PROVINCETOWN CULTURAL COUNCIL

Judge Welsh Hearing Room

Monday

January 14, 2008

4:00 p.m.

 

 

Members Present:            Dorothy Antezak, Molly Hamilton, Cherie Mittenthal,

Amy O’Hara, Richard Olson, Frank Vasello,

and Mike Wright.

 

Members Absent:            Patricia Ann DeLuca and Mary Alice Johnston (exused).  

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:10 p.m.

 

Meeting Agenda

 

Approval of Minutes

Motion:  Approve the minutes of the October 30th meeting as amended.

Motion:  Frank Vasello       Seconded:  Amy O’Hara      Vote:  6-0-0.

 

Mass Cultural Council Grant -07 Update

 

We received 14 applications and funded 7 of them.  Details of the funded grants can be found in the October 30th minutes.

 

Cherie had a budget meeting with the Town Manager 2 weeks ago and discussed the different items in the budget.  The two things Cherie didn’t want to give up were the advertising budget and the secretarial help.  There will be another meeting on January 23rd at 6:00 p.m. with the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on budgetary matters.  Everyone who can attend is welcome – and perhaps necessary.   

 

Provincetown Poet Laureate - update

 

Nothing has been heard from Mary Oliver, the proposed poet laureate.  Frank wanted to know if we could take that money for the poet and put it somewhere else.  He thinks we could use the money elsewhere.  In the past we have spoken about maybe some­thing different – Cherie thought maybe something Provincetown-ish; she needs to talk to Doug Johnstone.

 

There then ensued a plethora of ideas for alternative uses for the poet laureate designated fund.  Frank thought about an interaction with the school – Amy thought about a workshop – Richard felt that since the PAAM and FAWC do similar things – why do we need this?  Frank said that this money has to be given to a poet or someone to put on a course for the public.

 

Mike thought - even if it were just the cover of the town book - maybe it could be a painting?  Doug has already spoken to the monument about the cover – it was also thought that Sal Del Deo might be the person to do a painting. 

 

The ideas continued to flow for awhile with the following motion being made:

Motion:  Get in touch with Sal Del Deo for the potential for the Visual Arts Laureate.

Motion:  Mike Wright     Seconded:  Molly Hamilton     Vote:  6-0-0.

 

 

Next Steps for Art in Public Places

 

Amy O’Hara said that there is still $3,400 in the special gift fund.  Cherie had told the Town Manager of this fund and she was pleasantly surprised. 

 

A letter had been sent out to Jay Critchley (around the first of November) asking for a donation of $10K from the “Swim for Life” to benefit the AIDS Memorial and as yet the Council has not heard back from him.  Frank will call him again.  Cherie has touched base with a couple of sculptors for an AIDS memorial regarding dollar amounts.  The money available for this memorial has yet to be determined.  Close to $19,500 (so far) if we could raise another $10 - $20,000 that would be great.

 

Then a bit of brainstorming went on about to whom to send requests for donation letters.  The proposed letter would read “We’ve raised x # of dollars and would like your input and/or donation as well.” 

 

It was then decided that a letter would be crafted and sent to many local businesses, i.e., Real Estate brokers, restaurants, etc.  The letters will be sent out in the next couple of weeks with a March 1st deadline for donations.

 

Also determined was that Frank would contact Stephen Borkowski of the Art Commission for an exchange of ideas on Art in Public Places.   

 

 

New Members update

Frank – asking a question he had asked at earlier meetings – wondered why the membership of the Council is at 12.  It makes establishing a quorum difficult because the quorum has to consist of at least half the committee members.  Doug Johnstone was once again called for his opinion.  He read from his rules which stated that the Cultural Commission should have at least 5 and no more than 22 members.  Next Mike Wright volunteered to write a letter to the BoS asking for the number of members to be decreased and stating the reasons why. 

 

The next meeting will take place on Monday, March 3rd at 4:00 p.m.

 

Adjournment happened at 5:05 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Gaudiano

E. Rogers Gaudiano

 

Approved by _____________________________ on ____________, 2007.

                   Cherie Mittenthal, Chair