Sheffield Cultural Council
The purpose of the Sheffield Cultural Council is to promote and maintain the vitality of local cultural resources and to ensure that these resources are shared within the Sheffield and Ashley Falls community. The Council is committed to funding a diverse cross-section of activities in the realms of the arts, the humanities, and the environment. We support a variety of art forms, the ongoing work of individual artists, environmental education projects, collaborative proposals that bring together artists and other types of organizations, local cultural groups, and projects that serve specific populations: youth, elders, low-income, and/or disabled.
Contact
Amy Rudnick, Chair
amy@amyrudnick.com
413-229-2786
Address
21 Depot Square
Sheffield, MA 01257
FY22 Allocation
$5,000
FY22 Local Priorities
The Sheffield Cultural Council gathers input from the community every 3 years and develops funding priorities based on this feedback. This year the Council will give priority to applicants who present projects that serve youth or the elderly, projects that benefit the local community, and projects that focus on history, environmental awareness and the arts and humanities.
Applications are evaluated in terms of several review criteria: artistic or creative merit; project design; qualifications, dedication, and track record of the individuals and organizations involved; physical accessibility of any facilities being used; and of benefit to the Sheffield and Ashley Falls communities. For projects in schools, enrichment projects utilizing outside professionals are allowed. Sheffield and Ashley Falls based applicants are given preference over those from out of town. In addition, the Council prioritizes events and programs that take place in Sheffield or in close proximity. The Council will carefully scrutinize repeated requests; such proposals should show other sources of support to demonstrate that the project is not dependent solely on Sheffield Council funding.
The Council supports a number of projects each year; most of these are only partially funded by the Council with the awareness that the applicant is also applying to other LCCs and/or has other sources of support.
The Council participates in the Mass Cultural Council Direct Grant Program. This means that instead of reimbursement, the Council will be making grant money available in full to grantees once their projects are approved.
FY22 Local Guidelines
SHEFFIELD CULTURAL COUNCIL
Local Priorities and Guidelines
Effective: September 1, 2021
The Sheffield Cultural Council gathers input from the community every three years and develops funding priorities based on this feedback. This year the Sheffield Cultural Council will give priority to applicants that present projects that serve youth or the elderly, projects that benefit the local community, and projects that focus on history, environmental awareness and the arts and humanities. Sheffield and Ashley Falls based applicants are given preference over those from out of town. In addition, the Council prioritizes events and programs that take place in Sheffield or in close proximity.
PROGRAM PURPOSE AND REVIEW CRITERIA
The purpose of the Sheffield Cultural Council is to promote and maintain the vitality of local cultural resources and to ensure these resources are shared within the Sheffield and Ashley Falls community. The Council is committed to funding a diverse cross-section of activities. We support a variety of art forms, the ongoing work of individual artists, environmental education projects, collaborative proposals that bring together artists and other types of organizations, local cultural groups, and projects that serve specific populations – youth, elders, low-income, and/or disabled.
Applications are evaluated in terms of several review criteria: artistic or creative merit; project design; qualifications, dedication and track record of the individuals and organizations involved; physical accessibility of any facilities being used; and the Sheffield and Ashley Falls community benefit/involvement. Proposals from schools and libraries must not request support for activities that should be or used to be part of the municipal budget (i.e., teacher salaries, classroom supplies, school-sponsored clubs and organizations, library books/videos, etc.). Enrichment projects utilizing outside professionals are allowed. Sheffield and Ashley Falls-based applicants are given preference over those from out of town. The council will carefully scrutinize repeated requests; such proposals should show other sources of support to show the project is not dependent solely on council funding.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants can be: arts, humanities or interpretive science organizations; individuals including artists, science educators, historians or other humanists, parents, community members, etc.; community organizations such as schools, social service organizations, civic groups, neighborhood centers, youth, senior and family associations. Incorporated organizations must be nonprofit; unincorporated associations must have a nonprofit purpose. Individual applicants are required to be residents of Massachusetts for at least one year; organizations must be organized and operating in the state for at least one year.
How Grant Recipients Are Paid
Direct Grants
