 So welcome everyone. This is a meeting of the Amherst Cultural Council. My name is Angela Mills. I work for the town manager's office. I want to thank everyone on this group for their hard work and their dedication to all of the grants that are going out. And I will make children and the host and wish you a great meeting. Thank you, Angela. Okay, so I will start with our statement. And for that, pursuant to chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting will be conducted via remote means. Members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so in the following manner on the via via zoom, which is posted on the town website. No in person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so for reasons of economic hardship and despite best efforts, we will post the video of this zoom on the town website. Amherst MA gov and an audio or video recording transcript or other comprehensive record of the proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. So now I will move to our roll call and Rachel. I'm here. Excellent Robin. You have to I have to hear your audio Robin. Yeah. Thank you. Eleanor here. Christie here. Matt here. Excellent. All right. So the gold this evening. And thank you all for being here. Really appreciate it. We're in good shape. We've been doing well with our time box approach. So the immediate goal is to take care of the initial review of the remaining grants. We need to go back to gallery a three, which I think we'll do at the end, because we have Christie now so we'll go through all of the others. And from this, you know, as we've been going along in our discussions we've been noting where, you know, we feel that we have people who are meeting our guidelines have others who are, you know, we have concerns or that simply don't. There's very good clarity on all of that. And we've been noting down kind of the amount of grant that was discussed. And we're keeping a running tally. So, as Matt shared in a little more detail during our last meeting, where we'll go from tonight is he and I will work on all of the information that we have. Between now and Wednesday, we will, you know, basically get a balanced budget in and be able to share that with each of you not to be discussed until the meeting Wednesday. And then from there, we can we can fine tune and ideally be able to come to a vote on the on the collective whole of everything. So does anyone have any questions about that? We can just when you say collective whole Julian, do you mean that so that the numbers still add up in the end, based on individual. Okay. The numbers need to add up and frankly, if we had to take a vote for every grant that we had, it takes so much time to do the roll call. So we, we really need to try to to vote on the the collective whole at once rather than bringing each to a vote. Okay. So, if there are no other questions, then I need to figure out in my document where I am. Okay, and pick up where we left off. And just real quick, any other questions are we ready to go. Okay, and Rachel, do you do you have my, my timekeeping again please. Okay, but here it is. And that's that's something just for all of you I'm not, I'm not really looking at you I'm all over the place trying to pull these details together. So especially if someone could watch, you know, participants if there are any attendees I don't think we've had any so far for any of the I wouldn't be able to see if someone joined even though I'm the host so and don't don't hesitate to holler if you are if I'm not seeing you wave or something to get my attention. All right. So, the next grant is being presented by the downtown Amherst Foundation. And it will occur over several dates in 2023. And it will be performed at the at the Drake. It's a multi event collaboration with Amherst Regional High School and their community and it is free to the public. They are asking us for $2,500 and expect to serve about 1000 community members collectively. We scored this as I have to get to my place here as well as a 2.57 so it was definitely a strong proposal and So this organization, they've secured space at the Drake for several dates, and they are collaborating with the arts department. Yes. Yes. Did somebody. Okay, I'll keep going then. Hi Cody. Where was I. So there are they will have two cabaret nights in January to jazz evenings in the spring and a fundraiser for the orchestra along with several other evenings that are in the pipeline. All of the dates events will be open to the public and free for all attendees. To operate at any given event the Drake costs about $1,200 for production needs staff in general overhead, and they're happy to work with the public high school to highlight the incredible talent of our students. But it's saying if it's a, but it is a fiscal loss to the organization. So they needed us to consider a grant to help mitigate those costs and allow them to do more free programming with the schools and the community. So basically, the plan is to bring in Amherst students, music students, and give them a venue to perform several different kinds of music and also to have additional outreach by doing some fundraising is to offset these costs and maybe even raise more. So is there anyone who'd like to champion this event. I like to champion it. Great. Did you have anything more you'd like to add Cody. And this been, I know this was my favorite application just due to the fact that they want to expose the use to an outside venue. It's not the same or auditorium gym. It's good to have that outside. I couldn't agree more. I think it's, I think it's fantastic. I think there's no substitute for live performance. And the Drake also is, is a, it's a community venue, right. And yet because many of the events have been paid events I don't know how accessible it's really truly been to everyone in the community. I think it would bring a tremendous amount of community benefit and frankly I'd fund the entire thing if at all possible, perhaps prioritize even beyond some other music events. At the same time, you know the kids are learning which is great and we have some amazing high caliber musicians that we still want to bring to the community, you know just because of the amazing talent that they bring. You know, to the extent that we can, it's it is a large ask, but Yeah, I just want to support everything that's been said those are really great points about the program. I love that the Drake last last year in its first year in existence was an incredible supporter for a lot of our grantees as they came in and they were basically had free use of the space with like almost no overhead costs. So, it is a nonprofit organization, you know downtown of the town but they've been operating at pretty significant loss on a lot of their performing stuff so I think whatever we can do to support them as an organization as well as you know as a great learning environment for the students musicians and artists. I'd be comfortable putting it at the 2500 knowing that that's that's going to be hard for us to do. But I'd like to see, you know, if there are other things that, you know, we look at and maybe maybe adjust and said and unless is everyone comfortable with taking that approach. Yeah. Christy. Yes. Excellent. We're all good. Thank you. I just muted myself. I think I'm getting my walkie-talkie controls back and stuff. Sorry. Next one. We probably will want to flee support as well. This is the Emily Dickinson Museum. This is the Amherst area community day held annually so this will be this, I guess it was this Saturday, December 10, so it has happened. And they are their entire budget is $2,500 and they're asking us for the 2500 it was at the Emily Dickinson Museum. They expected to serve 250 people. And overall, we rated this as a 2.36 they did. One person is commented noting that the second floor is not accessible. But they might be adding elevators or ramps and to