Creativity and the arts are everywhere evident in the civic culture of strong, vibrant communities, like Wayland. The Wayland Cultural Council, one of 329 local cultural councils statewide, serves as an important source of financial support for community arts projects and programs.
The arts are everywhere and essential in our lives. We see the impact of the arts throughout our schools in concerts, recitals, and exhibits. We see the arts at the heart of local civic organizations, which often feature music, dance, or other creative activities at functions and benefits. We see the arts in local exhibitions at places of worship as well as at places where we bank. We see the arts in the presentation of local businesses logos, products, and services. And we see it in the work of the town itself, in everything from the design of monuments and buildings to landscaping for public spaces.
Creativity and the arts are so embedded in our lives that at times we take our aesthetically enriched surroundings and our community’s fun, creative events for granted. At other times, we might think of the arts as incidental assets — “nice-to-haves” — compared to other resources, like housing or health care. But in reality the arts (in combination with engineering and so much more) permeate and make possible almost all that we encounter, including the design of the homestead thresholds we cross, the stethoscopes our caregivers carry, and the artworks that adorn our walls and their offices. The Wayland Cultural Council exists to help nurture and grow the creative and aesthetic engagement that is so essential to our lives and community.
As the local arm of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Wayland Cultural Council is allocated funds annually for granting to individuals and organizations. Our council is chartered to “promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and to contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.”
This year, FY2017, the Wayland Cultural Council has been allocated $4,500 to grant for local projects and programs. This state funding can be supplemented by individual, municipal, and corporate donations, which are heartily encouraged! Last year, the Council received 23 applications from organizations and individuals and awarded 14 grants in amounts ranging from $100 to $600. These funds supported programs organized by the Council on Aging, the Wayland Public Library, the Wayland Concert Series Inc., Musicians of the Old Post Road, a local Poetry Garden, a cross-cultural presentation at the Islamic Center, and other wonderful, community-enhancing programs. The deadline for application for this year’s (FY2017) grant cycle is October 17th 2016. Funding decisions are made by the middle of December. Applications should be made online at the following link: http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/applications/lccapp.asp .
The Council also curates the “Network for Arts and Culture Gallery” (NAC), located outside the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in Town Building. Local artists and arts organizations wishing to exhibit in this space are encouraged to contact the Council. Recent exhibits have showcased the works of local artists, including ArtsWayland, and Wayland school students.
The Wayland Cultural Council consists of town residents appointed by the Wayland Board of Selectmen. Those interested in serving in this capacity are encouraged to contact the Council through the Selectmen’s Office. More information about the Wayland Cultural Council can be found on the Massachusetts Cultural Council website: http://www.mass-culture.org, as well as on the Council’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/waylandculturalcouncil/
Council Members:
Kara Brewton
Barbara Hoffman
Barbara Holtz (Secretary)
Nasser K
Mathew Ludwig (Assistant Secretary)
Robert Morrison
Brenda Ross (treasurer)
Jonathan Saxton (Chair)
