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Cultural Council welcomes applications for grants

Date: 9/27/2011

Sept. 26, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

WILBRAHAM — The Wilbraham Cultural Council is seeking applications for the next cycle of grant funding provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).

Grant money is available to individuals, incorporated non-profit agencies, public school districts, libraries, municipal agencies and religious organizations.

“It’s really for the humanities, performing arts, or something else that will bring culture to the town,” Cultural Council Secretary Margaret Kelliher said.

In the past, according to Kelliher, the grant money has been used the help fund a variety of causes and projects.

The council has funded visits from bands and orchestras to local schools, aided the Wilbraham United Players in putting on their productions, funded science programs, and field trips to local destinations such as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Lupa Zoo.

The Cultural Council has also sponsored several library functions. In October, actor Richard Clark, will be at the Wilbraham Library portraying Atticus Finch, a character in the classic American novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which is the library’s book of the year.

Also, last year, the Board of Selectmen requested funds from the Cultural Council with which to purchase work from local artists to hang at Town Hall.

While the Cultural Council has a meager budget, Kelliher said it attempts to reach as many different organizations as it can.

“We have an extremely small budget. Last year it was $3,800,” she said. “So we may not be able to fund something completely, but we’ll try to give everybody something.”

The Cultural Council will be hosting two public meetings on Oct. 3 and 4 at which interested parties can learn more about the grants and offer comment. Both meetings will take place at Town Hall.

Those unable to attend may visit the MCC’s Web site at www.mass-culture.org for more information.

Applications may be found at the Selectmen’s Office or at the MCC’s Web site. Once completed, the applications should be returned to Town Hall by Oct. 15. After review of applications is complete, the Cultural Council will send letters to all applicants with its decision. If an application is denied, the applicant has 15 days to appeal. Once an appeal is filed, the Cultural Council has 15 days to respond.

“We have approved applications that were denied and appealed,” Kelliher said. “We had someone last year who wanted to build a Web site and initially we denied it, but they appealed and then they got it. Usually we will reject an application if there isn’t enough of a concrete plan; sometimes they’re too wishy-washy. However, if you can make a more solid proposal and appeal, we can reconsider.”



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