that I, I haven't reviewed their recent renovation plan so I don't know if anything's changed with this. My overview is that this is an annual honor that celebrates Dickinson's birthday in December and celebrates the life and works of the Emily Dickinson with special programming. So now after two years of closure and only having online program, they were delighted to welcome local community back in person for an open house and to reestablish this event. So the offerings and we're going to include guided access to the new restored spaces, new information about Dickinson and her family's role in 19th century Amherst, as well as on site activities for visitors all ages. The museum also recently finished a reinterpretation to include greater emphasis on acknowledgement on acknowledging the family is prosperity and privilege. Labor staff for the family, like I understood and themes related to health to the health and disability, particularly in reference to Dickinson's mother. So, did anyone happen to attend this event. I didn't attend Julian. Excuse me but I did one of their tours in preparation for it. I can vouch for the content that you've just described. So, yeah, so that that's all covered in the poor. Excellent. I did not include this event in particular. And just to kind of get an idea of the budget. They wanted to help underwrite the admission fees which were generally $16 per adult as well as special day of program activities such as music performance crafts, etc. Wish, I wish they maybe spoke to that more. But I'm sure they did a great job. And that's an interesting way of presenting it right because if you're doing a opening event, it's done, it's like the admission even relevant, or is it just going to be. I mean, if you're asking that question in particular, I don't know. Yeah, I know that the budget is really truly accurate as far as. I think the event budget was a lot larger than 2500. So I think they, they could have done a better job with detailing, you know, what the day included in the budget but I don't know that this is something we would, you know, for this organization hold, you know, against. Oh, Robin. Yeah. Two things. The second floor is not accessible but you can view it on an iPad. Though I guess they've set up cameras or something. I guess it's an historical building. My. And it probably doesn't isn't relevant because there's budget lines, but we seem has a lot of money. And the college has a lot of money. And yet, the council is offsetting some of that. And I guess I have some issues with that. But at the same time. Kids probably wouldn't get to participate in this if it's not otherwise funded. Because there's other budget lines so. I think you bring up valid points Cody. I think we are getting feedback. Somebody if you're not speaking please. Yeah, accessibility is a huge issue. And no, this isn't a place. If you have tons of money, why would you be a part of it? But that's not the conversation. But I would say maybe a part or since you know, they do have money. But yeah, as you said, the community wouldn't be able to participate if it was funded. Well, Cody, I do think that accessibility is what we're talking about. And I think bringing up that, you know, the museum does have a lot of funding along with Amherst college. And my question is, I would assume that as far as the first floor, it's considered ADA compliant. Is that that correct? And as to, you know, why they haven't made the second floor accessible, you know, I, I guess I need to understand ADA law better about general access to get into a building but not, you know, full access. We're at time, just so you know, but go ahead with. So, so perhaps the question to is, as far as the actual event, you know, was it mainly on the first floor? You know, if this particular event occurred in an area that was accessible, then then I don't think that there's any need concern here about the guidelines. So we might need to ask that so since we're at time. Thank you. You muted. Thank you. I need help with that. I truly do because this walkie talkie thing I'm trying to be very aware of this feedback. Okay, so the next grant is. So do we have a conclusion on that one? Sorry. We don't we have to come back to it. Got it. We'll start the last two at the end of the last meeting with three minutes. So the Nolan Becca project is their grant is for their 10th annual. I was going to say potluck, which is wrong. How do you say this. Thank you. Homelands Festival. That will occur August 5th and 6th. Hopefully in 2023, not 2003 at Unity Park in Turner's Fall, Massachusetts. It's got a rather large budget of almost $34,000 and they're asking us for 500 towards that they expect to serve 6000 people. And collectively, we scored this very high as a 2.93. And the comments here are that it's a very small ask and another person said Turner's Falls. Before going into this, I do think this is one of these events that that is does have, you know, regional nexus right so the Pocantock homelands festival it's uplifting an educational festival. Honors the heritage and continued presence of tribal nations of the Northeast, and it's returning for the 10th year. It takes place at a site historically and culturally important to the indigenous people from the region. It take it was a place where the tribes gathered annually during fish runs and it was also a site of a massacre in seven 1676 and a reconciliation ceremony in 2004. And for thousands of years the area of an around Great Falls was a place where all were welcome. And as the exchange gifts ideas and goodwill today, we're committing to a future that will continue the exchange of actions to promote understanding about in between cultures increase mutual vigilance and historic for historic preservation and deepen our tradition for the rich heritage of the indigenous people of our region. It will continue as a this, the tradition of an annual gathering, as they did historically. So, I will say that I'd like to champion fully funding this and, you know, if the only objection was that it was in Turner's Falls I think the reasoning that this is is on a historic site for the indigenous people. They're there probably some reasons they might not feel great about coming to Amherst so much rather they'd be there. Would anyone else like to just speak to this or any questions. Yes, Cody. Outside of Miss Henry, some typos because right now one of the people on the peak are not more eager but the small typo is really great. Festival, I would probably would be way better. Encourage fully funding and also go and say great festival. Thank you, Cody. Yes. My sense is probably everyone agrees about fully funding this is 31 who who feels differently. Okay, let's let's move on sounds fantastic. Okay, so. Yes. So, I'm going to steal back a minute or two because I put up the ADA rules and guidelines. Well, is it for Emily Dickinson? Yeah, I wanted to just step back because I felt bad to step away from that without resolving it a little bit. I'd like, I'd still like to bring that back at. Okay, okay. No, that's okay. Let's let's get it because it probably it could relate to something else we're about to review. So, we're going to have minutes. Okay. Yeah, that's right. Thank you. Real quick and then, you know, thank you for. Thanks for looking it up. Yeah, I just I felt bad because this comes up a lot frequently. So let me just read very briefly this is the top of page 10 of the local cultural council guidelines. The discrimination LCCs may not discriminate against applicants or programs on the basis of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity expression, nationality, geographic origin, immigration, military socioeconomic status. But then this is the part that I think we want to hone in on the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that persons with disabilities have access to public programs or services on an equal basis