Concord Cultural Council approves two enhancement grants, moves meetings to 3:30 p.m.

At its April 8 meeting at the Concord Free Public Library, the Concord Cultural Council unanimously approved two $500 enhancement grants — one to the Concord Free Library for Pride Day activities and one to the OARs Wild and Scenic Film Festival — and agreed to move future meetings to a 3:30 p.m. start time.

Mimi Graney, Economic Vitality Manager for the Town of Concord, reviewed applications the council has received to date and reported that the Lantern project and the Concord Conservatory had previously been awarded funds (Lantern $500; Concord Conservatory $3,000 for Pianos on the Town). Graney said remaining applications will be evaluated at the council’s May 8 meeting and encouraged applicants to complete the online form with budget details and event dates.

Barbara Ewen, the council scribe, explained meeting-administration procedures: Ewen will draft minutes after each meeting, circulate them to members for approval, and submit the agenda to the Town at least 48 hours before the next meeting. Because Ewen has recurring commitments on second Wednesdays, members voted to change future meeting start times to 3:30 p.m.

Council members urged additional outreach to potential applicants. Ed Bernard was asked to encourage the World’s Stage Players to submit a formal application with total budget and performance dates; Tanya Gailus, present as a pianist and listed among the public in attendance, was encouraged to file an application for her planned performance. Hilary Taylor and Anita Tekle have contacted six organizations about enhancement funding and instructed them to apply; Jan Saragoni said she had urged Concord Art to apply for its Indie Press Prose Reading series.

Ronni Olitsky reported that Green Thumbs would not qualify because its activities support West Concord only; she also spoke with Bobbi Benson, a Friends of Sleepy Hollow board member, who was encouraged to apply for events that occur inside the Cultural District even though Sleepy Hollow is not inside the district boundaries.

Graney and Leda Zimmerman said they are developing two versions of a Concord Center Cultural District map — a public-facing map and an internal planning map — and discussed whether to commission a local pen-and-ink artist for the public map or create a web-based map with hyperlinks to events. Members noted that visitor maps are already widely available in town, including via Visit Concord and the Visitor Center.

Deborah Page, who joined the meeting as a prospective council member, briefly described her background; the council agreed to take a recommendation vote on her admission at its next meeting on May 6. Organizers also reported about 15 responses so far for a May 28 Gathering at the Wright Tavern; the council treated the social gathering as a meeting for attendance purposes.

The council listed upcoming meetings on May 6 (and possibly May 13), the May 28 gathering, and June 10, and adjourned at 5:20 p.m.