Easthampton Cultural Council
We are a volunteer board with an elected chairperson, secretary and treasurer.
We work towards bringing funding into Easthampton to make quality cultural programming more accessible.
Current ECC board:
Steve Collicelli, Chair
Sean Collins, Secretary
Tracey Eller
Chandler Frantz
Nancy Natale, Treasurer
Michael Sjostedt
Contact
ecc@easthamptonculturalcouncil.org
617-249-3551
https://www.easthamptonculturalcouncil.org/
Address
50 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027-2255
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Application Information
FY25 Allocation
$16,500
FY25 Local Priorities
The Easthampton Cultural Council pays future grantees through direct grants. This means grant money will be available in full and upfront to grant recipients and is not reimbursement-based.
In addition to the MCC state criteria, applications will be evaluated using the following review criteria:
1. Priority will be given to in-person over virtual events.
2. Priority will be given to local events held in Easthampton.
3. Applicants/groups may submit no more than two applications per fiscal year.
4. Projects must be well planned, including appropriate support materials detailing a specified date, time, and location; a strong publicity strategy; and a well-planned adjustment for the project if the council is unable to fund the entire amount requested.
5. Applicants must have written support (letter or email) from a local venue in order to be considered if their application includes the use of a venue other than one that is under their direct control. The letter or email should be from the venue’s management stating that venue management agrees to allow the applicant to use the space for the event on the date(s) intended.
6. If individuals or organizations collaborate on a single application, one member of the collaboration must be designated as the lead applicant for fiscal management purposes.
7. Priority will be given to projects that engage a variety of populations.
8. Priority will be given to new programming that has not received prior funding. Applicants who have received funding from the council in the past should not assume they will receive the same funding from prior cycles.
9. The Easthampton Cultural Council is rarely able to fully fund projects and encourages applicants to apply for funds from various sources. Local council funding is not intended to be used as the sole source of funding for projects of a continuing nature.
10. Project goals are achievable, and the budget is realistic.
11. All events must be held at accessible facilities.
12. Projects must occur Jan. – Dec. of the calendar year following the October application deadline.
13. If supplemental materials cannot be uploaded to or exceed the file limit of the online application portal, they may be emailed to ecc@easthamptonculturalcouncil.org by or before the October deadline.
14. Proposals for operating funds will only be considered after project-based grant proposals have been evaluated.
FY25 Local Guidelines
In addition to the state criteria (public benefit, non-discrimination, no substitution, arts/humanities/interpretive sciences), applications will be evaluated using the following review criteria:
– Proposed projects must benefit the residents of Easthampton.
– Projects must be well planned, including appropriate support materials detailing a specified date, time, and location; a strong publicity strategy; and a well-planned adjustment for the project if the council is unable to fund the entire amount requested.
– Projects must further the diversity in Easthampton’s programming in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, i.e., engaging a population with cultural needs within the community or supporting diverse forms of cultural activities within the community.
– Where appropriate, projects should demonstrate community support (i.e., if you are planning to present your project in a public space, the grant application must include letters of support or commitment to use the space; if your project is to benefit a particular group, include letters of support from that group.)
– Applicants who have received funding from the council in the past should not assume they will receive the same funding from prior cycles.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct Grants
FY25 Funding List
| Name | Project Title | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arts Integration Studio LLC | Truth Tellers Theater Ensemble Year 2 | $500 | Barrow, Amanda | ''Amanda Barrow: Conversations With Water'' - Play to the Art | $350 | Beck, Heather M. | Copper Metalsmithing Workshops - Bookmarks, Keychains, Nightlights | $375 | Cadent Shakespeare Co. | Cadent Shakespeare Co: A Midsummer Night's Dream | $525 | Collaborative for Educational Services, Inc. | Circle Time Music | $320 | Collicelli, Steve | Easthampton Porchfest | $991 | Comeau, Robert | Cemeteries of Easthampton | $300 | Cushing, Carolyn A. | Carolyn Cushing’s Easthampton Poet Laureate Retrospective in the ECA Gallery | $500 | Easthampton Theater Company Inc. | Easthampton Youth Theater Program | $500 | Ferry, Chris | Easthampton Film Festival 2025 | $1,000 | Goldberg, Abbie | Cat Parade | $350 | Haak-Frendscho, E. Maude | Press On: Indie Publishing Festival 2025 | $1,000 | Hersey, Lisa | Book Scavenger Hunt | $680 | Johnson, Daniel | Memories | $400 | Leader, Rachel | KlezCummington | $350 | Leshner, Sharon | 4th Annual Color Collaborative Showcase | $500 | Lieberman, Julie | Strings Without Boundaries | $500 | MacDuffie, Elizabeth | Books, Bards, Bands, and Brews: A Year of Cirques at the Brewery | $500 | Madden, Patric | Torch Song Revival | $1,000 | Martin, Jess | Echoes in Nature: Hampshire County | $500 | Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee | Easthampton WinterFest | $500 | Peirent, Lois | Mixed Media Mayhem | $900 | Post, Kathy | A New Blue Presents A Night at the Movies | $500 | Rodriguez, Julissa | We Are Each Other's Magnitude | $700 | Ryan, Elizabeth | Intergenerational Concert | $825 | Shiber, Mona | PeaceBirds Projects | $350 | Sjostedt, Michael | Cut Loose Collage Workshop: Found Word Poetry | $300 | Sticca, Paul | Acousticca concert to support the Easthampton High School | $375 | Swanson's Fabrics | Building A Culture of Clothing Repair | $500 | Unbroken Wings, Inc. | Thunder in the Valley Concert & Fireworks 2025 | $500 | Walton, Mykelle | Duo Acrobatic Workshop | $400 | Zaik, Marjory | Art Bazaar | $350 |
