 Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the meeting of the cultural council. My name is Angela Mills and I work for town manager Paul Bachman. At this time I'd like to recognize our co-chairs Matt and Juliet. Matt, I will make you a host and I wish you all a great meeting. Thank you, Angela. Hey everybody. We are recording now so I'm going to go ahead and I'll read the script and then we'll do a roll call and then we'll hop right into our deliberation meeting on Thursday, November 9th. So let's see this meeting is pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2021. This meeting is allowed to be conducted via remote means members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so in the following manner by attending via zoom. So members and 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're unable to do so for reasons of economic hardship and despite best efforts, we will post the recording on the town Amherst media YouTube channel. Shortly after the meeting is concluded and members of the public may access it there. Let's see we'll do a quick roll call make sure everybody can hear and be heard Christy. Hi, everyone. Hello, Eleanor. Hi, and I just wanted to say Sylvie let me know she'll be a few minutes late but that she's on her way. Thank you, Rachel. I'm here. Hello, Cody. Hi, I'm and you have to do assist on me. Okay. Thanks, Cody. And Julie. Hi. Yes, I'm here. Hello. Yeah, we hear you. Thanks. Welcome. Sounds like you might have a little delay. Okay, so we will jump into our deliberations. I do see one. One attendee in the participant box. So if you are observing, you're welcome to observe and if you'd like to make comment. We'll hold for a minute for public comment right now just use a little hand raised feature if you would like to make a comment. Okay. Not seeing anything. I will go ahead and jump in. And we're just going to continue continue our process as usual. So I'm going to jump down. I believe we are in correct me if I'm wrong, but I check with Julian. I think I'm not wrong. I believe we're at. Item number 24 and your sequence number 24, which is Kim Chin Gibbons is the applicant name underrepresented genres of music residency and showcase. Do you want to write to everybody else? Okay. So I'll read the brief project description and then we can open it up for discussion. Was somebody consistently serving as the timer. I'll do that. I was just about to ask you if you want me to do that. This is Rachel. Okay, so I'll start now. Yeah, go ahead. Is it seven minutes? Five. Okay, sounds great. Let's start now. What makes a show to remember these days live music is harder than ever to execute, especially high production acts getting their start post pandemic. We aim to do something very different. A roller coaster of progressive rock featuring counterpart metal funk shoe gaze and classical music influences. We aim to do a three day tech residency with the band Sunset Mission project arrived slash continued from our three day residency in 2022 at city space in East Hampton with the show live streams and in person at the end of the third day showcasing unique genres of music with other bands at the same time. This gives musicians of unconventional music a real opportunity and voice and the event will be accessible to people of all ages, folks with disabilities and the proposed live stream live stream element will be available to the immuno compromised or those unable to join in the live stream. And then they do include one piece of supporting literature, which is from last year when they use the city scape in East Hampton as a as a venue for this, but I know that there's no confirmation from the Drake that they're able to use the space. Nor is there a specific date. So open it up for discussion. Do you want to champion them for full funding or or to the contrary want to say that they're not eligible. Um, I do think it's a great event in some cases or genres of music. And just again with the trend that was known that day in this case, um, not even a confirmation from the Drake is just concerning me. One thing I will know is that they, they set aside $1,500 for venue rental. So, you know, they're not assuming that they can get a free rental and I don't know if they actually called and got that quote or not. If folks are comfortable, we, you know, we certainly could follow up and find out if, you know, if that's a real quote, then I guess I'm more inclined to provide some funding if it's if it's sort of a number that's sort of pulled out of the air then I think it doesn't really qualify. All right, so I'm, I'm driving, but there's, is there anyone who can look at and tell us what what the date concept even is at the moment because April, you know, no location and no date sometime in April. April at the Drake, but no confirmation and we don't know if that's an actual rental fee that they found out or if it's just something that they were projecting, you know, guest debating. Yeah, what's the total budget and what are they asking for from us. 5000 is the total budget, and they are asking us for 5000. Did they ask any other cultural councils is there any benefit to any of the regional area. No, no, there's no, there's no other cultural councils listed on the document. They do talk about income coming from ticket sales. However, I do not see. Oh, $10 cover $10 live stream ticket with special discounted prices for example $5 for students and 65 and up. I don't know how close we are to time on this but I think we're going to have to come back to this one unless. I think there's too much we don't know. 30 seconds. Well, I think that we are. Yeah, I think that we're, we're generally sort of supportive of partial funding but I think a follow up email is needed to find out about the venue rental. I mean, you know, do they actually know they can rent the break for the time they need for 1500 bucks. So I'll make a note to do that. Any other comments. Before, before we move on. Okay. I'm going to go down to our next item which is clubbo ink clubbo holistic career development. The date range here is November this now until March of next year. They're asking for 5000 again. Their total budget is 5000 and they're asking for 5000 from us. And the description is at clubbo we serve as a universal safe space for self advocacy resiliency community engagement leadership and mentorship for youth aged 11 to 21. In greater Springfield collaborating public schools and community partners we've developed a holistic career development approach that bridges the home school gap. Through our curriculum students gain life skills from BIPOC business owners educators and professionals. In two years we've graduated over 250 scholars and are recognized by the Springfield empowerment zone partnership. Our certificates equate to community service hours enhancing future job prospects. We've expanded into after school program summer camps and conducted HBCU college tours for this project. We aim to open up HBCU tours to Amherst high school students host holistic career development nights and offer valuable experiences to local youth and families. And just scrolling down for a quick moment I'll give you the budget breakdown. So 1500 for staffing 1500 for materials 1500 for scholarships 500 for venue rental. And there are no letters of support that I see partnerships with Amherst college professor you mass engineering. Alicia Walker assistant director of Alicia Walker is the assistant director of club Oh, Kirk Morris is a president of Citizens of World Inc. And a few other groups. Christie please. Thanks are brief. I don't. I mean, they're taking cultural to mean human like human support it sounds like a wonderful organization but it doesn't sound like what we do. But unless I'm missing something. That's what I also know. The only she that is not really the only great mission but it's nice. It was a creative project. But it's a tall. Does anybody think that it might meet our guidelines. I was going to agree that I also have concerns about meeting our guide lines, everything that Christine Cody said but also, I don't recall that there were even any