with the rest of the public. Federal law mandates that any program or service that receives federal state funding must be accessible to persons with disabilities and there must be reasonable, this is underlined, reasonable accommodations made to provide an accessible environment. All events and programs funded by the LCC must by LCCs must consider access for persons with disabilities, including facility or event location, as well as the content of the program. To ensure equitable access and applicants first step is a candidate assessment identification of barriers, physical, virtual cultural communication, followed by a bold and innovative plan for improvement. So a lot of that mirrors what we wrote in our local guidelines to and I just want because it's such an important question and it comes up so frequently with our venues. You know, the, the reasonable accommodation idea, I think is really well met in both in spirit and in reality by the, by the Emily Dickinson project, I think, frankly, you know, when we had Charles come in and do the round table, it was, it was sort of the, the candidate assessment and bold innovative planning that he was really championing, you know, knowing that this is Massachusetts and we have a lot of old buildings and whatnot. So anyway, I just, I want that conversation. I just wanted to go back and double check and then of course the language that's in our local guidelines, it parallels that and then provide some other ideas as well so just in case that's helpful for two folks as we go. Are you of the opinion that it meets our guidelines from from that. Yes. So there was a language in the application, in other words that addresses that right because having been to the the venue and taken their tour it's what they're talking about in terms of the accessibility concerns that like all of that is on the second floor and which is accessible. So, well specifically what I'm talking they made reasonable accommodations they said, first floor is accessibility accessible second floor can be accessed through an iPad that they that they give out with a virtual tour so I thought that was a very reasonable accommodation that I appreciate them, you know, taking that extra step of kind of bold and bold and innovative plan for improvement, you know what I mean like. So I just, I wanted to recognize the efforts they made and certainly not punish them for that. Well, I am going to bang the gavel and move on because in 30 minutes we talked about three. So, all good points but I think the reasonable accommodation would be would certainly be satisfied on that criteria. And yet we can still hope for better. Okay, so the Rachel if you have time started I'll go with the next. This is the Valley wins. USA to Mexico migration and the music of butterflies to occur April 29 2023 at Buckley recital Hall at Amherst College. The budget budget is around $6500 they're asking us for 2500 and expect about 600 people to be able to attend. We collectively scored this at a 2.21. And the only comment was asking if this is the same project as the other one, and is it okay to pay for both I'm not sure what with that meant because it doesn't list which other project, but there was maybe a project that children and butterflies that I don't know if it's related. Or perhaps this is the music part and, and they've applied separately. The Valley wins their partnering with Dartmouth by joining the Mexican composer incubation project. And they will increase exposure and representations of Mexican composers by commissioning and recording works for the Mexican repertoire collection. In addition to featuring these Mexican composers they're performing a newly commissioned work by new be a done one inspired by and hobby hobbies children's book about the migration of monarch butterflies to Mexico. So children ages four to 12 from the pioneer Valley will be invited to create artwork in various mediums to illustrate ideas and feelings from the book, and this artwork will be incorporated into their creative performance. And it notes awareness of our delicate environmental balance and highlights our relationship with our Mexican neighbors through music visual and visual art. So, reading through this yeah this is definitely for that that same event, and I, I don't think it's the same with the guidelines in this in this case because one part of the event could have gone on without the other. And I think it really is two different groups who are coming together and collaborating and I think this actually satisfies our new timeline saying in a regional collaboration and, you know, different different groups working together and we certainly for the artwork thought that was a win when that they'd have an additional audience because of the musical performance but if anyone else sees that differently please, who would like to speak to it. I think I put in my notes that the children's art component was not very clear in terms of how that was going to be implemented but I think you already, you already mentioned that Julian. But I think when we discussed that the children's art. You know it was participatory art right and that combining it with the music and bringing it to life that way and getting it a bigger audience seemed to be as far as, you know, value to the community was only increasing, you know, for all parties involved. I think it seems to me like a big ask for this. I also I found some of the line items in the budget a little questionable. I mean they're having it at Amherst College they need to pay to rent a projector. Why is that. I mean if they're if Amherst is hosting them. Amherst has projectors everywhere. I think it's a fine project. I would, I would do somewhere around 50% support on this. I think this is another case of the Amherst College Amherst partnership, where I sometimes feel like Amherst College doesn't hold up their end of this, and I would support part of it but not all. I am at the same time here looking back at the multi arts group and their companion application where you know they were asking for $850. So if you look at total budget both for the art and the music is getting to be really, you know, quite, quite large and we can handle them separately. So that we should look did they list any kind of in kind donations that are coming in or was it very much having to to pay everything at Amherst College. So the space rental for the rehearsal is 585 and for the concert venue is 700 which as far as space rental is not but you know, particularly expensive. Does anyone understand how that works over at Amherst College people coming in. And I'm also curious if we had a letter of support, specifically like from Amherst College about it. I'm sorry I don't understand that I wish I could speak to that but I'm sorry what did it where did I confuse you. Yeah I was saying no no you didn't you didn't confuse me I was just saying I wish that I could help with the like, when people come in thing but not sure. I actually put in my I think when I voted for this I would support like 25%. So I up to 600 of this amount. So Christie that's kind of half of what you're okay with. I just, I mean I do have some quite you know this came up. I don't want to go back to the Dickinson one but it came up with the Dickinson one as well and I do understand the partnership aspect of this and it's important. But I do think that that there are some things in these budgets when for charges that don't seem right to me. I always Robin just saying you know 25% 50% but I wouldn't give this the full amount asked. Is there anyone who feels strongly about supporting it. I do believe valley valley wins as a group, you know that is, you know, does request grant assistant annually and I think we've been pretty consistent with helping them out I, I'd have to look back to see if we'd ask anything this large are you do you have your hand up for time Rachel. Yeah. Okay. All right, then