Melrose Cultural Council Seeks New Board Members in 2023

Melrose, MA: The Melrose Cultural Council (MCC) is currently seeking three new council members to fill current vacancies. Council members should have a demonstrated interest or record of service to the arts, humanities, or sciences. In addition to this background, the MCC is actively seeking new members with experience in the following areas: digital marketing and communications, publicity and press relations, advocacy, community outreach and engagement, graphic design, artist or event management, grant writing, and local government. The term of council membership is three years; members can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms or a total of six years. The council meets regularly on a monthly basis.

We welcome inquiries about board membership from Melrose residents with a variety of arts interests, skills, and backgrounds, as well as identities inclusive of race, gender expression, gender identity, sexual identity, ability, religion, age, education, national origin, citizenship, and ethnicity. If you are interested in finding out more, you are encouraged to email melrosecultural@gmail.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning January 30.

About the Council: The MCC is the local affiliate of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Part of a statewide network in cities and towns funded by the legislature, MCC is committed to supporting programs that promote excellence, education, cultural diversity, inclusion, and equity to foster a rich and vibrant cultural life in Melrose. Grants are given to Melrose organizations, individuals, and organizers and Massachusetts artists/presenters in partnership with local organizations. We support programs across all arts disciplines—visual arts, music, theater, dance, writing—as well as projects in the humanities, history, local culture, and interpretive sciences. Our goal is to provide financial support to a variety of projects that collectively appeal to the diverse population and cultures within our community—reaching adults of all ages, youth, children, families, and seniors.

Priorities: Our 2023 priorities are informed by an annual community outreach survey. Survey results can be found on our website: https://melroseculture.org/about We actively encourage grant proposals that address inclusion, diversity, and equity. We hope to elevate the voices and experiences of historically underrepresented groups that reflect and highlight the current and historic diversity of Melrose residents in an authentic way, through arts and culture. Projects that speak to the experience of Massachusetts artists and audiences who identify as BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQIA, immigrant, or live with disabilities, are favorably considered. We prioritize projects with broad public appeal and impact that are presented in a variety of accessible settings. We also give preference to projects that encourage community building, social connections, and dialog. Proposals for innovative ideas, collaborations, and new initiatives, particularly those that involve young people or first-time applicants, are openly encouraged. Grants are competitive and not all requests are awarded. Twenty-four grants were awarded in 2023, with the MCC disbursing more than $19,000 in grant funding. Awards typically range from $400 to $2,000.