letters from Amherst necessarily asking for this. So. And I seem to recall it was a. There wasn't a concrete schedule is very conceptual but I don't think it meets our guidelines. I think this is there. This is their programming. You know, this is their, it's an ongoing program. And the, the idea would be that they would be bringing it to us. But I agree. I'm trying to, I'm trying to look through our arts activities, you know, directed to support arts and nurture arts activities in the community by seeking private so they have to agree with Cody and others that I don't necessarily see the arts and culture benefit here. Okay, so going once going twice I think we can probably move on, unless anybody wants to advocate otherwise. Okay, we're going to move on down to number. Number six, which comes from the collaborative for educational services. Amherst kindergarten readiness music performance music to happen in March of 2024. Amherst elementary schools. The total budget is $1675. The grant request from us is 350 projected number served is 30. In the description, families with rising kindergartners will come together to create community through music movement and exploration of local resources. The Amherst kindergarten readiness event will will feature a performance by musician and puppeteer Liam Hurley. This local children's performer will engage kids with interactive songs movement activities, dance and guided rhythm to delight and unite participants at the event families will play yard games and make art together. To receive information about the Amherst public schools kindergarten program, learn about child development and peruse the resource fair tables to learn more about local services. Families will each receive a free packet of kindergarten readiness materials, including books, art supplies toys and an activity packet to help prepare for the transition to kindergarten. So, anybody want to champion this one seems great budget on this one again. The total budget is 16 and change and they're asking for 350 from us. They have a nice letter of support, I think. Letters from the superintendent of schools. It seems great. Go ahead, Christie. I was just going to say it's an event where I would think a lot of people with little kids are going to be there and seems like a good thing. And it's not a big ask. Yeah, it's a reasonable ask it's cultural it's good arts and I mean I about tiered up having three kids my own and remember going to kindergarten to begin with and how you know how much you want your family there with you and it's not all new on that day and this just seems lovely, really lovely. And a little infusion of arts and culture into the sort of step up to kindergarten day. I love it. I'm, I'll advocate a full fund out 350 here. Okay. Hopefully we have it. All right. Let's move on to number 27. This is Robert Como. This is the South Amherst Cemetery and Commons historical tour. The date is June 1 of next year 24 project location is in the South Amherst Cemetery and South Amherst Commons. The total budget as $170 all of which is being requested from us projected target or number served as 1000. And let me read the South Amherst Cemetery and Commons historical tour will be a walking tour of the cemetery first and then the Commons area. Grave stones will be explained and examined with stress on the first inhabitants of the area. Then the houses on the Commons will be discussed. The makers and their architectural styles will be examined. So let me see coming into the report a little bit. There's a articulation of cemetery tours and the popularity. Hello, I hope I'm saying that right has led historical tours and Holyoke South Hadley and chickpea for 10 years. Under his initiative, he started the historical tours of great Holyoke, greater Holyoke, which gives free public tours and some paid private tours. His web page is Holyoke cannot tour.org with information. He was a high school science teacher for 18 years as a master's in physics. The Holyoke preservation trust has hosted all my tours for the past 10 years. Wow. Well, this is a cool one. Not to bias the discussion, but it seems neat comments. I like it. I mean, it's a pretty small ask. I don't know. I actually very randomly on like a cemetery tour this summer that I kind of just happened into and it was like a surprisingly amazing experience. So I think if we could fully fund it, it seems really great to me. I agree. I agree. And it's a really reasonable ask. He also says he's applying the similar for other similar projects. He's applying to South Hadley, Holyoke, chickpea, East Hampton and Granby. So I think he's really expanding. Let me just see is there is it. Is it no cost to any participants? Yeah, the other ones that he's the other ones he's applying for are totally separate grants and events. So this is all for just and it's a small ask for just this one event. I looked at the budget. I can't remember what it was, but it was also reasonable items. Yeah, printing out handouts and things like that. And then $145 for himself, but that seems that seems low for the amount of research and preparation one must put into a cemetery tour. So I think I'm hearing a general consensus to fully fund this one. And, and I, there's one of these ones I'll probably mark my own calendar because I really want to I would like to attend that. So I move on to 28 and please if I'm going too fast, don't hesitate to stop me because I have multiple tabs open. 28 is dear Ella is the applicant name. It's an outdoor concert. Summer 2024 is the date range location is Amherst, Massachusetts total budget is 700 requests from us is 700 projected target number served 150. We propose giving an outdoor concert in Amherst in the summer of 24 our music is family oriented and will bring a festive and upbeat atmosphere. So let me go into the PDF here a little bit. See if I can find a little bit more information here. We see our concerts as supporting local shops and giving to the town they have some links. They list the artists. Annie Patterson co-created the world renowned song book songbook rise up singing. Anne Percival is a member of Wild Asparagus. Mary Witt is a singer and a bass player for the Otones. As of today, no other organizations are involved. Salaries $300 $600 for the across three performers $200 each $100 we provide our own sound so no in kind support and I believe it's they say it was free. So, okay, there's a photograph of the three of them, but I don't think there's any real other specifics other than that. So I open it up for discussion. I mean, no real location, no date night. It's a trend I feel, but just I do support Portugal. Let's get that out there, but it's just like you should really have collaborations or be honest with doing it by ourselves. I just feel all we are looking and for partners still sounds a little disorganized. That's just me. I don't think it's just you, Cody, and that it sounds really lovely. I'd like there to be some sort of letter of support somebody who's asking them to come and, you know, to have to go back to the majority of the grantees and say where and when where and when where and when is problematic. But it sounds really nice. I can't remember what the whole ask was for it. $700 anyone have the $700 and it's for approximately how many hours of entertainment. It's a single concert. Okay, so a couple hours or so. Okay, I mean, one of the things our survey showing us is that people are asking for things like this, you know, but again, it's really hard when our requirement is to have a date location and everything else sounds great, but it's all, you know, up in Yeah, I mean I'm willing to work with somebody who says that they'd like, you know, they would like to do it at the Drake but but if you just want to say outside and some, you know, to me there's there's just there's just there isn't enough here to consider this an actual feasible, you know, Oh, yeah, and I seem to recall I did dig into this one because I, you know, it sounded good and then it let me down and it was like, Oh, well, their their plan being if I'm remembering correctly is that they'll just have it at