we will we will move on. You're muted Julian. Thank you. Okay, so we'll, we'll move on then and I won't, I won't put a number down for this one just at the moment. Okay. So, sorry, I may have lost my place again. Thank you for your patience. Yeah, I found. Okay. So the next one is. Oh, I wish someone else would say this name for me. I teach a while Ghana. Sorry. And the project is literary Massachusetts, and the project has already launched. And is currently self funded and it will be document, an ongoing documentation of the literary arts in Massachusetts. It's for a website called literary mass. Their total budget is 3000 they're asking us for the total budget of 3000. They expected to serve 15,000 folks. And the comments were, it sounds great. It's a lot of money. Someone else that's a small small grant. I'm not trying to support it all, but suggesting maybe just a small grand, but after looking at the website, which and the included materials it gives a better sense of their vision. Other said very large ask someone said potentially a model for accessibility and other persons that it's a large ask but we should try to support it. So, what are they doing. Funding would cover the payment of writers to interview authors and historians who live in Amherst or who have knowledge of Amherst authors past and present included in this would be work to help shed more light on the historic work of African American writers who have been associated with Amherst mass to include James Baldwin Maya Angelou and others. So is there anyone who'd like to to champion this event or the website. I was, I was the one who said that I wound up poking around trying to figure out what it was such a large ask and such a sort of amorphous not amorphous but the description was not super concrete. I do see that there is some real, you know, thought and some pretty powerful names and, you know, there's some really good content there. There's a lot of sort of content aggregation also going on on that website and, although I personally like the. The newsletter for the newsletter for kids, or for, you know, events for kids. There's an element of that here to where it's a lot of content aggregation. There's some content creation. I think it's I, you know, I think it's something that has legs. It's already in existence and there is a vision that's being developed so I would not deny it outright but certainly, you know, I would, I would, you know, 10 20% type grant would be my recommendation. And I would add this is a local resident applying. I think anything that, you know, increases knowledge of folks who've contributed to arts and culture that were overlooked is important but I'm with Matt as far as the amount of funding always, you know, to see in the budget is $2,130 payment to writers and interns. I'd love to see more, you know, writers paid certainly but without knowing, you know, to just how many people that stipend goes, it makes me rather uncomfortable to to to give. Yes. I mean, I, I, when I read this, like, why, why is this when you have something like this I want to know why is this project need it, who what what is, you know, all of the, the projects that they have in so far are hardly are completely known authors. I mean, it's not new research into it's it just so that worried me, like why, you know, who's the audience for this. Is it to tell people that Amherst is an academic town or a town of writers and historians, I don't think that's really a huge need in the town. Another thing that really worried me, although I do know some of these people quite well it's like they're not even really organized yet into an organization. And that seemed a little worrying to me, 10% 15% as Matt said I'd be fine with, but I think there's just. I have too many other concerns with that. Thank you. Cody. So really two comments one, you know, Yeah, it sounds that we may need to question a church and why people do what they do to avoid confusion. Also, yeah, I support a low funded amount, 10 to 15%. Thank you, thank you. Matt, as far as, you know, I have not had the time to go and review their their website, you know is is $300 meaningful from what you looked at there and as far as, you know, their answer, you know, was that they are also looking for a chance to apply for regionally and nationally. And then if they didn't get the funding requested they would grow the site at a slower rate until they can access more, more funding. So they did not say that they applied to any other local cultural councils, but I mean the site, the sites up it's not going to go away if we don't fund it so it's a matter from my perspective of what's, what's a meaningful and responsible way of support to keep to encourage them. I just want to indicate one thing in the application is that they did show an anticipated $5,000 cultural sector recovery grant. And those, you know that money was moving pretty quickly, I don't have a great sense of who got it but I know there was a lot of money coming there. And I'm not, I guess that doesn't affect us one way or the other other than somebody, you know, somebody pounced on a significant chunk of recovery money that was out there. I think you know this is a this is the Amherst centric part of this is them trying to make the case that you know that there is a local thing, really it's supposed to be a statewide website apparently. In terms of meaningful to affect their mission, I'm not sure I can really speak to that I think it's the sort of thing that we as a local council, we would, you know, we want to maybe attach some support and some kind of attach our name to it to some degree, just as a thing that you know that represents the cultural activity of our town. But I, yeah, I, you know, even even having read into it a little bit I, I can't get too enthusiastic behind supporting it significantly. I think we're at time Rachel. Yep. Thank you. Okay, our next grant is from Roger tricknell, or, and children's songs and singing games family concert scheduled for October of 2023 at the Amherst community childcare headstart. Asking for $500 on their total budget to benefit 100 projected audience members, as far as how we scored this. This was scored as a 2.5. So there was a lot of strength here with it so. Ticknell, who applies for us to programs annually with us would perform a one hour concert for the headstart children and their families it's an interactive program includes a variety of multicultural songs from around the world. There's imaginative journeys creating song lyrics imitating animals learning words and phrases from different languages by singing call and responses in Spanish Polish Russian Swahili and other languages. So the songs also reinforce common core standards in language and math skills, developing skills for rhyming counting, etc. So he performs on a variety of instruments and the audience is invited to participate sing clap dance move and play Latin percussion instruments. Is there anyone who would like to champion this. Yes, Cody. I would like to champion for the funding and again I remember how is a 90 what I see or this be one of my favorite ones because of the culturally component and introducing that young kids to call to memory. I think it's wonderful that the headstart is doing that. Thank you. Thank you. I certainly with your memories of the event and how much it clearly has has meant to truly appreciate that and we've had other students who've been on the council over the past couple of years shared that they were equally moved. Is there anyone who does not support fully funding this if possible. Okay. Thank you so much. Okay, so the next is. It's a group trans health. And this is trans health and bloomery present QT Valley meet up. It's an event series to take place in March and April of 2023 at the Drake. They are asking for their full budget of $1,000 and expect to serve 200 people. And the one question was what