HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-06-ARTS-minLexington Council for the Arts
Meeting Minutes
March 6,2024
7:00 PM–8:30 PM
Location:Remote only via Zoom link below
Attendance:
Present:Alix Fox,Sue Benson,Steve,Eric Hellweg,Claudia Lach,Shalini
Kakar,Ashley Rooney,Elizabeth Xu,Steve Poltorzycki,Marie Hewes,David
Hoose
Absent:Lisa Herbert
Guests:
Recording Secretary:Marie Hewes
Meeting start time:7:04 PM
•Call to order :The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 7:04 PM
•Secretary ’s report (Marie):
➢Motion to approve the meeting notes of February 7th,2024
Motion:Ashely
Seconded:Alix
➢Unanimously approved
•Treasurer ’s report (Steve):No change since last report,see below:
•Town Budget :$4,325.00-Must be used by June 30th
MCC Projects/Festivals:$2,500.00-Earmarked for Lexington Laughs-Unsure-
Local Account:$5,782.00.For any purpose.Rolls over.
MCC Cultural Sector Recovery Grant :$6,000.00-Rolls Over.
Cultural District Grant :up to $3,000.00-Must be applied for to Cultural District
Managing Partnership.There will be other applicants.The deadline is March 1st,
2024.Assume funds must be spent by June,30th,2024.
Funds available for Granting (FY 2024):$9,709.00-This includes reversal of the
$1,820.00 allocated to Council programs by LCA 2023 vote (Reversal occurred
via LCA January 2024 vote).
Here are the projects we are working on or proposing right now:
❖Utility boxes (Champion:Steve):$2,000.00 dollars.
❖Grantees’reception (Subcommittee led by Claudia and Alix):$2,000.00
dollars.
❖Elsie’s proposal (see below)has been submitted to the Cultural District.
❖Shalini’s proposal (see below)will go to the Council itself.
❖Porchfest :(Lisa and Eric ).
❖Lexington Laughs (Lisa)Not confirmed yet.
We are also looking for projects to complete/support the 250th Committee
Reminders :
❖Horse project :4-life-size horses decoratively painted by juried artists-
fiberglass.(Jillian Tung-250th Committee.
➢Many members would like to see more horses displayed and
working on ideas.(Susie Barry)
➢If our Arts Council had a horse,it would give us more visibility.The
visibility of the Arts Council would be good,if we had a horse.
•Grantee and artist reception planning
Reminders:
❖March 28-4-6 PM
❖40 sign-ups-Some plus-1
❖Steve would invite the Selectboard.
❖Sue is creating a powerpoint displaying the artists’works.The slide show
will be played in the background:We need to decide on the sequence
and decide how we will introduce our grantees.
❖We will have a table at the event.With the posters,past projects,name
tags.Ashley offered to greet the grantees.
❖A program will be created.Sue will make an agenda :One slide is 2-3
minutes,but Steve thinks it might be better for the grantees to talk one
minute about each project.
❖The Subcommittee will meet again next week.
❖Alix has organized the refreshments.(Permit has been obtained)
❖We discussed and voted on the idea of serving wine at the event.
❖Alix researched and found two Bartenders ($300.00-$400.00)each-
Both are available.
❖In order to receive the authorization (Selectboard),we need to submit an
application with the name of a provider and the insurance.(Alix).
❖Costco :2 cases of wine(Marie).
❖One question:Should we accept the offer of having a live dance from the
Encore Ensemble?
➢Issues of space,fairness.Sue will respond.
❖Voting on wine
■Advantages of serving wine:Celebration,festive event,
social)
■Disadvantage:Cost:Grantees could feel that more is spent
on wine than their grant)
■Note :State gives us 5%for Administrative purposes.
Motion to approve serving wine at the Grantee’s Reception:
➢Steve moved
➢Ashley seconds
➢Approved.(1 abstention)
❖Should we extend the reception to 6:30 PM to accommodate people’s
work schedule?
➢Possibly if room is available
➢Without extending Bartender ’s hours.
•Calendar year 2024 projects
■Elsie ‘s project
Summary:
That project is sponsored by the CAAL and has just been submitted to the
Cultural District.
❖Celebration connected to the 250th anniversary to celebrate the life of
immigrants.
❖Will take place at the end of May.
❖The goal is to share the stories and emotions of various ethnic groups.
➢Arabic and African Community.
➢Jewish Community.
➢Chinese Community.
➢Indian Community.
■A teacher will organize youth teams to create paintings on
that topic (Potato famine…)
■Essays will be organized with awards given.
➢If the cultural District does not fund the project,it will be
submitted to the LCA.If we support,it will be promoted as a LCA
project as well as CAAL.
Motion to approve supporting the Immigrants’project if the Cultural District does
not.
➢Steve?moved
➢Ashley?seconds
■Shalini’s project.
Summary:
Following Jillian Tung ’s presentation of the 250 th Anniversary and the focus on
American History,Shalini is proposing to celebrate the Indigenous Culture.
❖What?:A 2 days festival showcasing the Art,the culture and history and
the music (with the collaboration with Munroe Center and Lex arts if they
are interested).
➢Day1 :Art Exhibition(with the collaboration with Munroe Center
and Lex arts if they are interested)
■We would work with the Wampanoag Tribe and the
curator of their Museum.
➢Day 2:Native American music and dance to loosen people and
connect people.
❖Why?:Showcase the Indigenous Culture and give them a voice.
➢It would be a good connection to Elsie’s project.
➢It would bring the Community together.
➢It would be a rich tribute to the Indigenous Culture as part of the
250th Anniversary.
➢There are 2 members of the tribe in Lexington.
❖Logistics :
➢October,14th 2025 -potentially-
➢Munroe Center for the Art exhibition?
➢Emory Park for Music and Dance?
➢Some concerns about bringing artifacts.
➢Invite scholars and members of the Tribe.
➢Provide transportation.
➢A budget needs to be submitted for further evaluation.
➢Shalini will reach out to the Tribe and prepare answers for the
next meeting.
•Membership in the Chamber of commerce.
❖Should we renew?
➢90 dollars to participate:is it valuable?
➢Potential to connect to businesses.
➢It was valuable during the Haiku project.
Meeting Adjourned at:20:39 PM
Motioned by:Steve
Seconded by:Ashley