somebody's house. I mean, I think for it to have public benefit to Cody's point it needs to be more structured more organized and, you know, we're not in the business of outdoor house party entertainment and I know that that's not what they're suggesting they're saying don't have the money, but they need, you know, the events to be more official. Yeah, I mean to do a public, you know, it's not a it's not a big process to get a permit from the town for, you know, a small park or something like that so to do a public outdoor concert is, you know, is a wonderful thing, but it does take some degree of, you know, planning and coordination. Okay, so I'm just gonna briefly say I personally I would say that this does not meet our criteria because it's just it's not enough detail. It's not even a beginning of enough detail I guess. I agree. Okay, sadly. Yeah, right exactly I mean it's a it's a lovely, you know, sentiment but just need a little bit more than that. Okay, so moving on to number 29. This is Kamaya digs is Kamaya digs and friends fourth annual holiday show, and Kamaya is the applicant name. It's in December 2024 it's at the Drake total budget cited is $1,975. The grant request is $1,975 projected or target number served is 850 people. And then I'll read the description. Kamaya digs and friends annual holiday show started in winter of 2021. Starting at the parlor room in North Hampton the show has sold out for two years in a row, and is anticipated to sell it at the Drake in December 24. The jazz style show features Kamaya digs and a trio of local musicians plus special guests. The special guests are the heart of the show with representation from all corners of the valley's vibrant music scene. Artists of color. It's an opportunity for me to support other upcoming artists of color by giving them a platform to perform. The show also includes a partnership with local charities and 939 the river community members who donate to the annual toy drive will be entered into a raffle to win tickets to the show. It's important to me that the show is focused on a holiday spirit. And while the songs are Christmas songs the event is secular. It's an opportunity to do within the PDF they list a few more details that are probably worth sharing. And I believe Kamaya digs is a known commodity to us I haven't, I haven't looked it up but I'm pretty sure we've given him grants before. What was I was looking for. Oh, special potential special guest musicians that are not the venue is not confirmed yet. Musicians also not confirmed Wallace field Lux deluxe Naomi Nye. Lexi wedge mentality bonda Elliott Lee freezing. I plan to similar promotion so I mean, you know, it is a partnership with 939 the river. Most of the money goes to that would be $1500 going to the special guest artists with another $475 going to decor and marketing. If I do not receive full funding, I will cut some guest artists. So, again, I mean, it doesn't, you know, he doesn't have the great confirmed doesn't have a letter of support, but it is already an established institution and I think, you know, is excuse me is a slightly different project. I'll open up for discussion. Question, did they budget to rent the tree. No, I think I know. Tickets will be $20 in advance and 25 of the door important information. I support at least a partial funding I've met Kamaya dicks before through Amherst college radio. And I think that this would be a really cool event and one that I want to go to this year's version of, but I am a little bit confused about not budgeting for the Drake. I think it's a for profit gig. I mean, I think it's, you know, selling 20, 20 and $25 tickets. I think the bridge the Drake would be expected to book them is sort of how that would be, you know, like a, like a professional musician. So it's not articulated super clearly in here. And so oftentimes our grants sort of are, you know, on the edge between, you know, professional musicians and and sort of things that we're promoting. And I know, you know, that my digs is a pretty well established artists. Obviously the river is like the main, you know, radio station for rock music and, you know, modern music in the valley. So I would certainly think that we, you know, we should try to partially fund it but I would like to follow up and see if there is any confirmation from the Drake with them. I mean, I think it's this is a fully baked proposal is just a detail that we tend to many of our proposals don't have that detail of confirming the venue and it's important I think to try to do that. Other thoughts. My last thought is just, I'd like to see grantees when they do have ticket sale budget, you know, and they're anticipating selling out that that's, you know, part of their budget. Maybe we need to more formally request that going forward or make it make it clearer, you know, because we rarely get that. Yeah, it's an interesting space to be in when you have professional musicians who are selling tickets and, you know, getting compensated by those sales. And actually, I mean, you know, that that is a something that I don't think anybody wants to, you know, zero fund this, but I think it's a question that we should weigh when we're considering the partial funding is, you know, will our funding be a game changer for this grant in other words, you know, is our funding essential to this happening versus something else and, you know, I think it's, it's good to show support for it but I don't think that our funding, you know, I think the answer is no our funding is essential to this project. Right. I mean, we would we would weigh that right if they're they are collecting tickets and whatever partial how partial of it. Right. Okay, I think we're at time. Okay. I wanted to add that I was a little concerned that, you know, considering the sell out opportunity the ticket sales I found a little strange that if our funding doesn't come through that guest artists get cut. That's the only way that they're coming so they're just cutting rather than managing. Oh, I read that a little I thought I read it to be to just say that that you know, the our funding would be there to so that he, you know, who's getting paid for the through the ticket sales can also pay additional folks to come in without having to take take a take a hit in his own budget, I mean his own pocket, you know. Oh. Okay, I appreciate a different perspective. Thank you. Yeah, because he says I will cut some get like I will reduce the number of guest artists that's how I read that. Okay, so thank you Rachel for keeping us on track so well. Let's go to number 31. So this is a known grantee empowerment through the arts. The project title is habitat habitat, the animals point of view, which I love the title already. Project is one is theater. Performance is happening this month, November 25 2023 at the Eric Carl their total budget is 2000 grant request is 1500 projected or target number serves 100. We are invited to be part of environmental Eric Carl a retrospective of his art relating to the planet. Our original show habitat habitat from the animals point of view, full of stories from the animals perspective, living in eight different ecosystems, ocean to desert rainforest to the Arctic. The audience here is directly from animals and what they need and what they love and costumes and masks puppetry and song. We tell the stories of life as animals live today, melting ice invading neighborhoods looking for food. We look at how they lived in the past bears being able to scoop up salmon puppets tell of not enough trees and flowering plants songs about love of the planet and oneself inspire us to act. An interactive display of the ecosystems covered in the play, allow youth to learn ways to care for the animals habitat and a way they can offer ideas about more than we can all do. Did I jump, did I skip one. I'm so sorry I will come back to Eli. Do you guys mind if we jump down to 31 per second. Sounds good. Okay. All right, so we're going to skip we're going to come back to Eli in a moment. My apologies. And of course we know. Esel Florendina or Salinda as well as listed here. And I'll just read