Cultural Council

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 18 10:07 am FITCHBURG CULTURAL COUNCIL MINUTES MONDAY, March 24, 2025 LEGISLATIVE BUILDING 700 MAIN STREET 5:00 PM In attendance: Joe Bowen(chair), Shara Osgood(secretary), Liz Murphy (treasurer), Catherine Healy, Mike Amedeo, Dan Dow, Jen Hemenway, Lily Gomez Fernandez (virtual), Ricardo Barros, Eva Kelly, Cie Moran, Millie Whitfield (view recording for details of meeting) CALL TO ORDER: Joe called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS: Joe spoke: Welcome, Mission, public meeting guidelines & protocols Public Comments: No comments. No one on line NEW MEMBERS: Welcome Cie Moran & Millie Whitfield Eva Kelly first time st table and Ricardo Barros first last month New interested community member Sarah Beth Wheeler (maiden name Gagnes). Participated in Words from the Burg (Laura D) & Openest Mic. Is a poet. Found community. And Creative Summit. Would be honored to be able to be on a board representing art & culture in Fitchburg. Art is beyond labels that separate us. Experience with public speaking and councils. Hopes to create bridges - untapped resource of the university students. Volunteer in education. Bring arts & culture into the schools. Other new member possibility: Tamar’s term is expired Joe suggested we vote Tamar in as ex-officio Motion: Liz to vote Tamar in as ex-officio Second: Ricardo In Favor: 11 Opposed: 0. Abstain:1 (Millie is not sworn in yet) Passes Unanimously VOTE ON GRANT REPORT; All payments & grant reports for FY24 are accounted for. Ready to close out FT24. Of 73 grants for FY25, we have received 23 agreement contracts along with w9s. They will be sent to the Mayor’s Office for filing. We have already received 2 final reports. Motion:Mike to approve grant report Second: Jen In Favor: 11 Opposed: 0. Abstain:1 (Millie is not sworn in yet) Passes Unanimously Liz commends Dan on getting the final report in. It is a huge task well done. VOTE ON TREASURERS REPORT: See printed report for details Motion: Dan to accept treasurer’s report as is Second: Jen In Favor: 11 Opposed: 0 Abstain:1 Passes Unanimously VOTE MEETING MINUTES: VOTE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES: Motion: Ricardo to vote to accept Minutes from meetings held on 2/24/25 & 3/2/25 Second: Shara In Favor: 11 Opposed: 0. Abstain:1 Passes Unanimously CREATIVE NETWORK SUMMIT REPORT: skip, for now, as Derek not here yet COUNCILOR ROLES: Joe speaks to our growth. Council roles. Ricardo - interest in what roles we have had. Publicity coordinator. He could write press releases, with a person managing social media. Motion: Ricardo self nominates to be Publicity Coordinator Second: Lily Withdrew Motion: Ricardo Ricardo volunteers to help with social media Dan has a background in promotion and social media. Creating a steady stream of social media is important to us. Supporting each other 100% Catherine said she might be interested in being Education Coordinator. She suggested having a form that council members can fill out to show their skills and interests. Where they might want to plug in. Joe would like to get participation from some middle school/high school studentsLiz asked whether or not they would be full members of council or a student sub group Engage the youth in the council and to be active. Grants are open to Middle School, high school & college students as well. Lily asked if international students would be eligible for grants. We will look into that, so we can have answers for students. There are fiscal sponsorship possibilities. Millie interested in Special Projects Coordinator Cie says mothering & cheerleading are her skills. Interested in Fundraising coordinator CREATIVE NETWORK SUMMIT REPORT Derek Craig. Chief coord of Creative Summit Feb 21 & 22. Fri eve at FAM ~55 attendees Sat 65-75 attendees. All day with panels and activities Started with cohort from CLI through NeighborWorks grant award All creative projects. Need for leadership and community connections. Gateway Cities arts and culture. More resourcing and less silo-ing Learn from successes of other towns and organizations Brought more people from out of town to Fitchburg. Promoting Arts & Culture events & driving the creative economy. More funding for niche projects. Attendance was ~150 originally (projected 250-300) With all of the short promotion time, they were very happy and felt successful with contribution and engagement. It was very authentic and appreciated. Hope for more people to participate in the planning. Creative leaders from around the region came & shared. Would love to have local leaders representing & sharing why Fitchburg is so wonderful. Upcoming Events Announcements: Community Club Expo @ FCA 4/14 5:30-7:30pm. Table fee of $15 Motion; Liz to spend $15 from discretionary budget to join Comm Club Expo Second: Jen In Favor:11 Opposed:0 Abstain:1 Notice, as of 3/31, no zoom meetings 01420 week 4/14-20 Alter Egos Worcester chamber music society event 4/4 @ FAM Thurston Consort Brown Bag Lunch at City Hall Fri 4/18 at noon Motion: Mike to adjourn Second: Ricardo In Favor:11 Opposed: 0 Abstain:1 Passes Unanimously Adjourned at 6:02 Submitted by Shara Osgood