are the performances at the Drake specifically. So this is the valleys. LGBTQIA plus communities are ready to gather this spring. Trans health North Hampton and bloom local are partnering to produce a new series of events all about the intersection and connection. The series of events in is in beloved spaces so here it mentioned in the application it mentioned the Drake but it's also at hope and all of them greenfield the five I'd Fox in great falls. The Drake and Amherst quarters and Hadley the bloomery in North Hampton Calico and East Hampton race street live and Holyoke and the hub and Springfield experience unique venues and connect with QT folks and inspire and be inspired by spotlights on local queer translators and artists. They build upon the Connecticut Rivers web of converging channels and intricate intersections as an inspire template for bringing together historically marginalized queer and trans communities. As we strive to nurture a more connected and supported cross country ecosystem. Collectively, we scored this at a 2.57. So is there anyone who would like to speak to champion championing this event. I would champion this event. I think that it's great that it's specifically for queer and trans people. It seems like a good organization to me from what I saw and I really love that kind of idea of bringing people together like the river I don't know they really got me with that description there. Any other comments. I haven't thought about this but yeah, you know really make in this effort to bring people together and make creative awareness. And isn't there really doing that with all the major students or historical landmarks in the back. So I sat into championing. Thank you. Thank you and I, as we're talking through this I want to share that the $1,000 that they're asking for as far as it being their entire budget seems to be specific to the Drake because it's a $500 artist fee for performance at the Drake and another $200 for a SL interpreter and also the Bloom local who who's doing promotional design and marketing so it's a much larger series of events. Really, and what they're asking for specifically $1,000 for the one date in Amherst. My only reservation then is it's $1,000 for for one date but I think we have strong support for it. Matt, were you about to say something, Rachel, I see your hands up. Matt, Matt, you want to go ahead. No, go ahead. Okay I was just going to ask, like in the context of because we had this a question last during the last meeting about venues versus you know projects. And I'm just wondering as we go forward, not necessarily for this round but in the future if the Drake is going to continuously be used as a venue. It takes our while to have some kind of understanding with them when it comes to grantee using their venue. Otherwise, you know there's a lot of money going to the Drake for. I think it would be good to have some sort of an understanding of what what their fee structure is, you know, when they're asking, you know, for space rental versus when when they're passing so I think we can take that on to have a better understanding for the next cycle but for now, just have to take it on the merits of the grant. Any other comments. Yes, I'm, I'll ask this. I'm not opposed to parties. I am. I mean, I think parties are cultural happenings. And I think, you know, that meetups are are happenings, but I'm not I guess I've got 100% seeing the, where is the sort of arts and culture component of this meetup. I was missing that a little too but specifically, they're, they're looking for $500 stipend for the artist to perform at the Drake and for someone to do sign language interpretation of that performance and 200 for the marketing for people to come to that performance. So if we really kind of step back from the whole larger thing that they're describing, there is an artist that's performing for for the community and I and it's open and accessible to the public. So another question was, was there any kind of a, is it a totally free event or just do people have to pay to get in. I'm sorry people are raising their hands I'm looking elsewhere. Are we all kind of looking at it's free or by donation. Is this the artist Diana Alvarez. Well I see ocean one Diana Alvarez. So we just assume I guess that there's a performance component of it. I guess it's not explicitly. No it wasn't it wasn't and I think you know they were trying to write, write up this much larger thing. And maybe they were making, they also applied to Greenfield Turner's Falls Hadley Amherst, Northampton Holyoke in Springfield but I would assume they would would have been citing a budget specific to those events those dates those locations so I guess it's a little challenging we all want to support it but it doesn't necessarily meet our guidelines without having a specific date, you know, at the Drake. Does anyone have concerns about it not meeting our guidelines because that yes Rachel and no I'm only raising my hand for time. Yeah we're at time. Are we all confident this this could be within guidelines. I mean one quick comment and that's a good point. I always really finding the Drake of gritty. Because if it's the Drake Lender app should be 200 knots in sound. Well, I think it is realistic that the Drake is, you know, losing money when they have to staff and have a totally free event and that that's, you know, not not sound either right. I'm not concerned in this case that we're just funding the Drake I think this would be going to artists in the community I think there is a performance component. Would we all be comfortable with kind of a high partial and in the range of 750 or is that too high. Thank you Eleanor. I'm fine with that level I would actually like to reach out to get confirmation on a date though there's there's like you said there's nothing to indicate time. Of support from from them from the venue right. Sorry. All right, are we good to move on then. We're past time. We should have. Okay, next. This is Lucy. I don't know if that's French right and West African drum workshop come out and play spring of 2023 at the Jones library. They are asking us for $200 and expecting to serve 15 audience members. And the only comment was, are we able to fund someone so directly I guess they meant as a stipend and I would say absolutely that's something that we do so. This group is bringing in teacher Jafar Mansell and the Wendell warriors and to play a short set of West African drum rhythms. And then they'll talk briefly about the history of the songs played what they mean where they come from, and then demonstrate how to play the basic notes on the drums. Then participants will participate in making the basic sounds then one or two songs will be explored with the class and everyone will learn how to play the main rhythm plus some supports in part of the group format to see how all the different parts are playing to make the polyrhythmic whole. All drums and percussion instruments will be provided but if anyone has their own African drums, the dembe I think it said they can feel free to bring it. This is great we're recording everything I culturally don't know how to pronounce. I would support fully funding this this is a tremendously reasonable ask my only question is, you know, do we have a letter of says we don't have a date. So anything here indicating that the Jones library wants them to come I think they might be space limited for 15 people, but otherwise I think the audience would be larger. Sorry, Julianne I put this at like, I would, I would vote to have, I mean, I know that the ask is quite small. But I think I had put in like, at least 50%, just because they're applying to multiple LCCs. And I think the support from the Jones as well, but I mean I'm good with whatever we all decide. Well, I do want to note here that they said the price is usually 400 but they were are donating 200 the library so they're only