Holyoke Local Cultural Council Meeting September 9, 2024

Holyoke Local Cultural Council             Sept.9, 2024

Anne, Tim, Navae, Mark and Chris F. were present. Gloria and Chris D. were absent. Meeting called to order at 6:35.

Two extension requests were received from Holyoke Art for the Pride Theatre program and the Paper City Paper Festival. Tim moved to accept both extension requests, Navae seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.

An extension request was received from the Performance Project First Generation Mother Tongue performance at United Congregational Church in the spring. Chris moved to grant the extension, Navae seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.

Treasurer’s Report: The 2025 allocation is $66,200. Left over from 2023 (unencumbered): $13,892.02. In 2024 of the $101,905 available to grant, $52,836.25 has been reimbursed and $49,068.75 remains. Some grants have not yet filed their 2024 paperwork (some of these events may not have happened yet, have been extended, or are just concluding).

November Grant Review Dates: The four days everyone can meet are Monday, Nov. 4, Monday, Nov. 11, Wednesday, November 13, and Thursday, November 14. Please mark your calendars and save these dates. Meetings will be from 6:30 to 8:30.

As determined by the most recent community survey, the following are funding priorities for the 2024-25 cycle.                                                                                       Professional development of local artists through community projects

Field trips for students to museums or performances

Public events like concerts or festivals

Projects celebrating diversity

Other business: Discussion of the possibility of hosting office hours on Zoom for questions about the grant application process. On Sept. 25, 6-7, Mark and Navae will host office hours to answer questions about the grant process. On Oct. 1, 5-6, Chris and Tim will host. Navae will create Zoom links, and once those are created, events will be promoted on Facebook.                                                                                 

Navae spoke about the Tourism Advisory Council which has money available to grant but needs a clear process to distribute these funds. She suggested a mini-grant process for the spring with a committee made up from volunteers from HLCC, the Tourism Advisory Council, Kathy McKean, and others. More information at future meetings.

The meeting adjourned at 7:15.