a little bit more about this target audiences families with young children, playful show designed especially for this age group, making the show free allows families and lower economic status to access the museum and show. The museum is also on a regular bus route. The cost of participation would be free with the grant. Assuming in other words assuming we give our grant donations are accepted and donated for specific animal rescue and support programs. And then. So this is the important thing for folks who are not familiar with the group. The rainbow players are by nature a DEI organization our focus is inclusion and access at all levels. We're discussing ways to have the show interpreted for the deaf. At the end of the show we will have some actors at the door interacting as the animal. The show is free of charge. The rainbow players have been together for over 25 years looking at issues relating to the environment and climate. This is a show especially for a young audience bringing in songs that are easily learned and taught. Eric Carl is offering us $500 towards the 2000 needed. New partners are students in the work study program on Amherst College and UMass interns working with scenery. The museum will promote the show on their website and social media and handling the ticketing reservations and details will promote the show on our website as well. The show will be held in chamber of commerce Greg's doors Amherst community connections. So they're very well established in the community. Let's see $700 go to the acting troop $100 stipend for each actor $350 for the director $150 for the stage manager musical director ASL interpreter set aside which we've really encouraged folks to do for $250. Other sources of income would be their fall fundraising campaign. Access to Eric Carl is being offered beforehand so the group can become comfortable with the space. One scheduled rehearsal additional time in the auditorium free of charge. If you don't get the full funding will still perform it will still be offered free of charge. We would also still pay our actors and tech support and we would accelerate our pursuit of local business sponsorships to cover a shortage of funds. And then there's a really nice I encourage everybody which I'm not going to read the whole thing but there's a really nice rundown of all their many accomplishments. And if folks are not familiar. Oh isn't this great if folks are not familiar there's, you know, the rainbow players as a group of, you know, young adults and adults with intellectual impairments, and they do just tons of amazing creative activities. And there is a excellent an excellent letter of support from the director of education at the Carl Museum, and that is enough out of me. This is a, a grant that is is done to the tea. It's it's how how we like them to be done. Yeah, this. And we've funded it every year that I've been on the council for something. I would say to fully fund if we have the funds, you know, it just really comes down to it is it is a sizable ask but it is all here and it's science and arts and culture and diverse. It's just everything is great, but it's a it's still a lot of money considering but I think it's great. I would if I could, we can. But as you know, a full fund preference unless anybody wants to argue otherwise. Obviously everything contingent on available funding but I think, you know, it's really hard to see anything in this grant that doesn't align with Yeah, or if I am saying we should fund them regardless but if we can't fully fund we should do our very best to fund them partial. Absolutely. Okay, I'm going to, I think we're going to mark this as one that we're really going to pursue. I mean we're going to pursue full funding for. And then let me back up with apologies up to number 30, which is Eli Elkis. Also, somebody who's come in with us several times before. Eli does musical storytelling and folk music at the farmers market, which ranges, you know, April through October and into November impact, I think this year. Total budget cited is 900. And the grant request is awesome. Excuse me is also 900. And I will read the description, a series of three musical storytelling and folk music performances at the Amherst farmers market. It will be three hours in length and will take place on three dates by myself and David between to be determined by myself and David between April and October 24. The program will feature my original works, songs and stories from my travelings, rekindling of blue a folk and blues songs from the early 1900s in the American tradition of artists like Led Belly, Carter family, Memphis jug band, Bessie Smith and Woody Guthrie interpretations of work by artists like shall Silverstein, Malvine Reynolds, Jimmy Kennedy and Roger Miller, curated for the enjoyment of younger listeners. The performance material is intended to appeal to a diverse and intergenerational intergenerational audience is layered in ways that young and old can enjoy and is tailored impromptu to what the audience and moment requires. I'll open up for discussion for a minute. I will say that, you know, you guys, I'll go ahead, Cody, please. I think, thinking about a budget and, you know, being irregular, yeah, we should find a level, but it's a 900 is high. So I would say definitely not for the fun. Other thoughts? That makes sense. I think I do. Yeah, I just want to know the letter of support that says from the farmers market that notes like that they're not only wanting and they're planning on having them there. And yeah, I get that 900 might be high, but I would I would like to fund this as much as I can, I think I would lean towards a high partial myself. I mean, I think it's, you know, it's a nice cultural addition to the to a standing event. And, you know, tailored towards young children and families. And so, but I think I agree with Cody that, you know, we don't this is not necessarily a full funded one. Although sometimes, you know, sometimes we get into our last few meetings and we find that we are able to fully fund more than we expected. So I wouldn't rule it out, but I also wouldn't necessarily prioritize 100% funding on this one. Yeah, I support a partial. Okay. Any other comment on Eli. Okay, well, let's jump down to number 32. It's 615 now so probably get through a few more. Jump down to number 32. This is Marshall Escamilla Escamilla. Discover discovering dinosaurs in the Pioneer Valley a play a place based science podcast for kids. This project will be placed will be a place based audio experience available online for kids and families all around the world. But there will be several audio stops in Montague Turner's Falls, Greenfield, Deerfield, Amherst, Northampton, Gill, Hadley, Granby, South Hadley, Chicago and Springfield. The audio provides listeners with an opportunity to explore further in person. The budget cited is $28,725 and they are asking us for $1,200 projected or target number served is 40. And then I'll read the description in partnership with New England public media tumble media the creators of the tumble science podcast for kids will produce a place based audio experience highlighting the rich history of dinosaurs in the Pioneer Valley. The Pioneer Valley boasts several sites along the Connecticut River that witnessed some of North America's earliest dinosaur findings. We plan to narrate this extraordinary journey through a series of 13 audio shorts ranging from one to three minutes interviewing a diverse group of modern day and local experts. Though many of these discover discoveries were made in the 19th century, we will explore how they continue to be relevant to research today. These audio stories will be readily available through an interactive map on the NEPM website. As the Beneski Museum has nearly all the fossils found in the Pioneer Valley in its collection. Amherst is a crucial stop on this project. I may have to recuse myself here just because I am a super attendee of the Beneski and in all things dinos in the valley, but I will try to maintain, you know, a degree of impartiality. I'm going to scroll and I want to see that I'm guessing that