requesting 200 from us and as far as these other councils I mean this is happening right here in Amherst. I think it'd be nice because it sounds like a rather large group of folks. It's an incredibly small ask I can't imagine funding them for anything less than the full amount frankly. My only concern would agree. Yeah, my only concern would be, you know, got a location we don't have a date and we don't have a letter of support from from the Jones but you know if that can be provided confirmed I could you could you let it pass Rachel. Oh, please. Yes, of course. I got to come on camera now just for that like exchange, of course. Good to see you. All right, moving along. We have valley art salon, and they would like to bring very valley art salon and Amherst sometime in spring of 2023. They would like to host this to be at the UMass University Museum of Contemporary Art, and they're asking us for $400 to serve 150 folks. One person asked if it could be more open to a public audience. Another person said they're charging $5 for tickets. So, art salon is a dynamic social evening of engaging presentations by emerging artists in Planner Valley it's been going on since 2013. It's been presented in over 10 different communities in the Planner Valley, and it provides opportunities for a diverse range of artists to present their work and ideas in a format called Pachacucha. And I, we've talked about that before so I'll keep going. After the brief presentations that are about six minutes long there's a informal Q&A. In 2023 it will be in four communities. And featuring Amherst area artists and creators and it's a true cross disciplinary community building event. And yeah, it reflects the diversity and richness and liveliness of the arts in in the valley. Is there anyone who would like to, to speak to this event? Yes, Rachel. I don't need to speak to a person I just want to champion it, because I think the Pachacucha model is wonderful and that's all. Yeah, I'd almost say that considering we've looked at doing this, you know, ourselves and hosting something that's more like a monthly event or, you know, four to six events during the year. I almost think it's worth the $400 for us all to go and just experience it. You know, when I haven't been to one of their events because, you know, right when we were planning ours, the pandemic happened. So, you know, we never went. But I think it will be interesting with what they presented before seemed a little bit more specific to people more so in the academic community, which all these folks are lovely but we were kind of hoping for something on our local level that was a little bit more playful and inclusive. But I think it'd be great to see one of their events in Amherst and have us be able to go and have fun and learn from it. Yes. Again, I don't see a date, but I'd say this is it's an ongoing and well well known event so I'm confident in it. I'll agree. I'll put it down for the 400. Thank you. Okay, next is for Valley classical concerts. And this is for their 2022 2023 season. The dates for this are November 19 that's already occurred this year and another one for May 21. And this will occur at the Sweeney concert hall, Smith College, and sorry, and another I guess, depending on the two dates and the bombics center for arts and equity for one of the other dates. And they are asking for $1,000 of their $81,000 budget to serve 1200 people collectively. Excuse me. We scored this as a 1.64. So there clearly were some concerns. One of the folks said they were charging $35 for tickets. And another person said, you know, we definitely need to adjust for music totals. So it's it's not in Amherst. So this this group, which was formerly in Deerfield is a nonprofit they brought first rate performances of chamber music to the Pioneer Valley since 1979. And they're pledged to presenting a mix of established musician and exciting early career ensembles. So with mainstream classical music and works of 20th and 21st century composers. They brought an access to this great music through deeply discounted family and student pricing and other special admissions opportunities this season. They have four concerts at Sweeney concert hall. And they go at bombics center for the arts and equity. Is there anyone who would like to speak to this grant. I don't know if I'm just rushing through things I'll I'll speak to it as far as they're asking us for $1,000 out of an $81,000 event that I'm sure is quality but it's not happening in Amherst. And I do think that sure some some folks from our community will go and participate but we have a lot of music and I'd be okay with considering not funding this particular event. I think we should probably pencil it in as a low partial just because we're you know I think we're going to be going back through an adjusting for classical and chamber music town and I think it's an enthusiasm for the for the grant but I also don't think that we should penalize it for being one of the last four that we review. I said I might be doing that but you know I also would say that as far as music that would that happens here I think we'll we'll do a sort to look at music specifically and we'll revisit this on Wednesday as part of our balance budget. I don't know out of an $81,000 budget what what's a low partial that's going to be meaningful to this to this group. So personally, I meaningfulness to the end of to the group is for me I think what I look for is you know do we want to throw our support behind, you know and and so, as you said it's a large budget although I haven't looked to see how much that is in kind. But, but I you know I think it's again again it's a regional benefit of a high quality, you know, production, and, and certainly, you know BOMBIC Center and, or is this BOMBIC Center or Deerfield to two locations there is BOMBIC Center and then the other one was Smith College and there is my confused. And then, you know when you actually get into the budget, the concert. Okay, I'm seeing extra zeros here so it's about 45,000 for concert expended expenses and about 3100 that for fundraising and general support expenses for 33,000. And that ticket sales. They, I guess they expect around 42,000 and donations in the neighborhood of 37,000 and business businesses will can contribute 8500. So it sounds like they have most most of the budget covered. Yeah, I would, I would say it's a pretty substantial cultural event that I, you know, I don't disagree with you about sort of not happening right here in town and wanting a diversity of different media or, or, you know, forms. But I, but I would, I wouldn't zero it out. Is is 200 too low. Nope. Nope. Okay anyone else want to speak to it. I can't hear you. Their projected income is more than their budget. And they only apply to North Hampton and Amherst, apparently. So, I don't even know why they said they applied to us. I think that's where I was going with it. And we want to say yes, we're part of the greater valley. You know, and we want to, you know, be part of that and supported. Yeah, I mean, but I don't know that 200 dollars means anything to them and I don't know that any of us here are comfortable granting much more than that. Yeah, I mean, when you look at this as a possibility that they, you know, through donations and tickets and everything else could actually be, you know, on the positive side of this to take money out of our $1,000 out of our own community to give it to them. When there are other folks who are making art and getting a partial grant and, you know, who I don't know that that's where I'm challenged. Matt, did you have any additional comments? I mean, I can leave it at 200, but I think by the time we get to the voting meeting, you know, it might be like, oh, how can we take money away from that performance group? You know, we only have 200 over there, but, you know, we get into these situations where we really do have to