Cultural Council

By City Clerk at 9:43 am, Feb 22, 2024 January 9th, 2024 6:30pm-8:30pm Usually Meets 1st Tuesday of Every Month WELCOME 6:33 pm Margaret welcomes everyone at the Cultural Center. Call to order. ML does the ROLL CALL: Members Present: Margaret Leahy co-Chair(ML), Ann Johnson(AJ), Brian Riley(BR) Amy Vander Els, co-Chair(AV), Randy Herman(RH), Sally Nutt(SN), Aimie Westphal, Library Director (Liaison)Laura Kozlowski (LK), Madison Barnes(MB) Absent: John Moynihan(JM) Approval of December minutes: ML motions, AV seconds, unanimous Public Comment:N/A no one in audience 6:45pm Treasurer report (ML): still haven’t received MCC grant but we still have, 25,578.59 is our gift account. Should be getting 2500 from MCC. 3615.27 is our grant account. Still have 4 outstanding grant recipients from 2023, ML sent out a reminder this weekend so waiting to hear back. If they don’t submit for reimbursement does the money go back into our account? Poet Laureate stipend of 500 due, ML motion to pay 500 to Whittier Home. BR seconds, Unanimous. Treasurer’s Annual dues of 200 due as well, ML makes a motion to pay 200, SN seconds,Unanimous. 6:50 Grant Report: 20 people were sent approval letters(form letters) but now ML will send out the detailed and personal letters. Denials were sent out, no contesting. Direct grant discussion with city hall, but city doesn’t pay for services not yet rendered but there are cities that do direct grants. Looking further into this since it will be less of a burden for treasurer and it will open the grant applications to a broader financial range of artists. 6:52pm Marketing report: (ML) We purchased 4 ½ page ad space in the Amesbury Merchant, for the next one due 1/15 we will give a brief overview of PL program and info on the next artist mixer. Include a poem from the Mayor’s inauguration. ML motion to feature Poet Laureate in next advertisement, SN seconds, Unanimous. 6:58pm Art at City Hall Report:(AJ) Beauty around us in Essex county is the next theme and Feb 2nd will hang the show. Opening Feb 7 5-6pm. This one runs until May 2nd. 7:05pm Poet Laureate Report:(BR) Lisa Phillips is the new PL, she is published and has a great resume, a great choice. Lives in Amesbury. Inauguration of Lisa is Sunday. Chairs : Peter and Chris Bryant will have a zoom and invite only reception at the Whittier home. 7:10pm Public Art: Whitney Dellea artist had asked for a grant of 3,000 but we denied her since there are too many unknowns. We do want to support her. AV and ML met with her yesterday to discuss. Some questions, who owns the concrete, do we call for art for the panels in the tunnel? Do we have a theme? Looking into next steps, ie. liability, contacting DPW,.... 7:20pm Officer Elections: •Chair/Co chair: ML nominates Sally Nut, BR seconds, Unanimous • Co Chair: ML nominates Ann Johnson, BR seconds, Unanimous •Treasurer: ML nominates Amy Vander Els, AJ seconds, Unanimous •Secretary: ML nominates Laura Kozlowski, BR seconds, Unanimous 7:26pm Artist Mixer Barewolf brewery, 3rd Thursday is non profit night. Feb 22 6-8pm invite PL (Lisa) and have her do a reading. Mention studio tour is looking for volunteers. Put this info into the Merchant on 1/15 Next meeting date: Feb 6, and will find a location to meet prior to date. Calendar reminders for the 11 months so everyone will have them in their calendars ahead of time. 7:45pm Motion to Adjourn, ML, MB seconds, Unanimous. Laura b. Kozlowski