Cultural Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 07 2023 9:58 am FITCHBURG CULTURAL COUNCIL MINUTES MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022 IDEALAB, 717 MAIN STREET 4:30 PM In attendance: Tamar Russell Brown, Audrey Pendleton-Chow, Liz Murphy, A.J. Tourigny, Eileen Berger, Shara Osgood, Joe Bowen (ex-officio) Call to Order: Tamar called the meeting to order at 4:42 pm. New Membership: Treasurer’s Report: Grant Coordinator’s Report: FATV Grant Reviews Public Comment: - Monique Gutherie - requesting funding from fiscal year 2022, FPS Community Resource Guide (FY22-LCC-12879), a project in honor of Sam Godin. She overextended herself over the past year. June 30th deadline would give her adequate time to complete the project. - Eileen: Motion to extend to June 30th, 2023; seconded by Liz. - All in favor: 6 - Opposed: 0 - Application FY23-LCC-46565: First Thursday Live Painting Days - Shara: Is the funding being used to hire other artists or pay for labor for yourself? - Monique: for herself. - Liz: Will you be on the clock for inTown while you do this project? - Monique: No - Eileen motioned to move application 46565 forward for funding, seconded by Liz. - All in favor: 6 1  - Opposed: 0 - Application 34350: Film & Media Career Pathway: Bridging the Opportunity Divide for Underestimated Diverse Youth - Joe: We are entertaining a new motion on this application. - Eileen motioned to move application 34350 forward for funding, seconded by Liz. - Speaking to the motion: Audrey: Add a provision that they add a Fitchburg commitment letter. Eileen: worried about who the applicant is, and what exactly they would be doing with this project. Liz: Need clarification if there is a physical presence at the school. Shara: worried about other financing they have included in the application. Audrey: they are only requesting $1000. Eileen withdraw motion - Shara made a motion to move application 34350 forward for funding, with a provision that the applicant gets a letter of support, seconded by Liz. - In favor: 5 - Abstain: 1, Eileen. - Applications 38693 & 43530: First Thursday Free Art Workshop Series 1 & 2; 3 & 4 - Speaking to the application: Shara, I am a member of FCA and Main Street Studios. Although FCA has yet to receive a letter of support from the venue, the Director approves hosting the events here at the venue. - Audrey: why did you not make this one application? Shara: there were projects she absolutely wanted to do, and she recognizes there is limited funding. - Shara recused herself from the room. - Motion to 38693 & 43530 forward for funding, made by Eileen, seconded by Liz. - Speaking to the motion: Audrey: it would be easier if Shara made one application. Liz: I have a similar thought. We should look at the applications separately. Joe: It is important to note that it is not unusual for the FCC to have several applications from one artist, and this vote is only on qualifications. - In favor: 6 - Opposed: 0 - Application 34494: Accessible Art Studio - Motion to move application 34494 forward for funding made by Eileen, seconded by A.J. - In favor: 6 - Opposed:0 2 - Application 46742: Marion Rice Dance Legacy Project - Motion to move application 46742 forward for funding made by A.J., seconded by Liz. - Speaking to the motion: Audrey: I went to Ashby Public Library to see the exhibit. We have approved previous grants for this project. Curious about what she is adding each year and whether the project provides enough public benefit. - All in favor: 5 - Opposed 1, Audrey - Application 38614: Women in the Visual Arts - Motion to move application 38614 forward for funding made by Liz, seconded by Eileen, - Speaking to the motion: Tamar, great organization - will be making it - In favor 6 - Opposed: 0 - Application 42313: Sizer Band Club - Motion to move application 42313 forward for funding made by A.J., seconded by Audrey - Speaking to the motion: - In favor: 5 - Opposed: 0 - Abstain: 1, Shara - Application 26198: Kids Fine Art Class Scholarships - Motion to move application 26198 forward for funding made by Shara, seconded by Audrey - Speaking to the motion: Audrey, a Leominster business, but they will be servicing Fitchburg people. Joe: Stacy is a Fitchburg resident. She held her business in Fitchburg for 11 years before she grew too much. Excellent educator. - In favor: 6 - Opposed: 0 - Application 35603: Outcomes - Motion to move application 35603 forward for funding, with the provision of having a local letter of support made by Audrey, seconded by Eileen - Speaking to the motion: Shara, this application is very vague. - In favor: 0 - Opposed: 6 - Application: 34074: Godspell - Motion to move application 34074 forward for funding made by Eileen, seconded by Audrey. 