Carlisle Cultural Council
The Carlisle Cultural Council is a volunteer group of Carlisle residents interested in the arts and humanities who support local cultural initiatives and vote on local grant applications. Our goal is to serve our community by supporting and producing both participatory and audience-based cultural and arts activities that benefit local residents.
To better understand the cultural needs of our community, the Council sponsors a town-wide survey at least every 3 years. In May/June 2023, 90 people completed our online survey. Here are some highlights:
—Respondent Profile:
Nearly 88% have lived in town for 3+ years; 51% for 20+ years; about a third have children at home; About 18% did not attend cultural events in Carlisle in the past year; about 37% stated they attended 4 or more cultural events in Carlisle in the past year
—Programming reach:
Strong interest (48- 78%) in reaching every age group, except preschool. Programs that reach adults and seniors were supported by greater than 72% of responses
—Event types with the most interest (multiple responses allowed):
Music concerts (80%); Community-wide gatherings/festivals (77%); Nature (60%); Visual arts (60%); Theater (57%). A specific question about a First Night event was supported by only 22% of respondents.
—Publicity: Residents learn about cultural events primarily from the Carlisle Mosquito (92%), followed by word of mouth (>50%), City In The Woods and the Gleason Library newsletter (both approx. 46%)
—Music preference (multiple responses allowed):
The most popular category was Folk (68%), followed by Classical (66%), Rock/R&B/Blues (52%), Jazz (47%)
—Awareness of Cultural Council grants:
56% knew that organizations can apply for grants from the Carlisle Cultural Council
Contact
Mark Levitan, Chair
culturalcouncil@carlislema.gov
978-369-6136
https://www.carlislema.gov/170/Cultural-Council
Address
66 Westford Street
Carlisle, MA 01741-1582
Connect on Social
Facebook
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Application Information
FY26 details to come.
FY25 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Carlisle 250 Committee | 250 Anniversary of American Revolution | $400 | Carlisle Chamber Orchestra | 10th Anniversary Concert | $450 | Carlisle Communications, Inc. | Color Issue | $450 | Carlisle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community Advisory Council | Bollywood Dance Party | $500 | Carlisle Farmers Market | Carlisle Farmers Market Cultural Augmentation | $500 | Carlisle Parent Teacher Organization | Native American Speakers | $500 | Carlisle Recreation Commission | Outdoor Summer Concert with the Party Band | $500 | Discovery Museum, Inc. | Open Door Connections | $250 | Friends of Center Park, Inc. | Twiggy Workshops - Pruning and creating uses for small branches | $500 | Gleason Public Library | Peter and the Wolf with the Storytime Quintet | $500 | Open Door Theatre of Acton, Inc. | "The Prom, School Edition" | $350 | The Concord Orchestra, Inc. | American Heritage | $350 | The Concord Women's Chorus, Inc. | Still Heard Round the World: A Celebration of Music Written by and for Women | $400 | The Delvena Theatre Company | Love Letters | $350 | The Friends of the Gleason Public Library, Inc. | Carlisle Poetry Festival and Poetry Contest | $400 |