this $28,000 budget reflects a bunch of cultural council asks I just want to confirm that. Yeah, I would champion fully funding it if possible. I think it's amazing. They've applied to all those cultural councils. There is info about the tumble project. And there is a letter of support from NEPM. Wow. That is amazing. I would say at least high partial. You know, plus high partial plus. Love it. Other comments. Yeah, one. Sorry, did somebody else want to speak first? No, no, no, you go ahead. Okay, so for the project and what it is, I agree with Christie on this one. And I think my comment is that since it is advertising or aspiring to be place based. I just want to point out that in terms of how they're choosing to name the various locations and. You know, whether it's place names, I would just have that question myself and maybe that's not a criterion for our evaluation, but that's something that I have a question about is my point. Can you just say the question again. My question is the names like things like pioneer valley embers, because these things were here well before these names were so if they're claiming to be place based. I personally have a concern about how they choose to name those places. But for the project itself. I love it. Like in terms of what they're aiming to do with the project. So because they're, you know. Putting the place based, I would have a question and concern about how they choose to name these places. Well, I did confirm one helpful thing, which is those place names are the names of the places where the cultural councils are that they're asking for funding from so I think that's that's one helpful reference to that. So how normal are you going to make a comment. I was going to say, I'm for it. But yeah, I do got what you're saying, Rachel. I don't know if that's within the scope of like this part, but yes, I think that's a good point. Okay. All right. It's 618 want to do one more and then call it a night. Sound good. I know Cody's got to hop off in just a minute. All right, this is number 33 applicant name Kerry Ferguson, Kerry, we've fun to carry Kerry Ferguson and the grumpy time club band. Most likely summer of 24 TBD at the Jones library. $700 budget cited grant request $700 projected or target number served $200 interactive concert with positive message for children and families. This will be a live interactive music concert by Kerry Ferguson and the grumpy time club band for children and families hosted by the Jones library and Amherst. The event will most likely be held at the Drake Theater, which is accessible and Amherst. Okay. Hosted by the Jones library, but held at the Drake Theater. Okay, interesting. The grumpy time club band is red, gold and purple family music party band, which offers a horn section, youth musicians and costume dancers playing original music from Kerry's award winning album, the grumpy time club, plus some fun covers and new tunes. The band offers positive and uplifting funky folk pop that is highly danceable and fun for all ages. Song themes include LGBTQ youth and family pride, earth stewardship and love of nature, social justice and inclusivity, self esteem and social emotional learning, and then jumping over into the PDF hosted by Jones perhaps to the Drake. I'm curious if this is a consideration about the construction of the Jones or something I'm a little confused about that part. The Jones has invited Kerry and the grumpy time band to play for the library. Dear Paths Nature School will help promote. The money is to pay the 46 band members and dancers. Supporting letter. Spade 55 people last year. Yep. Does anybody remember offhand if we funded this last year I know it came in for us. Yes, we did fund it. I can probably pull that up. Too many tabs too many tabs. Ferguson right. I would. My vote would be. It's not a huge ask. I guess it's not a tiny ask, like high partial at least. You know, high partial plus if we had the money, everything, but you know, 500, something like that, at least. You're channeling us last year, Christie, we gave him 550 last year, so. There you go. Of course, I remembered. I remembered that. Of course you did. Nothing else going on. That's impressive. Yeah, I mean, it's, it's hard to argue with it. And I'm not sure what the confusion about the Jones and the Drake is, but as Christie said the letter of support from the Jones kind of. You know, that puts me at ease that it'll figure it out. So nobody wants to be grumpy about the grumpy time band. It's good. Yeah. And as far as I was on mute, so I couldn't chime in before this one, but I think it would be who of us if any folks can stay later enough to make a quorum that we don't all jump now because we're at which number now. Sure. Yeah, we can do one more. That's fine. I, I'd, you know, I'd like to, to try to. I don't know how much more time does everyone have. We had to go. Yeah, we can go to 630 that's fine. Okay, great. Okay, all right. Thanks, Cody. Thanks, Cody. Okay. Okay. Number 34 is a Roseanne fly shower. I hope that I'm getting that right. It's another yarning one. It's great yarning around Massachusetts. The date is 23 to 24 location is in your town and statewide total budget is $500 grant request is $500 projected target is 2500 people. And this is the description. Initially, it was a town by town application with teaching included in towns near to me, but now it is a bigger idea. Let's all join in the fun for 2324. I'll work with people in town to yarn bomb a prominent location in each town that participates with crochet pieces by me and other people in town. The installation would require some advertising to ask people for contributions of granny squares or small squares of crocheted and knitted fabric, which would then be sewn together by me to fit the tree by crack or other designated location in town. Others, of course, could help with the setup, not familiar with the concept Wikipedia.org slash yarn bombing using recycled yarn made from soda bottles and recycled fabric. I will create a series of crochet panels, which we can use to decorate benches a tree or other location in town that is suitable. And then going over to the PDF here for a minute. I don't mean to I enjoy I appreciate the spirit of this that's that's like it's my, the reason of chuckling. And I and of course love yarn, yarn bombing as such. So this Roseanne has been teaching crochet since 2020. And was the crochet designer of the year in 2021 for the National Needle Arts Association. Since then, my work has appeared in five books, including one of my own cozy coastal knits. My resume is available on LinkedIn, my website first by designs features information on publications where my work has appeared potential and tentative involvement from yarn companies to attract an older crowd Facebook and YouTube to attract a younger crowd Instagram and TikTok. Living weight so the budget breaks down 300 for the artist 100 for marketing 100 for yarn self funded if necessary every town or cultural district that wants to participate would have to pitch in $500 to cover the expense of the installation. But there's a lot of stuff that's TBD. She is applying to all local arts councils in Massachusetts which alone is a pretty ambitious thing to do. And as she says there's no way to coordinate this application process. She includes a picture of a small yarn bombing project for a local arts event which is one bicycle. And I wish that she would have had a larger scale yarn bombing than a single bicycle to be honest with you because I was really, I was really enjoying the spirit of this it doesn't obviously it's a little bit outside of our normal purview just in terms of having a location and such. But I think the concept, you know, lends itself to a little flexibility on on our part. Anyway, that's enough out of me. I feel like it's kind of up to us like if we want to get yarn bombed, we have to act. We have to act now or it ain't going to happen. So that's that's the question is how badly do we want Amherst to be yarn bombed. It doesn't appear that she'll do it for partial funding. I kind of have to step back and kind of think well I