Gloucester arts grants drop by about half: $10,175 to give this year

Artists and arts groups hoping for a Gloucester Cultural Council grant this year will be competing for about half the usual money.

The council is a volunteer city board that hands out state arts money from the Mass Cultural Council to local projects. Its grants often pay for small concerts, library programs and classes.

At its meeting Wednesday, Oct. 14, the city's Arts, Culture and Events Coordinator told members the council can give out only $10,175 this cycle.

What happened to the money

The coordinator explained that last year the council thought it had about $23,000 to give out. It really had about $19,000. About $4,000 in grants from the year before had been promised but never set aside, because the grant paperwork had not come back to the city. The council awarded the full $23,000 and ran short.

To cover those promises, $4,224.40 of last year's pending grants will come out of this year's money. The state will send about $14,400 in January or February, which leaves $10,175.

"Which will be roughly half what we normally have to play with," said Chair John Hicks.

Some of last year's winners have still not sent in their paperwork. They have up to a year to do it. Any money they never claim would go back into next year's pot.

What it means for applicants

Applications were due Thursday night, Oct. 15. Hicks said 39 were in and 18 more were still drafts the night before. The council usually gets about 50.

With less money, Hicks said the council will make fewer, larger grants. He guessed about 15 grants of around $700 each. In past years it often gave $150 to $250 to many people.

Members said they will look for:

• Local artists, local audiences and local culture. These priorities are on the council's page on the city website.
• A clear Gloucester tie. Projects aimed at many towns at once will get a harder look.
• A venue already lined up, such as a library, senior center or church. "We are not a booking agency," Hicks said.
• Other funding. The council does not want to be any project's only source of money.

Hicks also said the council may not be able to fund people it funded last year. "Some people who've received grants year after year may have to take a year off," he said.

New checks on grants

Grants are now paid before a project happens, not after. The coordinator said the city auditor's office wants proof that funded events take place. The council will now track event dates for each grant. She said people who take money and do not hold their event should not get grants in future years.

What comes next

The council meets on the second Wednesday of the month. The next date, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, so it may move. At that meeting the council plans to decline applications that do not fit. Declined applicants get a short window to ask the council to reconsider. Hicks said he believed it is about two weeks. At a later meeting the council will decide who gets money and how much.

Later this month, the coordinator is bringing Gloucester's four arts boards together at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center. That meeting is for board members only. She said a public event may follow in the spring.

How you can take part: Cultural Council meetings are open to the public. Check the city's online meeting calendar for the date, place and Zoom link. People interested in joining a city board can use the mayor's office's new online form.

How we did this: Cape Ann Current watched the meeting online and checked names against the board's roster on the city website. This story was produced with the help of AI tools and checked against the documents listed below. If you see an error, tell us at [email protected].