Report of the Cultural Council
The Southwick Cultural Council (SCC) is comprised of volunteers who administer the cultural grant funds from the State of Massachusetts. This includes reviewing the applications, selecting grant recipients, and monitoring the process to make sure all requirements are met. The members of the SCC are appointed to a three year term by the Board of Selectman to allocate the grants funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency. Additional information about the SCC can be found at the Cultural Council.
Southwick Cultural Council invited to share strategies for gaining community visibility
Susan Kochanski, Chair and Pat McMahon, Vice Chair, Southwick Cultural Council, were invited to serve on a panel at a special Pioneer Valley Local Cultural Council event that was co-hosted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Amherst Cultural Council.
Southwick was selected to participate as a result of its excellent visibility to number of audiences including the general public, the media, local municipality, and state legislators. The Southwick Council has several successful initiatives including an annual fine art show, a community theater group known as Southwick-On-Stage, and the renovation of the Town Hall Auditorium as a venue for a cultural center/theatre space.
Grant Administration
In 2010, the SCC received $10,070.00 in 18 grant requests, however, due to the limit of available funds $4,185 was distributed to nine recipients.
The following grants were awarded:
- Southwick Fireman’s Association -
Southwick Fireman’s Carnival (Music) $1,000
- Council on Aging - ‘Ernest Hemingway’,
Richard Clark (Theater) $350
- Southwick Public Library –
Teen Magna Workshop (Design) $400
- Southwick Public Library –
Secret World of Bubbles (Science) $475
- Southwick Public Library –
Wingmasters: North Amer. Birds (Science) $340
- Music Concert –
Fanfare Brass Choir (Music) $570
- Parks and Recreation –
Monica Bleasius (2 performances) $450
- Southwick Rotary –
Steak Roast (Music) $100
- Southwick Rotary –
Rotary Competitive BBQ (Multi-Discipline) $500
Fine Art Exhibit
The 11th Annual Juried Art Exhibit was held in April 2010, a two-day event with attendance of over 500 people. Over 40 local artists displayed fine arts, fine art crafts and photography in all subject matter and media. Originals, limited editions and open editions were showcased. A nonjuried student art (K-12) show in all forms was available for viewing.
For the second year, historic fine craft demonstrations were included as part of the art show. The demonstrations took place in the Senior Center during the art exhibit hours.
Our art exhibition broke a record.~ Sales of art were up by 30% over 2008.~ More than 50% of the artists enjoyed sales.~ Attendance was up by 20%.~ We also noted that we had a lot of parents and their children visiting the show to view the student art display.~ The demonstrations of basket making, woodworking, pottery and fabric art were well accepted. Many adults and children enjoyed seeing and learning how things are made.
Southwick-On-Stage (SOS)
The community theater group dedicated to bring live theater to Southwick continued to grow during 2010.
Performances
- Love Letters – A staged reading presented in partnership with the Windsor Jesters.
- The Education of Angels – A poignant comedy presented in July as part of Southwick Days. This play was presented over 1 weekend in July with very positive audience feedback. Over 250 people attended the performances.
- Death and Taxes – part of a murder mystery dinner theater produced in partnership with the Southwick Lions. This event was sold-out.
- Celebrate The Season – a family oriented holiday celebration that included staged readings and a community carol sing. The readers included government and civic leaders. Over 70 people attended this event. We are already planning next year’s event.
Due to the restrictions on using the Town Hall auditorium stage the plays were presented on a low platform in front of the actual stage. SOS looks forward to moving onto the stage in 2011.
Acting Workshop
Southwick-On-Stage sponsored an acting workshop to those interested in learning or enhancing their acting and theater skills. Bob Lehan who brings over 30 years of teaching, directing, acting and playwriting experience led the workshop. Plans call for the workshop to be repeated in 2011.
Stage Project
At the March special Town Meeting the citizens of Southwick approved the use of $150,000 of CPC funds to be used for the stage renovation project. The work on this project began in October 2010 and we anticipate completion in spring 2011. Once the project is complete Southwick will have a fully accessible venue for community theaters and other town events.
The Cultural Council was very involved in Southwick Days. SCC members took part in the Rotary Barbeque/Chili Cook-off. Unfortunately we did not win but look forward to entering the competition in 2011. Members of the SCC participated in the Fireman’s Carnival parade – complete with a float and handing out seed packets.
SCC is a member of MAASH (Massachusetts Advocate for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities), an advocacy group to reintroduce arts to Massachusetts.
Southwick Cultural Council members are encouraged by the positive support and favorable response for the community. The council strives to bring a variety of interesting and educational programs that appeal to all segments of our community.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Kochanski, Chairperson
Southwick Cultural Council Members:
Joyce Bannish
Marcia Capuano
Karen Deyo
Marilyn Girace
Diane Mason
Ellen Miles
Patricia McMahon
Lisa Pentz
Joan Perkins-Smith
Frank Quirk
Laura Zides-Lucier