Reading Cultural Council

March 2019-- The Reading Cultural Council (RCC) has awarded $7,500 to support the arts and humanities programming of twenty-two (22) Reading organizations for activities which will take place during 2018 and 2019. The Reading Cultural Council received 25 requests totaling $23,333 for this funding cycle. Awards from the Reading Cultural Council are competitive based on the number of requests and the funds available. The RCC tries to partially fund worthy projects. Awards in 2018 were small, with $500 as the greatest individual award. Programs must be performed at an accessible Reading venue, field trips excepted.

Funds were awarded to the following organizations:

Arts Reading for Discover the Arts in Reading Festival
Austin Preparatory School to support a field trip to The Nutcracker by Northeast School of Ballet
BeatHeart Foundation for the 2019 Jams for Jake Concert
Birch Meadow PTO for its Creative Arts Core Values Project
Colonial Chorus for a performance by Fairy Tale Players Theater
Color in Sound for The Creative Equals Project: Sound Off
Coolidge Middle School for an in-school author visit by Tara Sullivan for grade 7
Coolidge Middle School for an in-school author visit by Karen McManus for grade 8
Coolidge Science Olympiad in support of the Science Olympiad Team
Fairy Tale Players for a theater performance at CCP
Ivy Chord Coffeehouse for its 2018-2019 concert program
The Musary for its musical instrument lending program
Northeast School of Ballet for its Fall 2018 Program
North Suburban Child & Family Resource Center for Lindsay’s Puppet Pals’ Earthworm Aerobics
Reading Antiquarian Society for the 325th Anniversary Celebration of Our House Museum
Reading Art Association for the Fall 2018 Exhibit
Reading Community Concert Band for its Reading 375th Performance on June 15, 2019
Reading Community Singers for its 100th Anniversary Concert
Reading Community Television for the Reading 375th Celebration: If This House Could Talk
Reading Public Library for a visit by author Raul the Third
Reading Senior Center for a performance of “Ann and Abby”
Reading Symphony Orchestra for its Spring Pops Concert, “American Dream”

“We are pleasantly surprised by the number of organizations involved in cultural programming in Reading this year. This fall our committee received the largest number of funding requests and the largest amount requested overall,” notes Donna Schenkel, committee chair. “The Reading Cultural Council strived to give funds to as many viable projects as we could. The range of projects highlights the growing richness of cultural, artistic and experiential opportunities in our community.”

How to Apply for a Cultural Council Grant
Individuals and organizations planning cultural activities in Reading during 2019-2020 are encouraged to apply for support from the Reading Cultural Council. Application forms are available online at mass-culture.org/Reading beginning September 1, 2019. The deadline for the next round of applications is October 15, 2019. The application process can be competitive based on the number of requests and the funds available. Average grants tend to be modest and are reimbursement-based, meaning applicants expend their own money, and if approved for a grant, submit paperwork for reimbursement for the amount of the award.

About the Reading Cultural Council
The Reading Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCC) serving all cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Reading Cultural Council members are volunteers appointed by the town’s Board of Selectmen. The Massachusetts state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to Local Cultural Councils which make awards based on community needs.

Learn more about the Reading Cultural Council on the Town of Reading website (readingma.gov/cultural-council). Individuals interested in joining the RCC can email Donna Schenkel, Reading Cultural Council Chair [donnaschenkel@icloud.com] or contact the Reading Town Clerk.