Cultural Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Jan 22 2024 8:36 am FITCHBURG CULTURAL COUNCIL MINUTES MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2023 HELD OVER ZOOM 4:30 PM In attendance: Tamar Russell-Brown, Audrey Pendleton-Chow, Elizabeth “Liz” Murphy, Shara Osgood, Ellen Daoust (left meeting at 5:36pm), A.J. Tourigny (joined at 5:36pm) Call to order: Tamar called the meeting to order at 4:37 pm Local Cultural Council of Fitchburg Discussing Grants Publicly: ● FY24-LCC-65517 - Greatness Unleashed Mental Health Festival - Kimatra Maxwell in attendance to give more information about the festival and potential partnership with Fitchburg State University. ○ Motion made to approve by Audrey, with a second made by Ellen ■ Speaking to the motion - Joe, The applicant is welcome to reapply for next year could also do this event as early as July 1 to qualify for funding. ■ Shara - wants to approve but doesn’t have a letter of support. ■ Liz - Kimatara is listed as a strong support partner ■ Audrey withdraws motion and Kimatara sends an email for a letter of support ■ Kimata sends letter of support during meeting ● FY24 LCC 63041 Fresh Film Company - Kelli Feigley from Fresh Films explains the project. Afterschool program for fundamentals of film and video held at Fitchburg High ○ Motion made to approve by Liz, with a second made by Shara ○ All in favor: 5 ○ Opposed: 0 ○ Audrey - please tag FCC on instagram and Facebook and we will share it. ○ Kelli - can you send updated logo and socials so that the marketing person can share ● FY24 LCC 71598 TreeHouse Music Education Project - Pastor Annie gives more detail on the project. Has nothing to do with religion and it’s a secular program. ○ Shara - how do children get involved with this program? ○ Pastor - Outreach through tables, word of mouth, some social media, asks DCF for families (can’t take picture of these children). DCF provide about 5 families. Participants' mathematical skills and reading skills go up. Pastor asks for report cards. Doing the program since 2012. Young people go onto marching bands etc. ○ Motion made to approve by Shara, with a second made by Ellen ○ All in favor: 5  ○ Opposed: 0 ● FY24-LCC-65517 - Greatness Unleashed Mental Health Festival - Kimatra Maxwell sends letter of support ○ Motion made to approve by Audrey, with a second made by Shara ○ All in favor: 5 ○ Opposed: 0 ● FY24 LCC 64502 - StoryCraft: Mastering - received letter of support from FAM ○ Motion made to approve by Shara, with a second made by Audrey ○ All in favor: 5 ○ Opposed: 0 ● FY24 LCC 62149 Econuclear Solutions - applicant from Ayer. They weren’t able to get an official letter of support. Audrey called FAM (Susan), and asked Susan to send a written letter of support. Waiting to talk about FY24 LCC 62149 until the end of the meeting. ● FY24 LCC 72307 - Alignment Activation Tea Party ○ Audrey - Tiana sent a final report for 2023. She didn’t send an expense report but sent a statement of expenses. Audrey asked for a condensed expense report. We need clarification on sliding scale expenses for participation. ○ Motion made to approve by Liz, with a second made by Shara ○ Shara – Likes the idea of the program but the ticket price is high for the price of the program. ○ Liz - most of the programs we fund are free, this isn’t free. ○ Ellen - amount of folks served doesn’t match up with what’s be asked ○ Joe - in line with other members of the council not understanding how the money is going to be spent ○ Application denied – Not enough public benefit compared to others. ● FY24 LCC 63520 Johnny Appleseed ○ Motion made to approve by Audrey, with a second made by Shara ○ Audrey - we held off on this because of the final report. Audrey has questions. Voting on grant for art exhibit, but not seeing much about art exhibit. Screen shared correspondence with Travis. ○ Liz - should we ask them to put our events at their center? Can they highlight the cultural council events? Struggle with where the community benefit is to Fitchburg. ○ Shara - what Liz said is valid. What would be beneficial is if they are promoting events in the region and promoting Fitchburg in that. ○ Audrey - they have included local artists  ○ Joe - visitor center is there to provide promotion to the region. If we could give them Fitchburg orientated things to explore that could be beneficial. Good partnership to build ○ Liz - most of the other municipalities help fund the center ○ All in favor: 5 ○ Opposed: 0 ~ 5:36pm Ellen leave meeting – AJ picks up minutes ● FY24 LCC 62149 Eco Nuclear Solutions: Split an Atom Save a Tree. - Out of town and needed a letter. Do not have an official letter of support from FAM. Other key organizers are from out of town. ○ Motion made to approve by Liz, with a second made by Audrey ○ Joe - Looks like project is already underway ○ All in favor: 0 ○ Opposed: 5 ○ Did not meet local requirements Election of Officers: Treasurer: ● Motion made by Tamar to nominate Liz ● Second by Audrey ● All in favor: 5 ● Opposed: 0 Secretary: ● Motion made by Tamar to nominate Shara Second by Audrey ● All in favor: 5 ● Opposed: 0 Chair: ● Motion made by Tamar to nominate Audrey ● Second by Liz ● All in favor:5 Opposed: 0 Adjournment: ● Motion to adjourn at 5:52 pm made by A.J. ● Second by Shara ● All in favor: 5 ● Opposed: 0 Next Meeting December 19th. .