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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-05-ARTS-min.pdfLEXINGTON COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS Meeting Agenda November 5, 2025 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Location: Parker Room, Town Hall (Lower Level) Members Present: Mamata Banerjee, Alix Fox, Thelma Goldberg, Lisa Hebert, Eric Hellweg, Marie Hewes, David Hoose, Claudia Lach, Jeanne McDermott Member Absent: Jennifer Zacharis • Call to order. 7:08 pm. (Claudia) • Minutes. (Alix). § The minutes of the September and October meetings were approved. • Treasurer’s Report (Marie), including information about 2025 LCA Grants. § There is currently $6,617 in the LCA fund. § A detailed 2025 Financial Grantee Status Report is attached below. § Details concerning any 2025 grantees’ requests for extensions; outstanding documentations; status of reimbursements: o Love Now (Mary Ross): The concert will be on January 26, 2026. o This Is Happening: The event will be on November 18. o Sarasa: The performance has taken place, but documentation has not been received. o Bear Witness: The event has taken place, but documentation has not been received. o Seven Fires Prophecy (Kim Moberg): The event is planned for November 18. o Greater Chapter: There has been no response to an inquiry concerning the status of this concert. o Snap: Payment is being processed. o Delvena Theatre: Payment is being processed. § There was discussion about any additional funds that might be directed toward current LCA Grant award recipients. LCA had followed this practice this last year. Possible recipients of funds that could be added to the current grant cycle included Lexington Laughs ($3500-$5000). § There was discussion about whether simply to add these funds to the grant cycle pool, or to fund an LCA project or projects, a decision that may not have to be made until the grant process has proceeded and concluded. It was clarified that money should not (and may not) be held over to the following year. • Update on 2026 Grant Cycle. § The process of reading grant applications has begun. LCA Grant Readers will submit their recommendations to entire LCA, which, in turn, will make the final determination of grant funds recipients and distributions. § Some grant applications came in for events that have already occurred, therefore making them automatically ineligible. § A rich discussion about criteria for applications followed. For instance, should (could) privately owned retirement homes for the elderly be eligible for grants? Or should grants be limited to indisputably public events at, for instance, Cary Library, the Lexington Senior Center, or houses of worship? What guarantees should exist that the LCA-supported events be open to the public? There is desire for the recipients’ events to have the greatest possible impact on the community; with the limited funds that are available, LCA should give priority to programs that are easily open to the public. The committee, therefore, leans toward not considering applications for events that would be presented at privately owned retirement homes, even if the events are ostensibly open to the public. § Should Porch Fest related events be eligible to apply for LCA grants? Although LCA does fund the “Grand Finale,” the general view is that other performers should not be eligible. However, no final policy decision was made. Regardless, it was suggested that that such possible details be articulated in future guidelines. § A similar discussion concerning schools’ eligibility followed, with no final decision reached, except to note that, with so many applications this year, school projects should not be a priority. With rare exceptions (innovative projects of unusual interest, for example), LCA has not funded school projects in the past. § It was suggested that LCA funds and externally sourced money should display different criteria. § There is a desire for more visible communication about the availability of LCA Grants. • Update on Lexington Laughs. § Various complex logistical challenges have been resolved, and the event is planned for Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 7:30-9:00 pm, at the Clarke Middle School. The date, time and location are pending the availability of the school auditorium and of the chosen comedian. • New business: There was no new business. • Adjournment: 8:34 pm. • Next LCA meeting: Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Respectfully submitted, David Hoose, Secretary Attachment: 2025 Financial Grantee Status Report LCA FY25 Grantee List: Tracking Reimbursements