Cultural Council

By City Clerk at 9:51 am, Feb 11, 2026 Date and Time: January 6, 2026 at 6:30pm Location: Cultural Center, 37 Millyard, Gallery Unit, Amesbury, MA 01913 CALL TO ORDER - 6:30 - AJ ROLL CALL / ATTENDANCE Members Present: Ann Johnson (AJ), Margaret (ML), Amy Vander Els (AV), Bryan Riley (BR), Bailey Campbell (BC), Kristen Costa (KC) , Bonnie Brady (BB), Laura Schofield (LS), Sally Nutt (SN) Members Not Present: Ellie O’Leary (EO), Joanne Barnes (JB), Rachel Wallace (RW) Guests: Victoria Feger, Kate Slater, Woon-Chul Fisher, Lisa Usani Phillips MEETING MINUTES - 6:31 - AJ Vote: October 28 minutes - ML motion, BC second - Unanimous Vote: December 9 minutes - BB move, AV second - Unanimous ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2026 - 6:34 - AJ ML nominates AJ for co-chair in 2026 Vote: Unanimous BC nominates SN for co-chair in 2026 Vote: Unanimous AV nominates ML for secretary for 2026 Vote: Unanimous BB nominates Joanne Barnes for treasurer for 2026 Vote: Unanimous TREASURER REPORT - 6:39 - AJ Gifts account: $20,334 ● $450 encumbered poet stipends (un-submitted invoices from 2025) ● $495.95 in Poet Laureate account Grants account: $0 PUBLIC COMMENT - 6:42 Kate Slater, Exec Director of NBPT YWCA ● YMCA does much work around racial justice and social justice ● Hosting their MLK commemoration event, pairing with a day of service in line with Dr. King’s vision of community; have secured a very famous speaker, Dr. Angel Jones, with a very discounted rate, but would like to pay her fairly ● Multiple community service opportunities in Amesbury + surrounding communities ● Would ACC consider co-sponsoring the MLK Day of Service alongside PEG Center, Jeanne Geiger Center, etc.? ● Any amount will get ACC mentioned in marketing materials, mentioned in ceremony on the day of; Sally and Kate discussed possibly $500 ● BC asks if Card to Culture would apply to this program - free or discounted tickets to events for people who are on WIC, SNAP, or Medicaid - Kate will look into it - more likely to get grants from MCC ● YMCA is offering free tickets to residents of their affordable housing ● ML says $500 seems reasonable, commensurate with our lower grant awards ● AV notes that any “donation” needs to be a reimbursement - needs to be in the form of an invoice - Dr. Jones should invoice the ACC for her speaking fee ● Vote to approve $500 stipend to support the YWCA hosting Dr. Angel Jones - BR motions, BC seconds - Unanimous GRANTS REPORT - 6:57 - AJ No disputes Approval letters sent on Jan. 3 - received several thank-yous ACC Financial Report also sent to MCC on Jan. 3 We need to host the grant reception ● Could we host it at the Cultural Center? No alcohol in City spaces - SN will email Victoria to confirm ● BareWolf or Carriage Museum are available - TBD on date MARKETING REPORT - 7:01 - BC Grant awards announcement going out tomorrow on social, newsletter Need to update the member list on the website - Laura Kozlowski is done with her term CULTURAL CENTER UPDATE - 7:03 - AV Subcommittee is meeting 1/7 ● Have installed new shelving units in storage closet ● Need to work out cleaning, carry-in/carry-out, is food allowed ● Aimie Westphal is stepping down as chair, subcommittee will need a new chair ● SN - whoever is managing the space, concerned about the scheduling; AJ - it’s a town building, so we shouldn’t be responsible for the schedule; BB disagrees ● BC - we have scheduling capabilities through our website, so it’s possible from a  tech standpoint OPEN STUDIOS 2026 - 7:07 - AJ We need to pick a date - second weekend in November? Open Studios 2026: November 14 + 15 ● AJ talked to Lindsay Haight (former ONT director), she will advise us on how better to fundraise for Open Studios - she is about $100/hour ● ML - inclined to say yes, we have had many people offer to advise us but never follow through ● SN - knowledge could apply to more than just Open Studios ● AV - it’s urgent, the earlier we can meet with her, the better; start with 2 hours, then vote on additional sessions ● Vote: Approve $200 to meet with Lindsay Haight for fundraising consulting - SN motions, BC seconds - Unanimous ART @ CITY HALL - 7:13 - AJ Still in limbo, no knowledge of new City Hall space Dept. of Rec. is moving into 62 Friend St., so it may not be open to the public (CORI concerns) PUBLIC ART PROJECTS - 7:15 - AJ Emily Jewett’s Main Street mural proposal discussion and vote ● We still need to meet with her to nail down details - design, cost, building owner approval, etc. - grant requested $2,500 ● BC - if the building owner agreed, they would make up the rest of the cost ● AJ - ask her to come to the next ACC meeting to present her plan - think about what you want to ask her re: logistics, theme, design, etc. POET LAUREATE REPORT - 7:18 - BR Lisa, outgoing Poet Laureate: ● Three applicants for the next Poet Laureate, Bryan Riley was the shoo-in; project was originally his brainchild ● Reception on Jan. 25, 1-4pm at Library ● Need a public announcement - BC will coordinate BR, incoming Poet Laureate: ● Plans to stay on the council - can’t vote on matters related to stipend - will send an invoice for $1,500 stipend for ACC to pay ● Can we make Stuart Atkins (Amesbury centenarian) an honorary Poet Laureate? Has asked about the position since the program was started, unable to meet physical duties of position ● Plans for Poetry in the Pines; fundraiser at BareWolf; will read at Mayor’s ceremonial swearing-in, Jan. 13, 6pm, old City Hall; will start with bigger events, fill in with smaller events; no monthly readings until later this year NEW BUSINESS - 7:30 Juneteenth Celebration update Woon-Chul Fisher: ● has reached out to other orgs to help fund the event, but was unable to secure support before grant application was due - will ACC serve in the same role as fiscal agent? - June is a good time for us to be processing invoices, nothing else going on ● Vote: ACC to act as fiscal agent for 2026 Juneteenth event - BB motions, AJ seconds - Unanimous Discuss core values for the ACC - SN ● Need to work out exactly what we stand for - our purpose seems to be expanding the more awareness people have ● Discuss goals for 2026 at next meeting - SN drafted up a “food for thought” doc MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING - 7:46 BC - we need to revisit the idea of working groups, so people know what they’ll be doing throughout the year and where their place is ML - is there an opportunity for ACC members to talk about their strengths and goals beyond Open Studios? ● BB - We should have an orientation for new members so people aren’t as lost when they join ● AV - Having the Cultural Center might help people see how they can help ● BC - Want to solidify roles so people see clear opportunities for their skills ● ML - Want to give ppl a chance to express their individual goals for being on the ACC BB - will be doing botanical gel printing at Carriage Museum, Jan. 13, 6pm BB - attended an event at ECCF for grant applicants, became an interesting discussion of their work and goals ● Cultural District was brought up, Amesbury needs to revisit that idea REVIEW UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES - SN Jan 7, 6:30pm, Cultural Center subcommittee meeting Jan 25, 1-4pm, Poet Laureate reception @ Library Feb 3, 6:30pm, next ACC meeting Adjourn - 7:52 - AJ BC motions, AV seconds - Unanimous Margaret Leahy, 2/10/26