Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/19/2021
GRANBY – The Granby Cultural Council is currently looking for more members. The council has six members, but they need at least five every year to be able to accept applications and vote on them.
The Granby Cultural Council is a group of five or more members who appropriates funding that is provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Each year they distribute budgeted funds for cultural projects that take place within the town of Granby or projects for the benefit of Granby residents. Some previous grants include: field trips, library programs, music programs, demonstrations, classes and public art installations.
Treasurer Elizabeth LaGuerre said, “We review applicants who apply for the grant reimbursement every year to provide Granby with programs, activities and events to help improve the quality of life of our town members. We receive an annual budget for granting and approving applications.”
She went on to say that the Council tries to impact the highest number of Granby residents given its annual budget and prioritize events, activities and programs that occur within the town, unless transportation is provided to residents for outside of the community. Programs that support schools, town programs, special installations or events are weighed with equal value. Additional criteria reflect local concerns and the communities’ cultural needs. “We are seeking a variety of cultural projects that empower, educate, enrich, enlighten, endeavors and excite the town of Granby,” LaGuerre added. “Applicants must make sure they have scheduled a date for the event, and secured a venue. The maximum grant funded that can be requested is $1,000.”
LaGuerre and husband Jason became members in 2017. She saw a post from the previous Chair Member Shaina, asking for new members to join. They were both new to the area and figured this would be a great way to meet folks and learn about the culture. “We identified little awareness of the Council in our town from the data taken from the community input surveys,” LaGuerre pointed out. “It showed that the community didn't really know about us. They didn't have a good awareness of the concept is and what the Council entails, so my husband, who was chair of the council a few years ago, wanted to get the word out more, talk to people about it and build relationships within the community to increase their awareness.” Shortly after becoming chair, LaGuerre’s husband had a tumor in his brain and had numerous strokes and seizures. She stepped in and took over the Council to try to find new members and pull everyone together, that way the town wouldn't lose the funding and opportunities the Council provides.
So far for this summer, the Council had a hip hop dance chair exercise for seniors – a one-hour exercise class where elders did chair dances to clean cut hip hop and R & B songs and used creative props such as smiley faces, drums and African maracas. Then they sponsored a magic and juggling show at the Granby Public Library. Poetry reading of “Duets: Love Poems and Prayers” via Zoom co-sponsored by the library and a zoom presentation of duo pianists Whipple & Morales.
On July 20, the Council will have a free concert from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Gazebo in Dufresne Park with the Dan Kane Singers, a 150-member singing group as the musical act. The event is presented by the Friends of Granby’s Elderly and supported in part by the Granby Cultural Council. This fall, the New England Birds of Prey program will begin on Oct. 23 at the Granby Library explaining predation, the birds’ place at the top of the food web, their different hunting adaptations and their status in the world. There'll be an in-person pastel workshop on Nov. 13 with award-winning artist and twice Massachusetts Cultural Council Gold Star Award Program nominee Gregory Maichack. This workshop will have instruction in expressive pastel strokes, blending and creating special effects, for sheer beginners to advanced.
LaGuerre said she appreciates all of the programs and activities that Granby has the opportunity to have because of the Cultural Council and will try to push more awareness in the community about it. “I want to be able to have people say, ‘hey this would be great for our town; let’s complete an application for the council to review’ or ‘this educational/art/cultural program will increase the quality of our town’ and thank goodness we have this opportunity to utilize in order to gain that much more in our community,” LaGuerre concluded.
Those interested in becoming a Cultural Council member reach out to Elizabeth LaGuerre at 297-0849.