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Home My WebLink About2022-02-02-ARTS-min RECEIVED l of ) 2022 �'12 Aipir, 140iprn ndi'l far the Arts II 'I Notes LEXINGTON MIA Wednesday, February 2, 2022 7:00 PM — 8:30 PM Location: Via Zoom: See below for remote participation instructions Facilitator: Steve Poltorzycki Pre-Meeting Tasks Review of minutes from December 8, 2021 and January 5, 2022 meetings Attendance: Present: Steve Poltorzycki, Jillian Tung, Melissa Tahal, Anwell Tsai, Shalini Kakar, David Hoose, Valerie Overton, Noah Stang-Osborne, Lisa Herbert, Marie Hewes Absent: Urban, Doug, Rooney, Ashley, Chen, Jessie Meeting start time: I. Call to order II. Secretary's report: Marie Hewes : January 5th minutes Approved Unanimously. III. Financial update: Steve Poltorzycki Town account : $6,000.00 : Some money has been allocated to the Haiku project. This sum needs to be used by June An application was prepared to ask for more funds and was declined so next year the Council will receive the same amount: ( $ 6, 000.00). There were too many requests from the different groups. State account : We pay the grantees from this account. '/3 of money has been spent. Local account : funded by contributions and fundraising + 5% of state allocation to grantees . It has not changed since last time : $4,000.00. IV. Presentation of Rainbow Artists by Program Director and Lesley University Student Noah Stang-Osborne and Discussion of Pride Week arts-related activities with LexPride Co-Chairs Valerie Overton Noah Stang-Osborne: Creator of Rainbow Artist ( supported with a 2020 grant).Art group for LGBT youth and allies. Noah presented the philosophy of their program and some recent projects ( Self-care box). The objective of the Rainbow Artist program is to allow youth to safely make art and express themselves. Noah is hoping to expand the program and add a parallel music theory program. Rainbow Artists has many benefits for youth : Therapeutic intervention, exploration of emotions, anxiety reduction, improvement of self esteem... The program is advertised through Lex media. People across the country are interested in expanding the program and Noah would be interested in writing an article. Social media are also listed as ways to communicate about the program. Other states have reached out to replicate the program and training sessions will be implemented.. The group currently includes 6 to 12 kids per group.The groups are kept on the smaller side to allow youth to bond with each other. Kids come from all circumstances: (some have been rejected by families, all races are represented, some kids are well affirmed, others still hidden). These kids need that space to relax their vigilance to be known and seen and feel safe to explore and express themselves. Most of these kids are trying to figure out their gender and are often facing bullying. A few kids had been referred to by counselors or therapists from Lexington schools. How we can help: - Spreading the word is important. : It is easy to reach the kids from affirming families. The hard part is to reach the kids who cannot come out in school or at home: Bring the awareness . Most of the awareness is brought through social media. - Finding guest artists :Having guest artists who are LGTB Q is very important for kids to figure out their future. - A special workshop to try to connect.Opportunities for children to connect and feel safe. - The program seems to be very beneficial for the mental health of the kids. - Exhibitions are difficult because some kids are not out in the community. - Roughly 100 families. - Need trained art therapists to facilitate sessions and take care of kids who are in difficult circumstances. - There is a demand also for young adults: Launching a program for people between 20 and 30 . - Keep thinking about channels for sharing around the country. Valerie : Background around Pride. Valerie gave us a background about Pride and why it was created. The first 25 years of Pride were an advocacy of Civil Rights.Now it is more of a celebration. In Lexington we try to honor advocacy and celebration. - Pride Yard signs - Pride Proclamation - Activities to appeal to diverse people: pride craft - Events : coming out across generations - Collaboration with Pride story Time - Pride car parade - Pride playlist - The History Project - Collaborated with Lexchat Ideas of Public Arts - Pride promenade : Public display of Pride poems and pride art works in front of the visitor center. Need to find some waterproof support. - Pride banners : This year only 7 instead of 20, so less visible so hoping to have more visibility. - Other : Painting crosswalk in rainbow colors: - Inclusive approach : Includes all nationalities, and all abilities : Black voices, Asian voices , disabilities. - No decisions have been made yet about the program : open to LCA suggestions. - Pride events have been very well attended but not enough : desire to expand. - Pride picnic: Secure the depot and display art and poetry. - Include music, and throw a little story about the composer. - Pride Day is June 13st.: Plus celebratory events around the Lexington graduation. - Idea of co-production is an idea we want to pursue. - Maybe have a council member be a liaison with the group to keep track of different projects. VI. Project updates • Haiku project : We applied for a grant . Last year we made the decision to join the chamber of commerce: Steve has been participating in meetings and is on the board. We completed an application to the Chamber of Commerce to help fund the Haiku project and the Fairy house . We will need people to volunteer for the Haiku project : let Jillian or Steve know so you can be part of it. • The Utility Boxes commissioned earlier have all been painted. Steve met with the commission last month to ask about the utility boxes located in the Historical district and shared locations and designs and the historical commission is open to it as long as the boxes are not too close to the center ( Maple street, pleasant street and Hastings Park). We have 2 options : Fund it out of next year's project ( in July) Or if we get money from the Chamber of Commerce that would free some money. VII. New business • The council needs to spend some time thinking about the website and the direction it should take.We need to close the old website. : make sure there is nothing on the old website that should be on the new website. • Closer relationship with the grantees: See who among us would like to be a liaison with the grantees. Stay current with what they are doing with their project: Could be discussed at next meeting • Recognizing that maybe we need to have meetings during the day. Maybe meetings earlier in the day. Discussion about having a meeting late afternoon or earlier in the day. Motion to adjourn : Steve Seconded : Anwell