think it's super fun and just, you know, can just be such a happy thing. I don't know that if the community of Amherst was spending the money, they'd say that they would forgo something else to have this. It's like, it's delightful. Even if it is vandalism on a level, you know, I mean, I'm from the industry point of view, I'm like, Oh, is it, is it, you know, are these sustainable materials that'll biodegrade God forbid don't yarn bomb with acrylic, you know. But I just don't know that there's enough public benefit, you know, versus other organizations and what they're going to do with 500 and I'm a textile person. So, you know, that's an interesting point Julian is almost like something that, you know, people who frequent is it webs, what is that yarn store called in Northampton or people who are. Yeah, I know which one you're talking about. Could crowdfund potentially, or something like this. It's definitely art. But I just, I just don't know. I'm very. I'm conflicted myself. We have 10 seconds on this one. So as much as I'm delighted by the application, I personally am going to advocate to not fund it. I don't think it brings adequate public benefit. And I'm persuaded by your statement Julian of, you know, who are we going to take $500 away from. Yeah. Yeah. And since they've applied to every other cultural council, you know, it's somebody's going to do it I just don't, you know, with with 100 grants and no more funding than we've had prior years I just don't. I just don't see the public benefit that I take it away from someone else. Anyone feel terribly disappointed about that. I feel only mildly, but I think that you're making very rational, good points. I just am very amused and intrigued by this and would love to see it in person, but I understand that I can probably manage that without it being funded by the cultural council. Yeah, it should be a grassroots kind of thing where people just get out there and just do it really that's how. Yeah, the anarchist spirit of it. If she would have a picture of like a car that she had yarn bombed or like a big tree, but like one bicycle I think that's that is actually the thing that pushed me away from it you know like it's very ambitious to email all of us but you know. Anyway, I think that's I think I think we're pretty much consensus on that one and we're at time as well. Thank you all I think we're going to have to reevaluate time because we're only one third of the way through. I had sorry. Can you just let me clarify for us please going forward because I thought these meetings were going until 7pm in the doodle poll is that incorrect so it's they're going until I thought they were supposed to go to 7pm, not the two hours that they've been doing but that we were going to cap them in an hour and a half, not two hours. And everyone who's known me for any amount of time knows they advocate to keep these short, but it is supposed to be 90 minutes. Okay, all right, you know I just remember you've been you've been such a staunch advocate for the one hour meeting I forgot, which is seven if others can. Yeah, I mean we've cut them down to five. Let's take a poll. Can others go to seven. I can. Okay, all right. All right, we will keep on going. Okay, number 35. This is Robert Friedman, my mama and the full scale invasion. July or August I will know before November 1. I don't think we have anything in the inbox about that but we could double check the location will be a theater Northampton Center for the arts. Total budget is 9900 grant request from us is 800 200 projected served 200 people projected served. My mama and the full scale invasion by Ukrainian woman playwright Sasha Denizoba tells the story of a Ukrainian daughter trying to get her mother out of Kiev during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and 22 mother and daughter move back and forth in time to explore their at times difficult relationship through missile attacks, drones stuff peppers pickles, Zolensky, Putin and Joe Biden surreal portrayals fantasy reality comedy and tragedy, ultimately conveying a story of defiance resistance and a mother and daughters love for each other. In applying for this grant I know the deadline is October 17. I'm waiting for specific information from the ape theater at the NC F a dates for my rental and fees this information is forthcoming I will supply all information then. This person I'm going to pause for a second to say this person clearly read our description and is clearly being conscientious about that. I don't know if it's in the inbox to see if anything came in from them but regardless I, you know, I think we should all know the conscientiousness. Hopping over to the panel book or the PDF. Target audience is general adult population cost for ticket charges $25 in general. There's an articulation of the value of, you know, I'm telling a story about the Ukraine conflict. Robert Friedman is has a resume here listed as a, you know, 1991 best director community drama festival 20 year arena civic theater board member taught acting you mass Eugene Warner the scene designer is designed for many local organizations, Jonathan Wyman is a lighting designer. So pretty accomplished group. Other individuals or organizations that will contribute include spender of theater promotional a lot of a lot of ideas for promotion. The budget is is 9900 as I said salaries and fees for artists and human for artists salaries and fees for two different groups of artists. So it's a little bit mental so you're pretty comprehensive budget for a comprehensive theater performance. They project to bring in about 7000 and ticket sales. And then and then they say if I get a grant or grants I will apply for funding. Okay. If I get an amp. If I get a grant or grants I will apply for funding from the Community Foundation of Western mass through a sponsorship. Maybe they have a matching partnership that I'm not aware of. First Arts Council grant I can seek sponsors including Florence. Oh interesting Florence bank East Hampton savings bank. APE is a nonprofit and has agreed to give me a letter as to our partnership as possible sponsors. So they donations can go to the APE directly possible money would defrate my cost of the APE theater. Robert Freeman will. Sorry to interrupt but to move things along the only knock I see against it, provided that, you know, the date and location is, it can be confirmed as they intended to do is that it's not an embers but I, that's not even an issue because I do believe that people would travel, you know, did you check the inbox. Did you check the inbox. I'm not going to get into that right, right this moment that even, even if they haven't written to us yet about it, and we have to ask them I'm still happier with this grantee who communicated out that I'm trying at the, you know, this deadlines now. And I don't have it yet at least they know they need it. So, they're in better standing with me than those who just said, sometime in spring. So all we have in the inbox is a phone call from him so he's, you know, he's reaching out trying to communicate so we'll definitely follow up with him. Is there anyone who wouldn't support fully funding it under good, you know, all criteria is met. Any any concerns. Thanks. Okay. Yeah, I support it as well. Well perfect timing to buy that. Well exactly a time for that one. So, do we have time to go longer still or no. On that one. No, I mean, Okay. All right, so I will make a note to follow up with him, but I think that sounds great. Okay, number 36 is Andrew Friedman flow at the farmer's market, which we've certainly seen before. Dates are May 11th and 18th 2024 the farmers market total budget cited is $300 grant request is $300. This is two three hour sessions and choose introducing the flow arts to people at the farmers market. The flow arts are multidisciplinary performance art combining influences of dance circus art and several mindful movement practices. We're a participatory event to move people beyond being observers slash audience become participants creators bringing new people into the practice of personal creativity. Farmers market is a perfect