Wayland Cultural Council is inviting you to join us as a board member!
This is what we do:
We sponsor wonderful events and programs in Wayland and surrounding towns. The purpose of a local council is to support public programs that promote access, education, diversity and excellence in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences in communities like Wayland. Applications are sent to our elected board before October 15th and we review all applications in 3 or 4 meetings. The board follows state and local guidelines and votes just before Thanksgiving on which applications will receive grant funding. Our local decision-making means we decide what fits best for the Wayland community.
Many applications come from Wayland Park and Recreation Department, the Public Library or Council on Aging, with funding requests for concerts or events. Funded music programs vary from classical or early music instrumental concerts, to popular summer concerts. Some activities are aimed at various age groups and we always try to find this balance, making sure there are activities for the children as well as the adults in town.
This year Wayland High School was the venue for Walden Forum’s Community Messiah Sing in December, and Trio Cleonice, Little Theatre Concert in January. The Soft Touch Band, with an 18 piece ‘big band sound’, will get the town on its feet and dancing again this year, at the COA Summer Outdoor Concert, which kicks-off the 2014 Summer Concert Season on Thursday June 19th.
Also set to happen soon is the Wayland Library program, How To Catch A Mouse: Simple Machines at Work. This activity will combine math, science, art and imagination, as children invent a balloon machine, learning the principles of simple machines as they create!
This year and last, the Wayland 375th Anniversary Committee received funding for a variety of activities. This year WCC granted funds to the 375 Committee’s request for Mass Memories Road Show, a public history project organized by UMass Boston, which digitized the photos and memories of Wayland folks. WCC also gave funds for the filming of Three Eras of Wayland History, by Pelham Island Pictures.
We also sponsor cultural events that we think the community will attend in nearby towns. The Free Friday Night Fun at the Acton Museum and The Acton Stone Carving Symposium are some of the many events happening this summer in neighboring towns.
Local councils have the responsibility to award grants that address cultural needs specific to their communities, and the Wayland Cultural Council welcomes in-put from all Wayland residents. What would you like to attend or take part in next year? What creative activities do you want to see in Wayland? Is there a public program in the arts, humanities or interpretive sciences that you think we should fund? We are also seeking new applicants with creative ideas for grant funding requests.
Lastly, to help make these grants possible, we are looking for new board members to join our team!
Please contact, Kathryn Grey, the WCC Chair, if you would like to know more about applying for a grant, or if you live in Wayland and would like to be considered for our board. Email any questions or thoughts about funding arts and culture in Wayland to: katygrey@gmail.com.
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