3  - Speaking to the motion: Shara, it may have religious content. Audrey, curious about the participation fee. Others clarified this is common practice for costume fees, etc. - In favor: 2 - Opposed: 4 - Application 40745: Jekyll and Hyde - Motion to move application 40745 forward for funding, with a venue commitment letter made by Shara, seconded by Eileen. - Speaking to the motion: Audrey clarified the theater is at Monty Tech - In favor: 6 - Opposed: 0 - Application 35768: Swan Hope Press 2023 Projects - Motion to move application 35768 forward for funding made by Shara, seconded by Eileen - Speaking to the motion: Audrey, did they finish the 2022 application confirming completion of the projects included in that application? Eileen, yes. - In favor: 6 - Opposed: 0 - A.J. Tourigny left the meeting at 5:30 pm. Audrey Pendleton-Chow takes over the minutes. - Application 36785: Stratton Players 98th Season - Motion to move application 36785 forward for funding made by Eileen, seconded by Shara - Motion passes. - Application 37859: A Concert of New England Women Composers - Motion to move application 37859 forward for funding, with the provision of having a venue letter of commitment made by Shara, seconded by Liz - Speaking to the motion: No venue commitment letter from Rollstone Church, but Eileen vouched the approval from Rollstone Church. - Motion passes. - Application 45752: JazzConcert series - Motion to move application 45752 forward for funding made by Eileen, seconded by Shara - Motion passes. - Application 46198: Free or discounted music lesson - Motion to move application 46198 forward for funding made by Shara, seconded by Audrey 4  - Speaking to the motion: We have supported this program by Eddy of Eddy’s Music in previous years. Not the same as the “Music For Youth” program. - Motion passes. - Application 38985: Artist Appreciation Runway Showcase & Exhibit Event - Audrey, no venue commitment letter, but it’s at her own studio. Liz, but it’s in the parking lot. Knowing that space, she’ll need to get the approval of her landlord. - Motion to move application 38985 forward for funding, with the provision of having a venue letter of commitment made by Eileen, seconded by Audrey - Motion passes. - Application 35489: Music Therapy - Motion to move application 35489 forward for funding made by Eileen, seconded by Liz - Speaking to the motion: Discussion on whether we are funding group therapy or if the artistic elements of art therapy and the different modalities warrants eligibility. Letter of support by Fitchburg client provided and the benefit of the free programs provided by this cancer support center. - Motion passes. - Application 35506: Writing Your Way Through Cancer - Motion to move application 35506 forward for funding made by Eileen, seconded by Liz - Speaking to the motion: Letter of support by Fitchburg client provided and the benefit of the free programs provided by this cancer support center. - Motion passes. - Application 39099: Live Music Making History Live - Motion to move application 39099 forward for funding, with the provision of having a venue letter of commitment made by Audrey, seconded by Eileen. - Speaking to the motion: Applicant is not local. The location is “TBD.” The application makes no reference to Fitchburg. - Motion fails. Doesn’t meet local criteria. - Application 27824: Mental Health Event - Motion to move application 27824 forward for funding, with the provision of having a venue letter of commitment made by Eileen, seconded by Liz. - Speaking to the motion: No Venue Commitment letter, only for religious groups. Could be religious, could be political. Only for specific groups. Not enough public benefit. - Motion fails due LCC eligibility requirements. - Application 30687: 2023 Winchendon Music Festival, Inc. 5  - Motion to move application 30687 forward for funding by Audrey, seconded by Shara - Speaking to the motion: Program is in Winchendon, not in Fitchburg. Applies every year. Organizers have ignored previous suggestions to have a festival in Fitchburg. - Motion fails. - Application 36938: New England Sax/Wind Quartet - Motion to move application 36938 forward for funding, with the provision of having a venue letter of commitment made by Shara, seconded by Audrey - Motion passes. - Application 40922: Worcester Chamber Music Society “Swept Away” -- Free Tickets for Town Residents - Motion to move application 40922 forward for funding by Shara, seconded by Audrey - Speaking to the motion: The Fitchburg Art Museum has hosted a performance by the Worcester Chamber Music Society (which we funded) last year and Fitchburg residents were able to claim limited free tickets. Unsure how widely publicized it was. The application smartly includes the email correspondence between them and the Fitchburg Art Museum confirming the concert. - Motion passes. - Application 28241: Johnny Cash - Songs and Stories - Motion to move application 40922 forward for funding by Shara, seconded by Eileen. - Speaking to the motion: The location says “Flint Library,” but the applicant did include a commitment letter by Ashley Kenney, Public Services Supervisor of the Fitchburg Public Library and explicitly mentions Ashley in the application. We have funded this performer at the Fitchburg Public Library in the past. Applicant indicates a plan B to perform at the COA if the Library is under renovations, but is confident in being able to coordinate with the library. - Motion passes. Adjournment: 6:03 pm. Motion made by Eileen, seconded by Liz - In favor: 5 - Opposed: 0 6