place to introduce people to this new and exciting art form because flow adds to the festive community atmosphere of me community gathering. And I'll also say we funded them in the past and I'll also say that they were a block party participant and generally very popular and friendly. Joseph. Yeah, so these are these are folks that we've worked with in the past and have been good partners. And in fact they have a great flyer that shows some of the juggling activities they've had. So, open it up for discussion. This last year we're like juggling. Hell yeah. Contortion. All right, no, I mean it's it's it's so much fun. Looks like we don't need. Okay. Say again. Yeah, I agree. Okay, so I have them down for a full fund. And I'm going to go on to number 37. This is friends of the Mount Holyoke range, Inc. This is a familiar one to us. It's the summit house sunset concert series. They have dates confirmed July 11 1825 and August 1 at Skinner State Park. Their overall budget is 7,450 they're asking for 600 from us. I'm not going to read the whole project description just because this is a pretty well known partner with us but it's, you know, very well produced and high quality music tickets are $12 per person in advance, which is in $15 day of the show. Rare opportunity for area residents to enjoy live local music at the summit house at the top of Mount Skinner. Local musicians and three decades as popular series has presented many things. I'm not going to read it all. So budget is, as I said, 7,450 overall. More than half of that goes to directly to musicians. You know also professional sound overtime pay for DCR staff. Majority of the income required to complete the project comes from ticket sales online at the great at the gate they're also applying to the MCC festival projects program which we've been a part of for a couple of years now. And they've applied to the Hadley and South Hadley cultural councils as well. So I will open us up for discussion. I'm a big fan although I have to confess for some reason I haven't actually attended this I've always loved it but has anybody actually gone. I haven't but it sounds like the. I've heard great things from other folks I need to stop being so lame. Not to the concert. Right. Yeah, it's such a beautiful spot I've been to the park many times I've never but I've never made it. This will be my summer to go because it really does sound amazing. And, you know, if the dates you can mark them now. Yeah, mark the dates now which is a wonderful one that's one reason I really want the dates is so that I can go to this stuff so that's that's great. What's they asked us for was eight. They asked us for 600. Wow, 600. Yeah, so I think that's I mean I think that's something that we should really try to fully fund if we can right. Okay. Yes. All right, I will move on to number 38. This is Sean Fullerton Creek alley attribute to American folk music and 1960s folk rock Thursday May 30th 2024 at the banks very specific total budget is $450 all of which coming from us projected number 25. Creek alley featuring Sean Fullerton and Dan Kiroak will present a one hour music program of traditional American folk music and flower power folk rock of the 60s. Along with a bit of humor will include educational information between songs Creek alley present the program with a professional sound system, a variety of acoustic guitars and tight harmonies. The banks is this specific to the senior center or is it just a general geared toward middle ages and seniors and others as space and interest warrants. Well the 55 to 80 demographic will be familiar with the selections. It is anticipated that younger patrons will enjoy the program as well. Pre performance. Do they have a letter. Oh, council of eight council on aging staff is involved in the planning this program. And there's a support letter from them which is wonderful. I'm having a flashback to last year where Haley Bolton I think wrote letters for the majority of our applicants Haley is the director our senior senior services department really wonderful department so I think we had to really take into consideration how many things supported by them were, were being promoted or were we funding. But it's hard to argue against this project is a wonderful project. I'd like to add that the folk music is kind of a different thing that hasn't been offered as much and I think will be appreciated, you know, certainly by their target audience. Although I still have the concerns as far as would the same performance be, you know, have a much larger audience at a location other than the banks and provide more public benefit. And that might be a bigger discussion to have around the quality of our, you know, senior services facilities in general. But it's at the banks it's, it's available and open to the public I just, I just don't know that the public attends as if it was held somewhere other than the senior center. We're out of time on this one. Okay, I will mark them down as a, you know, full fund if we can for $450. Let's move on to number 39. This is James Gert a simple circle, the democratization of photography and its impact on society. This is photography 2324 TBD at the Amherst public library. Total budget is 2000 asking us for 1000. Let's see, I'm not going to read the entire history photography. Okay, let me jump into the PDF. Sometimes folks put all their information in the, in the summary sometimes it's trickles throughout. Let's see. This gentleman certainly very accomplished photographer. I've worked with the archives at the George Eastman house for my research. I've worked with websites which I have not looked at yet so we might need to look at those if we don't have more info on this PDF we do not. So, before I do it has anybody gone to those websites I mean I think the real question here is just to make sure this person is a, is everything he says that he is and, you know, but it sounds aggressive. Is there a letter of support from the Jones because the dates are so broad. Yeah, that and with the construction would be my, my main concern here because one I mean, on the one hand that the gallery is such a special place and I think it's, it would be hoop us to fun things so that more people are enjoying it. However, I don't know where it is with the building project and if someone's assuming that they're going to exhibit there. Clearly it's, it's, there are a lot more limitations on on accessing right now so I just want to be sure it can happen because it sounds super cool and if all things were normal I'd want to, you know, push people to enjoy specifically are at the Jones. Yeah, that's, that's those are exactly my concerns. And also, it's hard for me to those links are not easy to click on. Google this person. Just for the sake of, you know, a little bit of due diligence, I guess. Just to pick on Christie who lives in the art world so much I'd love to hear what you, you make of this one. That's digging. Oh, that good huh. The work is beautiful. Something different though, you know. It's not our usual funding stuff. No, it's really not and the, I mean, I'm not we don't have time for me to screen share but I would encourage folks to check out James Gert photo, you know photo calm it really is extraordinary work. So, you know, we have almost two minutes. If you want to quickly screen there. Let's screen share for a second. But I think before I do, I think I feel like the quality of this and as Christie said, host to sit I thought I was the host. If I, I can say I can't share my screen. Well, we might not be able to do that then. Yeah, okay, well, Christie is the host. I don't, I don't know why but that's what it says. Really? Yeah. Okay. Hold on, hold on. That's funny. Given that this is a unique, as Christie said, we don't typically, oh, I'm the host now. Okay. We don't typically do this, you know, photography. And it really is extraordinary art. I think it's worth reaching out to James Gert and just asking him if he's, you know, has he made any outreach to the Jones and secured, you know, secured the space before we make a decision. You know, because I think not only is it