HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-11-ARTS-min
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Lexington Council for the Arts Meeting
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Location: Hybrid
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83449149797?pwd=MKBlzwTdxtTeIixGLod9oYAzf7cM3O.1
Minutes
Attendance:
Present: Claudia Lach, Alix Fox, Marie Hewes, Lisa Herbert, Eric Hellwig, Jennifer Zaccharis,
David Hoose, Mamata Banerjee, Elsie Xu, Ashley Ronney.
Absent: Shalini Kakar
Guests: Greg Torrales from MCC
Recording Secretary: Ashley Rooney
Meeting start time: 7. 10
1. Treasurer’s report. Marie reported on our financial status.
As of November 2024, the following are the balances in our accounts:
State Funds for Granting (FY 24) $4,526
Town Budget Account $6,000
MCC Projects/Festivals Grant 2024 $720
Local Account $7,271
MCC Cultural Sector Recovery Grant $6,000
Other Potential Sources of Funding
Cultural District Grant up to $3,000
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2. Grants Subcommittee: Alix, Claudia, Lisa, and Marie made up our grants committee. They met
twice before the Council’s December meeting. Prior to the meeting, all council members
received a detailed spreadsheet with the subcommittee recommendations.
The subcommittee presentation started by explaining how the rejected applications (on the top
of the spreadsheet and with detailed criteria numbers) did not reflect LCA’s selection priorities,
mainly having a connection to Lexington either because the artist was from Lexington or
because the performance takes place in Lexington or an adjacent town, which can benefit
Lexington residents. Also, two applications were for performances that had already taken place.
The rest of the proposals were individually evaluated using the same matrix. The council had
opportunities to ask clarifying questions.
As a result of the conversation, the following changes were made:
a. We discussed the two grants the subcommittee had left as maybes, and decided to fund them
both: Jennifer Powell's "You Are Here" sculpture and Kim Moberg's The Seven Fires Prophecy
Suite for Humanity Concert and Presentation, a Native American program. Since LCA was in the
process of developing a program with Native American content, the group discussed whether it
made sense to connect both programs. It was decided to keep them separate.
b. We agreed to increase the amount of small grants since we are in a strong financial position this
year. We can fund proposals from our additional accounts.
c. The subcommittee decision to fund KevTech ( a phone/computer training project for older
adults) was questioned. The group decided not to fund it since the content was not completely
aligned with the council’s mission, and there are other financing resources for this type of
program in our community.
d. Alix emphasized that we needed to work closely with these organizations, to publicize their
work, and to attend their projects ourselves. That involves liaisons contacting their grantees
and staying in touch with them throughout the year. This year’s newsletter will focus on
publicizing more our grantees.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35.