Revere Cultural Council sets fall grant calendar, approves outreach plan and flyer translations

The Revere Cultural Council on Aug. 11 approved minutes from its July 7 meeting and laid out a plan for outreach and review of the council's 2025 grant cycle, including dates for training, an information webinar and an Oct. 16 application deadline.

Chair Rocky Graziano opened the meeting and told residents watching Revere TV that the council would “review the cycle dates and updated guidelines” and encouraged potential applicants to “start to look at the calendar on revere.org and join us.” Council members discussed distribution of a recruitment flyer, translation into other languages, a social-media plan and in-person outreach at community events.

Why it matters: The council’s outreach and schedule determine how many community arts and cultural projects apply for limited local grant funds and how those proposals will be reviewed later this fall.

Most immediate dates and deadlines discussed: council members identified a training for local cultural council members on Aug. 20; an information webinar (the speakers referred to an “info session” on the ninth); and an application deadline of Oct. 16, 2025. The chair also asked members to update their individual profiles on the Massachusetts Cultural Council portal so she could submit a required report by Aug. 26.

Council members agreed to a multi-channel outreach strategy. The plan includes: distributing a flyer with a QR code linking to the grant portal; posting on the council’s Instagram and Facebook pages; using a Linktree on social accounts to centralize links; and placing physical flyers with neighborhood principals, the library, senior centers and other public locations. Council members volunteered to staff booths or tables at upcoming events, including Revere Resource Day behind City Hall on Sept. 5 and the farmers market, and to pursue a presence at Porchfest and Arts-on-the-Beach programming in October.

Translation and accessibility: Council members asked that the flyer be translated into other languages. Rocky Graziano said the council would seek translated text and noted that the city offers Spanish interpreters when requested 48 hours in advance by emailing translation@revere.org (as stated in the meeting). A council member offered to review machine translations to confirm dialectal accuracy.

Use of council funds and events: Members discussed using the council’s local administrative/discretionary allocation to host a recognition or outreach event and to support senior-center programming. During the meeting members referred to internal percentages (a 5% administrative allowance and other program allocations mentioned during discussion that together were described as totaling about 25% of available funds); the precise formula and allowable uses were discussed but not definitively stated in the meeting record.

Meeting schedule and logistics: The council agreed on a fall meeting schedule of second Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.: Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11, 2025. Members asked the chair to request extending the Dec. 11 meeting by two hours (to allow more time for grant decisions before the holidays). The chair said members may join virtually when necessary and that staff liaison Greg has supported training and logistics.

Formal actions: The council moved, seconded and approved acceptance of the July 7 meeting minutes. The motion was put forward by a council member identified as Debbie, seconded by Lark, and the roll call recorded unanimous approval (Aye). The meeting ended on a motion to adjourn that was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Next steps: The chair said she would pursue translations, print flyers and post on Instagram and Facebook; council members volunteered to distribute printed flyers, share materials with school principals, and staff outreach tables at community events. The council also discussed developing an independent scoring process for grant review and noted the requirement to follow open-meeting rules during deliberations.

Quotes: “Please start to look at the calendar on revere.org and join us,” Chair Rocky Graziano told viewers. Council member Lark suggested paid Facebook advertising to broaden reach; a council member asked that the flyer be translated into other languages.

Ending: Council members said they plan a more intensive review period after the Oct. 16 application deadline and will consider an awards/recognition event when grant amounts are finalized. The chair will return with updates on translations, printed flyers and the proposed extension of the Dec. 11 meeting.