really beautiful work but it's also historically, you know, I mean, the, like the technical this technical history work that he's doing here is is pretty extraordinary as well. It also looks like he was taking photos of local museums, I think, like just documenting it, like the Emily Dickinson and stuff. At least I thought that was pretty cool, like putting back into other cultural organizations. Through. So, so I think I'll reach out to him. I mean, it's, you know, it's too interesting not to not to at least learn a little bit more, I think. Okay, so, but I'm not good. I mean, he's asking for 1000. I think we just, we're gonna have to read us, read us. Put it down for a partial. Probably. Okay, number 40 is Andrew Grant project title first contact and the roots of violence in this valley. Six times over the course of 2024 actively seeking program time in local venues, a list of libraries independent bookstores and religious councils so we will be actively seeking those things. Total budget 5000 requesting 2500 from us projected our target number served 275. Okay. I'm going to take a Belcher town resident who is an archetypal therapist with a focus on healing the wounds of war and Andrew Grant a Williamsburg resident who is a Quaker peace activist with a recognized concern for indigenous relations will dialogue about their chapters in a forthcoming anthology, and envisioning the American psyche young in archetypal and mythological reflections. Community conversations will occur in three venues, local libraries independent bookstores and religious councils. A chat book of the writing see a non circulating preview below will be given to participants and relevant regional cultural organizations sign copies will be available for sale. We'll hop into the PDF here. Let's just take a look at the budget free of charge the public. So, basically the funds would go to the presenters and to guest panelists and production cost check chat book productions by levelers press. The first grant application is the sole income source to if you apply to other local councils to large towns plus two small so Amherst 25 Northampton 25 Belcher town 650 Williamsburg 650. And there's a CV for Dr. Edward tick. A resume for Andrew Grant. I do need to check on partial or not on partial on prior year grants and whether we did get the final grant report for less time. So I can tell you Andrew Grant won an award from us a few years ago for a for a public dialogue related to the pow wow. And it was in a reimbursement bottle, and he submitted a letter saying that they were not going to be doing there. Maybe, maybe that's what I had. But it was, and it was, it wasn't nearly as you know completed of a project is this I mean this is an actual chapter in a book versus that was a, that was going to be a facilitated dialogue. What folks think about this. Does anybody want to either a fully funded or be denied outright. Is it in our wheelhouse. If so it's you know within the humanities sort of realm and has cultural benefit but I you know certainly doesn't have a particularly an artistic lens to it. But you know we are a broad broad mandate. partial If we're so hesitant to say partial. If we're low partial personally. I think I agree with Rachel and Christie on this. Yeah. Me too. I'm just not totally. Sure. I guess, is it more like presentation on the book or more conversation. I don't know. I'm not totally sold on it, but I don't see anything that's like, it doesn't fit. I'm just not convinced. It's one that it would be hard to deny. And I don't think we should necessarily deny it. Still going back to just why we why they weren't able to complete their event previous I have them looking at the email now. I'm very familiar with the whole, but the story is, you know, it was a good faith. I don't think there's anything to hold against them in that occasion. I'm okay. We're kind of on time. I guess we'll need to come back to it, but it sounds like we need to, Matt, you're going to reach out to get more information. And I think we're, I think we're just pretty much at a low partial. I, you know, I think the information is here. I mean. But there aren't actual dates, and there isn't an actual location. So I'm not okay with a low partial still without those things. Okay, I mean, I think it's a. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure the board for everyone, I don't think we can do direct grants. You know, without knowing that's actually, I mean, I believe it, I think it'll happen, but we just need that across the board for anybody who didn't have it so it's a lot of work. Okay. So my, my, my sense is that we're going to get an answer of no, if we ask them if they have, if they, you know, since, since they submitted this, do they have specific dates and times, my sense is that the answer is no, and that it probably isn't worth an outreach to find that out. So I mean, we can come back to it at the end and make the final decision then but, but I think that's kind of what we're looking at. But I take your point. I mean, it certainly is no fun trying to chase down money for things that don't get completed either. We really got to set the tone up front as someone who's been chasing down final grant reports for people who got checks. I mean, I've had people come back and, and say, I turned it down when they didn't when they actually they don't even remember getting the money and they're like, you know, so it's it's been pretty maddening. So, I think we, we absolutely need to send a message early on I think we need to fire a shot over grantees bowels right now to say hey, we're deliberating but we don't have these details from you. And, and better that they should know sooner. I think in the past, we had a lower volume of total grants and Gigi was amazing and could reach out to everyone but we weren't having to reach out the same way then before the direct granting and I think we just do a form. You know, that gets BCC to all of them that that are lacking, you know, dates location or both and and get ahead of this. Julian, since you're raising that now and since I'm starting to take over as treasure I think that was something I actually wanted to bring up is that for people who haven't turned in their grant reports from the last cycle. Do they automatically disqualify themselves for consideration for this grant cycle. That was the question that I think we might want to discuss you know maybe at the end of this grant side I don't know at what point that conversation should happen but since you brought it up I just want to raise that now. I don't know if we have time for more like or not today but I definitely agree that that's a criteria that we, you know, we have a response to a fiscal responsibility to to check that and and I can let everyone know that there has been a tremendous amount of communication out throughout the year to chase down the grant reports so well I wouldn't say it would be automatic, you know I think we're allowed to look at the circumstances, you know, we've, we've worked very hard on outreach and and if we don't have something solid from folks then they must be denied. Yeah, I think I mean I think your strategy is good is basically we just need to go back through and you know cut and paste this piece of language here to all everybody that were considering everybody that we haven't rolled out. You know, and just, and just let them know that hey this you know this was clear here and we we simply cannot issue your grant without a confirmed venue and date. I mean, so we'll be reasonable if somebody wants to do six performances at the farmers market, we don't you know it, like, that's not the kind of thing that we're going to worry about but I think this is a good example of where we, we do need to. But I think one mass email out to everybody who falls in this category is really the only way to do it because it's there's too many of them. Yeah. Okay, all right everybody. Thank you all for the long stretch here we we needed it. We're making great progress. Okay. All right, good night y'all. We have a great night. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.