MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL and LOCAL CULTURAL COUNCILS

In Massachusetts, public funding for the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences is provided through a central state agency, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), and a network of local cultural councils that serve nearly every city and town in the state.

The state's cultural funding system is overseen by the MCC, which was formed in 1990 through the merger of two previously separate agencies, the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities (MCAH) and the Massachusetts Arts Lottery Council (MALC).

The MCC receives funding from the state of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts, and it distributes funds through two channels: direct grants to individuals and organizations, available through statewide competitive grant processes; and distributions to local councils, which then regrant funds to individuals and organizations in their communities.

The mission of the MCC is as follows:

The mission of the Massachusetts Cultural Council is 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.

SCOPE AND PURPOSE
The purpose of 962 CMR 2.00 is to provide guidance to local and regional cultural councils about their operations and procedures. These regulations, and supplementary guidelines promulgated independently by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), are designed to be effective for fiscal year 1997 and thereafter. Both are promulgated by the Massachusetts Cultural Council incident to its power to issue guidelines, rules, rulings or regulations for the use of funds allocable to it and for local or regional cultural council (LCC) operations and procedures.

PURPOSE OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL CULTURAL COUNCILS
The purpose of the local and regional cultural councils is to support public programs that promote access, education, diversity, and excellence in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences in communities across the Common wealth. Local decision-making is an integral element of this system. Local councils have the right and responsibility to award grants that address cultural needs specific to their communities, and they can decide how to distribute funds as long as the state policies outlined in these regulations and supplementary guidelines are followed.

CULTURAL ACCESS
Local councils have an especially important role in insuring that cultural opportunities are made accessible to all segments of the Commonwealth's population, including all racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and women. The MCC and local councils are committed to cultural access both as a matter of policy and of law, and high priority and of law, and high priority should be given to projects that addresses the needs of underserved audiences, including low-income, inner city, and rural populations.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR DANVERS CULTURAL COUNCIL
September Press Release for application deadline and funds.

October Application for PASS and Cultural Council grants are due in triplicate in the Recreation Office no later than 5 P.M. on October 15th.

October/November Applicants must attend two Danvers Cultural Council community input meetings in late October early November to be eligible for funding.

December Danvers Cultural Council submits recommendations to Massachusetts Cultural Council by mid-December.

March The Massachusetts Cultural Council notifies local councils of approvals and/or disapproval's.

April Transfer of grant funds from state to local account.

Mid-April - then on-going Applicants receive formal notification of grant. Applicants submit reimbursement requests to local council. Proof of performance expenditure must be included.

INSTRUCTION FOR APPLICANTS DANVERS CULTURAL COUNCIL TOWN OF DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS
Application Process

Applications must include a balanced budget and a signature submitted on forms provided by the State.
Applications must be typed.
Three copies of the application must be submitted on/or before the required deadline of 5:00 P.M., October 15th.
All applicants or their representative shall be required to attend both the preliminary and the voting meeting of the Danvers Cultural Council. (See Press Release for dates.)
All applicants must comply with all of the requirements and regulations established by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. (Copy of Regulations on file in Recreation Department and at the town library).
All Applicant Organizations must include Organization's Federal ID No. or Individual Applicant's Social Security No. as required on the Application Form.
Applications whose projects involve another institution or organization (e.g., a performance in a school; or in any public or private facility) should have prior commitment from that institution or organization. Applicants which indicate only that the project is available to any interested organization will not be considered.
Eligibility for Grants
All projects that are funded will benefit the people of Danvers and enrich the cultural well-being of the community.
The project should be accessible and available to the general public.
The funds should encourage projects which have demonstrated community support. The funds should add to existing programs and not be used to replace existing funding. The projects should not depend solely on Cultural Council funding for an extended period of time. Organizations and individuals may receive no more than one Cultural Council grant per year. When meritorious grant requests exceed the funds available, the Council may give awards to those applicants who have received fewer grants in the past. Individuals wishing monies for a scholarship without any return (concert, demonstration) to the community will not be eligible.
Program quality will be a major consideration in all decision making. Individuals requesting monies from the Cultural Council will be required to provide examples of their work and/or two references at the meeting. These exhibits will provide a more complete background on the applicant for the Council to make a decision.

Organizations that are comprised of Danvers residents or are Danvers sponsored, will be given priority over outside organizations.
Awards may be made to a non-profit, tax-exempt organization or to a public agency, or a non-profit non-incorporated association, to enable it to undertake an arts activity, even though the organization's dominant purpose may not include the arts. If the applicant is not an arts organization, the applicant must specifically set forth the artistic qualifications of those individuals or organizations it plans to use for its activities.

Cultural Council funds may not be used by applicants for refreshments.
Capital expenditure requests a supplemental form in addition to the application. (Supplemental Applications Questions).
PASS applicants must refer to the Cultural Resources Directory to assure that the program is eligible. (Copy on file in Recreation Office).
Reconsideration. An applicant who is aggrieved by a decision of the Danvers Cultural Council may ask the Council, in written form, to reconsider a decision on one or all of the following grounds: (1) failure to consider significant information; (2) treatment substantially different from other organizations; and (3) failure to make grants in conformity with guidelines. No reconsideration may be made on the amount awarded or any decision as to artistic quality. Applicants requesting reconsideration of the Council's decision must do so in writing to the Danvers Cultural Council, Danvers Recreation Department, Town Hall, Danvers within fourteen (14) days of receipt of application denial.

Reimbursement
1. Applicants who receive grants have one year to expend funds upon receipt of written approval. If it is anticipated that the funded project will be incomplete at the end of one year, the applicant may apply to the Danvers Cultural Council in writing for an extension of up to but not to exceed, one (1) year.