provide the most benefit and this would go on. So I can leave the 200 there and then see what makes sense. Yeah, I don't think it's a good idea to zero it out. I just, you know, when we zero things out, then we put ourselves open to reconsideration meetings. It's really hard for us to say that, you know, classical music that we're funding in, you know, Belcher Town is more culturally vital than this in North Hampton. I mean, I hear, you know, I think you're making, you're all making bad points. I just would caution against zeroing it out. All right, let's, let's leave it there. And, you know, and we definitely are looking at music again. So we'll consider it then. Thank you. So with that, I have our next application for Lori wall. She has chair yoga dance movement and breathwork for all. This will be at the banks community center, which I think is synonymous with the emmer senior center. She's requesting $5,000, which is the total budget to serve 1000 people. Collectively, we scored this as, as a 1.57. So, so with this, it's the questions were one person said it sounds like a commercial venue, $5,000 ask and many classes. What about quality? Is there quality here and quantity? It seems it seems like this person is basically looking for a job for the year. Someone said to not fully fund it. So, this instructor would be teaching two classes of chair yoga dance movement and breathwork each week and free to the community. I'm a member of the banks community center and that it's accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability. And that seniors and members. Uh oh. Did we lose Julian. Yes, I think we did. Oh geez. Can anybody pick up where she left off I was in this mode. she's plugging in her laptop and discuss amongst yourselves. Were we on, were we still on the yoga, Lydian? Yes, she was reading the description. I can speak, the senior center does offer this class, they offer many of them. I have no idea how well it's attended. Two classes a week for 50 weeks a year, that is a lot. I have no idea how many people don't go because they can't afford it, which she doesn't document. But they do offer it. Each of their newsletters mentions it. So it does seem to be an ongoing class. Would it ask in terms of public benefit, though? Well, does it come under the cultural councils review, really? There's also an asked payment for folks coming to the class. She asks seven to 10 sliding scale from participants. And if we were to do the $2,500 of the grant, she would drop the cost to participate from three to five. I don't know what said, and I'm sorry that my connection dropped. But I struggle to consider, you know, anything that's this large of an ask, truly. So I have to mention the nature of what it is. Yeah. Well, I mean, I think chair yoga is, and I don't know if it's tongue-in-cheek or not. She says that the bangs, the chair, and the space are provided. So the chairs are provided. So that's an in-kind contribution. I see a, I do see a public benefit, but I'm not sure that it's necessarily arts and culture. No, it seems to be more, more fitness. And I don't see truly an art and culture benefit in there other than yoga, but I don't think we're speaking to the cultural heritage of yoga or anything like that. And I really don't think it's truly within our guidelines in this case. Agreed. I agree. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. All right. So. Next, we have Sam Wank. Outerwear, which way is the wind? It's music. It's set here to be any between August and November of 2023 in a to be determined outdoor space in Amherst. They're asking for $2,200, which is their total budget and hope to serve 2,000 people. Before getting into this at this point with, with no date and no venue. I don't believe that it meets our guidelines. If there's anyone who feels strongly that it does. Otherwise, I think we should move on. I think we should move on for a second. Before we move too quickly. I, the only reason I feel like I read that. You know, there's a very end. So, so I double checked myself. It's an installation. And so is there absolutely no sense of where this installation, because, you know, with an installation, the date is not, is not so, but is there no sense of where it's going to be done? Not that I know of. Yeah. No, it sounds fascinating, but, you know, further to this. One would have to get permission to actually install something like this. And is there a letter of support? No, there's, there's nothing that saying that the town wants this. And then. Yeah. You can't have an install. You can't have an installation without a place to install. Frankly, you know, what I'm looking at in the, in the, in the book. Yeah. It's like they would be creating almost like, you know, the kind of structure that you have for a swing set with banners hanging down that makes sound. I think it's. This is very, very abstract and no, no one's saying that they want to host it. And I think it does not meet our guidelines. All agreed. Thank you. Okay. You guys are doing great to help move this along. Really appreciate it. So the next one. Is at. This is for Alexandra Woolner. It's a poetry vending machine. It's available year round at Amherst books. And they're asking us for the total budget of $750. And they expect it to benefit 2000 people. Comments were 2.36. One person just said love. Another person said it seems to be duplicative of their, the other request with the text poetry. So the attack bear press has maintained a poetry vending machine since 2019. And it sells poems at 50 cents per piece and dispenses them in paper sleeves, local artists or local poets, writers and strangers are encouraged to purchase a poem and also submit a poem of their own using a QR code on the machine. Submissions are collected and reviewed by the attack bear press to ensure they're appropriate for all audiences. And they also encourage people to submit poetry by mail or online. Through their website. And the process is it's reviewed and if it's okay then it's type written and folded into the vending machines. Without funding. They currently run their project at a deficit. But many people have let us know that they truly love the vending machine. So I think it's a great opportunity to continue. Is there anyone who would like to champion? Yes. I would love to champion this. I think it's super, super cool. I can't believe I haven't seen it somehow. I feel like I'm at Amherst folks a lot. But yeah, I'm just a big fan of it. And I know I've been very pro like all of the poetry things, but we don't have a lot of poetry. I feel like. I have a lot of faith in it. Sounds like a real labor of love. I agree. I think it's a great project. I know what Robin wants to bring up. We do need to discuss it too. And one other thing, the budget, which is 400 is for mileage. So we cannot fund that. No, we can't. So it's really 350 is what we're looking at. And the other is, does anyone know if the poetry machine is in the upstairs or the downstairs? The downstairs is not accessible. The upstairs is. Well, it's upstairs. It is upstairs. Yes. Hey, then. I mean, I actually called the bookstore. And he said. Yeah, we don't have a button for the door. I mean, if you knock, you know, we'll let you in and we'll help you and we'll help you get the door out. And. Sometimes this is best, you know, as, you know, as well as the store can do. So. It's a little if you to me if it's accessible, but. You can definitely get up to the door. So one thing I think that's. You know, you know, if, if it's, if it's not ADA accessible, you know, if, if Amherst books, you know, under those guidelines is not considered. Yeah, that kind of business. There's an issue, but. My, my guess is this is an in-kind donation of space. To attack bear press, right? At a venue where people can access the art. So it's really not, it's not their fault. However. We would have to assure that the business itself is considered accessible, which I think it must, must be in the reasonable accommodate. Anything else that you're reading that statement, right, Matt? Yeah, I believe so with the ramp and the ability to open the door for a person, I think it would be accessible. Yeah, because you go in and it's not like you stay there for five hours. So. Yeah, I mean, I think it's reasonably accessible. Yeah, I wouldn't feel comfortable denying them on that. I also want to just point out that she is co-oplying with. I think it's Jason. No, Jason. She's co-oplying with somebody, but the other grant, he is the lead applicant on it. I just had a, you know, I double-checked that. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, there are no guideline issues from that perspective. I agree. I just wanted, I'm putting it down for the 350 because Robin's right. We can't support mileage. So it's a shame because my, my guess is this is a real labor of love and that just the amount of time to read and curate this and then to type on a typewriter and the expenses for the paper. Like I think all of the expenses are there, but we can't do the money for the mileage. I wanted to do a time check. We've got two minutes left. We have not deliberated gallery A3. And there are several that from today, certainly that we would benefit from going back to. I hate to ask it after a long day for everyone. Is it, is it possible for any folks to stay on longer? Tonight. Thank you, Robin. I can't. I'm sorry. I've got. I've got to be honest. I can't say anything. Okay. I can say something. It's right at 7 30. You are entitled. No, Cody. Can't yet. Okay. I can. I can say five minutes, but I don't know if that would be really even worthwhile. Okay. So that. Rachel. I just, can you stay at all or no. Yeah, I can stay. Can I ask a question? I'm sorry. I'm in the local council guidelines page 11 restrictions. Grant funds cannot be used to purchase food or beverage. Scholarships cannot be used for a scholarship program. Where is the mileage piece? Travel. We can't use it for travel. Where is that though? I don't see it. You know I haven't looked to validate that but I guess that's something that we we've been saying for some time. Did it change? Is it part of our local as opposed to regional or the MCC? No, it's not local. I'll look for it tomorrow. No, I stand corrected. It is local. Travel would not be reimbursed. Okay. Sorry. Okay. All right. Thank you for confirming that. In the interest of time and I want to go back to the gallery A3 which we couldn't have had Christie here for anyway because she has been recusing herself for this. You'll have to give it. Okay. Here it is. So gallery A3. This is their art and community which runs pretty much all of 2023 and these events are at gallery A3 28 Amity Street. They are asking us for $6,520 which is their entire budget and expect to serve 1,000 people. Comments here were love gallery A3 but it's a lot of money. Another person said it's a vital community resource. The funding request is very high. Someone else said a very large ask and low number is not about the quality but the ask is too much. As I recall, it's also the amounts that they've been asking for over the years are they're on an exponential trajectory at this point. I think they used to ask if I look back might have been 1,000 and getting to 6,500 which is more than 10% of the MCC's allocation to us is simply not going to work in my opinion. So let me see what I can share. It is a year-long event with three components. They'll continue with the monthly members exhibitions and Zoom forums which cover a wide range of topics and then they'll have a second post-pandemic juried show. They'll be working in 2023 on a collaboration with Art for the Soul Gallery in Springfield to take place in 2024. This continues gallery A3's 2022 initiative included monthly forums and invitational with five African-American artists curated by Terry Genore and the return of the juried show and there's a draft in the final reports in supplement. So Daniel Kojosh Sherrods from Hampshire College was one and was their juror and is bringing new perspectives and and verb to the event selecting artists from as far as feel as Nantucket. Because of the pandemic we've had a lot of our forums by Zoom which has increased the audience by two to three fold over in-person audiences. I have to say having just stumbled through that with apologies to whoever I pronounced incorrectly I don't get a real sense of what this would be specifically you know from their description. I would definitely need to read the budget knowing that we can't service anywhere near that full budget. Is there anyone who'd like to speak to this? I'll just weigh in briefly on my thoughts on A3 and Amherst Syndrome and some of the larger orgs. I think they do a nice job some years more than others of representing projects when in reality you know we kind of just represent one of a diverse source of funds for these organizations. So I think you know we should fund them as much as we see is responsible and I personally don't think too much about the you know the layout of the project that they're applying for. I just look at it as sort of one of you know like a funding source for them. Yeah I think I'm in line with you there I think they do you know bring a tremendous benefit to the community and I mean they really put out every effort possible during the pandemic and their reach has grown. You know as far as the work they're doing for 2024 I think that's outside of our current you know 2023 grant cycle I don't really think we can do that for them. So I'd be curious to go back to past years and and see what the award was and I think you know would make sense to you know continue to hopefully be able to support them at a level consistent with a prior year. Yeah I mean along those lines when you Julian and Matt as co-chairs kind of figure out the overall budget that would be really useful to to bear that in mind because I feel like you all are already very much clued into okay how do we want to weigh these organizations and their requests against the other asks by the by the um applicants so I think no no I think that I'm quite confident in both of your judgments in balancing those what you're saying about these. Thank you and I stand corrected on one one piece here which was that last year um I'm looking at that grant and they did ask us for uh 6,265 and we granted them 2,500. Hmm 2,500. Yeah 2,500. So uh yeah uh Robin you had comments. Just that we last year we gave them 2,500 and I thought they had asked us for about 6,000 as well so in the year before it was much lower. I think we might have given them quite a bit but we didn't ask them this much. We gave them quite a bit because in that year we really prioritized especially during the pandemic uh trying to to fully grant uh Amherst included groups yeah sorry. I'm so sorry to interrupt I just have to run off now. Thank you that that that's been really helpful for us to get here and we will be in touch in advance of the meeting for Wednesday we have at least reviewed all of the grants so I think we're in in decent shape so thank you all for your service. Hi Eleanor. Can I just can I just add one more thing before we all sign off which is that I um given wait well I don't think you can add I think this is too close to deliberation but potentially deliberation because I'm also still recording. That's fine but you can go ahead and record but what I was just going to say is that um the mass cultural council has added all these other categories for um whether individuals or organizations will apply for funding. So conceivably as you know you and Matt and Robin are putting together the overall budget that's something to bear in mind that's all. Point noted I appreciate it thank you. Okay with with that I will motion to adjourn thank you all. Thank you Julianne. Thank you. Take care. Bye. Okay.