Ayer Cultural Council
The Ayer Cultural Council (ACC) is a group of town-appointed volunteers who seek to expand the cultural experiences for the residents of Ayer. Through funding from the state and the town, we provide a variety of engaging activities and events. It is our belief that these programs support a growing and vibrant town, fostering a strong sense of community among residents while making the town appealing to newcomers.
Contact
Linda McGillicuddy
culturalcouncil@ayer.ma.us
978-621-4370
Address
Town Hall
1 Main Street
Ayer, MA 01432-1373
Connect on Social
Facebook
Application Information
FY24 Allocation
$7,100
FY24 Local Priorities
Council Priorities
Get more information about council priorities from our local guidelines document.
Community-wide events such as concerts and festivals
– Programs that serve families, youth, seniors and low-income population segments
– Local artists and cultural organizations
– Arts education in the schools and youth arts programs outside of school
– Programs that support nature and science
Funding Criteria
Applications are evaluated using the following criteria:
– Meet local funding priorities (see above)
– Directly benefit Ayer residents (When considering grants, the Ayer Cultural Council will place a strong emphasis on funding Town specific organizations and projects, as well as artists/organizations directly withing the Ayer community whenever possible, though external entities may also receive strong consideration depending on the noted criteria.)
– Have a confirmed date & venue (please provide supporting documentation)
– Diversity with respect to age groups, cultural backgrounds & artistic disciplines
– Originality, community support & involvement
– Demonstrate financial need
FY24 Local Guidelines
Eligibility
The wide range of supported activities includes a broad variety of art forms, ongoing work of individual artists and writers, collaborative projects on literature, and historical as well as environmental education.
Applicants can be:
Arts, humanities or interpretive science organizations; Individuals including artists, science educators, historians or other humanists, parents, community members, etc
Community organizations including, but not limited to, schools, social service organizations, civic groups, neighborhood centers, youth, senior and family associations, etc. Incorporated organizations must be nonprofit; unincorporated associations must have a nonprofit purpose. Individual applicants are required to be Massachusetts’s residents for at least one year; organizations must be organized and operating in the state of Massachusetts for at least one year.
Procedure
Applications must be done online via the Mass Cultural Council website.
Applicants must submit one set of supporting materials. Not necessary but helpful are letters of support/commitment from sponsoring organizations.
Conditions
Projects must demonstrate their relationship to the town.
Projects must be completed within one year of the date of final written notice of grant award approved locally and by the state.
Events and activities must be held in physically accessible facilities or via zoom or a similar online forum.
Payments are on a reimbursement basis after the project is completed. Payment requests must document expenses with invoices, cancelled checks, receipts, and/or contracts.
The sponsoring group or individual must acknowledge LCC support in all published materials and announcements regarding the LCC supported event. The MCC logo is available at the MCC’s website, “https://www.massculturalcouncil.org” or by contacting the MCC. The credit statement “This program is supported in part by a grant from the Ayer Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.” may be used as well. Failure to comply may jeopardize future funding.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Reimbursement Grants
FY23 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Acton Community Chorus, Inc. | Snow Angel | $290 | Ayer Library | Summer Reading 2023 "Find Your Voice" | $630 | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | ASRHS Drama Club | $500 | Bates III, Davis R. | Thanksgiving Harvest: A Performance for Seniors | $475 | Clear Path for Veterans New England, Inc. | Community Ukulele and Guitar Lessons | $750 | Devens Historical Museum, Inc. | Project Summertime | $500 | Discovery Museum, Inc. | Open Door Connections | $300 | Fitchburg Art Museum, Inc. | 87th Regional Exhibition of Art & Craft | $250 | Groton Hill Music, Inc. | Bach's Lunch Concert Series | $500 | Hart, Francis | The “Me” Decade - A Cultural Review of the 1970s Through Music | $375 | IridESSENCE Community Health Collaborative, Inc. | Ageless Grace | $500 | Johnny Appleseed Trail Association, Inc. | Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center Cultural Components | $500 | Kempskie, Lisa | American Originals from The Nissitissit String Quartet | $690 | LaBollita, Ann-Marie | Printmaking with Plants and Stencils | $350 | Nashoba Valley Chorale | Wake Up, My Spirit | $500 | Peet, Yin | 2023 CAI Stone Carving Symposium | $300 | Regan, Sandra | “WOW" Handmade Greeting Cards | $300 | The Cannon Theatre | Tuition Support for Children's Programs | $450 | The Harvard Town Band, Inc. | Holiday Concert | $250 | The Sizer Foundation, Inc. | Performance of Studs Turkel's "Working" | $400 | Valles, Marcos | Rockabye Beats Music Education | $400 | Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, Inc. | Visual Arts Therapy | $750 | Zammarchi, Robert | Elijah T. Grasshopper’s Rainbow Dance Party! | $550 |
