The Chicopee Cultural Council (CCC) needs your help! We need the people who live and work in Chicopee to advise us on how best to allocate public dollars for programs and activities in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.
As you may know, our all-volunteer, municipally appointed council receives an annual allocation of approximately $34,000 to fund projects by individuals, organizations, and schools that serve a broad range of interests and needs. Our task is challenging! We receive many more proposals than we are able to fund. Last year, for example, we had $36,163 to allocate while receiving requests totaling $75,316.
Because we distribute public dollars, it is essential that we gather local public opinion and learn more about what is happening in our community and what the community needs. This will help the CCC to develop useful criteria and funding priorities to guide our grant making decisions.
The CCC invites you to participate in a one-hour discussion with your neighbors on August 28, 2017 at the Chicopee Public Library Community Room beginning at 6:30PM.
We seek feedback about:
- What current programs and activities – in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences – are important to support or maintain?
- What cultural activities might be missing from our community?
- What community issues might be helped by arts and cultural programming?
- How have you, your organization, your kids and/or the community been affected by council grants?
This is the second year grant applications must be submitted on line. As of September 1, 2017, grant applications and guidelines will be available on the Massachusetts Cultural Council website at www.mass-culture.org Applications must be received by October 16, 2017. Late applications cannot be accepted. Prospective applicants are encouraged to join us for more information at the Public Input Meeting on August 28, 2017.
For questions or suggestions, e-mail chicopeeculturalcouncil@yahoo.com or call Sharon at 413-592-5595.