Report of the Southwick 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 3 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.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council selected Susan Kochanski as a recipient of the Outstanding LCC Leadership Circle Awards. This award was presented to Susan during the artist reception by Tara Ahmed and Jen Lawless from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Senator Knapik and Representative Sandlin as well as the Board of Selectmen participated in the presentation.
Grant Administration
In 2009 the SCC receive $11,670.00 in 22 grant requests, however, due to the limit of available funds $4,601 was distributed to 11 recipients.
The following grants were awarded:
- Southwick Fireman’s Association - Southwick Fireman’s Carnival (Music): $546
- ‘And Now…Mark Twain’, Richard Clark (Theater): $350
- Southwick Public Library - Mother Goose (Story): $200
- Southwick Public Library - World Class Frisbee Show (Multi-Discipline): $425
- Southwick Public Library - Mad Science: Up, Up and Away (Science): $415
- Southwick Public Library - Theatrical Make-Up Workshops (Theatre): $250
- The Jazz Bones - History of the Trombone: Show, Tell & Performance (Music): $570
- Susan Tilton Pecora - Paint New England (Visual): $800
- Jay Mankita - Eat Like a Rainbow (Multi-Discipline): $400
- Richard Hamelin - Pied Potter Hamelin’s Magical Potter’s Wheel (Folk): $300
- Southwick Rotary - Rotary Competitive BBQ (Multi-Discipline): $345
Fine Art Exhibit
Juried Art Exhibit was held in April 2009, 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 non-juried student art (K-12) show in all forms was available for viewing.
A new addition in 2009 was the inclusion of historic fine craft demonstrations. The demonstrations took place in the Senior Center during the exhibit hours. This was a welcome addition to the art exhibit and received positive feedback.
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 stained glass, pottery and fabric art (quilting) were also a real draw.
Southwick-on-Stage (SoS)
A new Cultural Council committee dedicated to performance was established in 2009. This committee presented two plays during the year.
- Polter-Heist - A comedy murder mystery was very well received with over 300 attending the 3 performances in October.
- Christmas Belles - A Christmas comedy presented in partnership with the Suffield players. This play was 1 performance only with over 60 people attending, audience feedback was very positive.
Due to the restrictions on using the Town Hall auditorium stage the plays were presented on a low platform in from of the actual stage. SoS looks forward to the day the stage is fully accessible and renovated.
Stage Project
The stage committee continued fund-raising in order to move forward with the stage renovation project. This project will add accessibility, lights and theatre drapes to the auditorium stage, transforming this into a venue for community events. During 2009 the Stage Committee held some fund raisers and completed the Community Preservation Fund grant application. This application was approved by the Community Preservation Committee; it will be included on the Town Warrant at the next special town meeting.
- A Jig Saw Puzzle Contest was held in the auditorium, 20 teams of consisting of 4 jig saw fans each worked for 3 hours to complete a 1,000 piece jig saw puzzle. The winning team received a puzzle piece trophy, hand crafted by John Westcott, and gift certificates for local restaurants.
- The SCC members took part in the Rotary Barbeque/Chili Cook-off. We made 3 varieties of chili and conducted a tasting to identify which chili to enter. Unfortunately we did not win but look forward to entering the competition in 2010.
- Members of the SCC staffed a booth at the Fireman’s Carnival. In spite of the rain, the members were able to “spread the word” about the stage project and the production of Polter-Heist
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,
Patricia McMahon, Chairperson
Eileen Azia
Marilyn Girace
Lynn Johnson
Susan Kochanski
Diane Mason
Ellen Miles
Patricia McMahon
Joan Perkins-Smith
Laura Zides-Lucier