000
The Ivy Chord Coffee House 800
Coolidge Science Olympiad 600
Reading Porchfest 500
Arts Reading Discover The Arts Day Cultural Festival 277
Downtown Reading Art Walk 500
Killam 3'" Grade Field Trip to Decordova 530
No Suburban CFRN Hula La Family Concert 660
New England School of Ballet 2019 Fall Series 600
Reading Irish Set Dancing 500
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Killam 500 Celebration 500
New Repertory Theater Romeo and Juliet 450
Total $11,755
The following applications were considered to be disqualified due to having no set date/venue or being
outside of the current grant cycle's timeframe:
The Box from the Future Puzzled Escape Games
Hofbrauhause Bavarian Band
Reading Art Association Spring, 2019 Art Exhibit
RESS In the Eyes of Another Film Production
Donna reported that the denial letters will be mailed next week and we have to wait 2 weeks in case
of appeals. Award letters are sent out in early January. Our next meeting is scheduled for January 6,
2020.
There was discussion about whether we should present at a Select Board Meeting again. While it was
well received last year, we might want to consider presenting every other year. Brian will talk to Anne
Landry, our liaison to get some feedback.
Nancy brought up the idea of the Council funding some projects for the town. Suggestions included
painting electric boxes around town, or a"Know Your Town' publication. We will discuss further at
future meetings.
Donna mentioned recruitment for new members, as there will be three vacancies come July, 2020.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:52.
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