Cultural Council

The City of Lowell • Lowell Cultural Council 375 Merrimack St. • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.1483 • F: 978.446.7014 www.LowellMA.gov MEMO Lowell Cultural Council Meeting Minutes January 24, 2023 Attending: Britton Boughner; Joseph Pyne; Erin Duffey (Administrator); Rona Gofstein; Beth Noel; Kshitij Karke (KK); Bianca Mauro; Olu Ibrahim; Timmy Al-Muntafik; Meghan Stebbins The meeting was called to order at 6:45 PM. 1. LCC Scoring sheet discussion: ○Top 5 scorers: Granted 100% ○ Next 6: 85% ○ $14 was added to the grant amounts approved ○ Grants that were asking for $500 - $600 on our scoring sheet were given the full amount 2. Denial letters for grants did not get legitimately challenged 3. Discussion: Is our current grading system still in line with our priorities? ○ Something to keep in mind for future meetings 4. Discussion: Cap for grants ○ People would apply for the highest cap amounts ○ Leaving it open hopefully helps projects be honest about how much to apply ○ Is capping different levels something that we can do? i. Processing/invoicing it this way would make it difficult 5. Discussion: Grants that didn’t use funds: ○ Low rollover number, but a high number of people who didn’t submit reimbursements for their grants ($23,000) ○ Would they be out of the next cycle? How do we track these? 6. Discussion: Moving up the dates for the 2024 cycle ○ Something to keep in mind for future meetings 7. Grantee Reception: April 27 (Thursday), Whistler House, 6:30 - 8 PM ○ Rona will make something with canva for the reception ○ Food will be expensed (admin) ○ Timmy will help out with the performance. Ray Li for $250/2 hrs 8. LCC tent has no canopy, Erin will get a quote for the canopy 9. Grantee reception letter: ○ Reimbursement submission recommendation with the final required deadline 10. Grantees will be split between LCC members as the main point of contact (~4 grants/member), LCC Members will help out and try to answer mentee’s questions 11. New logo & Marketing: ○ Admin fund will cover the expenses (Council Initiative) Meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM. END