Leicester Arts Council

Amount Available for Granting in FY 2013

$4,020

Applications for field trips are accepted. (Formerly known as PASS applications.)

LCC Program Guidelines (PDF)

The postmark deadline for applications is October 15

Local Guidelines

General information

The purpose of the Leicester Arts Council (LAC) is to support public programs that promote access, education, diversity, and excellence.  Local Cultural Councils have the right and responsibility to award grants that address cultural needs in specific communities, and can distribute funds as long as the State policies and guidelines are followed.  In awarding grant funding, the LAC will also consider the following criteria in assessing applications:

1. Benefit to the community
2. Locally generated application
3. Public access
4. Matching funds
5. Potential to promote excellence
6. Community support and involvement
7. Financial need
8. Pre-scheduled venue and length of performance

LAC grants may only be used to support programs in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.  This definition is intended to include the study, pursuit, performance, exhibition, and employment of cultural activities in the broadest sense.  The LAC does not fund travel or food expenses.  Local grant funds should add to existing programs and not be used to replace existing funds.  The LAC encourages applicants to seek funding from a variety of sources rather than depending solely on council funding for projects.  Quality will be a major consideration in all decision making. 

Application Procedure

1. Arts Lottery funds are awarded once yearly.  The statewide deadline for receipt of applications by local Arts Councils is October 15^th.  The LAC will review applications and report to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) by mid-January. 
2. Application forms are available online (see “Forms” tab) and may be secured from any Arts Council Member, the Town Clerk’s Office in the Leicester Town Hall, and at the Leicester Public Library.  All submissions may be mailed to:

      Leicester Arts Council, c/o Leicester Town Hall, 3 Washburn Square, Leicester, MA 01524

3. Applications must be typed, with all sections complete.  Don’t forget to sign it.  Please double-check your calculations in the Budget section to be sure the figures balance. If you have any questions about filling out the application, contact an LAC member for help.
4. Applicants must submit the original and two (2) copies of each application.
5. The application must be signed by the original applicant; or if on behalf of an organization a properly identified official of that organization.
6. Applicants will be logged in order of receipt by the LAC and checked to make sure they are complete.  When possible, applicants will be notified of deficiencies.  The LAC encourages attachment of supportive material for in-depth descriptions of projects.  Supplementary information may include slides, press releases, resumes, brochures, audio or visual materials, and letters of confirmation, etc…
7. Applicants are encouraged to attend a LAC meeting to discuss their application plans and to answer any questions pertaining to the funding process.  Meetings are held as posted at the Leicester Town Hall.

Approval

1. The LAC votes to determine funding for each application at a regularly scheduled public meeting.  The LAC then notifies all applicants of the vote on their applications.  The applicants’ copy will be returned to the applicant after acceptance or rejection by the LAC stating any reason for rejection.  The LAC may reconsider any disapproved application for which valid grounds for reconsideration have been produced by the applicant within fifteen (15) days of notification. 
2. To prevent scheduling conflicts, dates of all public programs should be approved by the LAC.
3. Preference will be given to applicants who have a prescheduled venue with a letter of support from the sponsoring organization.

The Reimbursement Procedure

1. Reimbursement Form

Applicants must submit reimbursement requests to the LAC.  Grant recipients will not automatically receive payment, even after funds have been transferred from the state to the account of the LAC.  Instead, applicants must submit a Reimbursement Request Form after the work specified in their application has been totally or partially completed.  To initiate a reimbursement procedure, the applicant must complete and sign a Request for Reimbursement Form certifying that the funds requested, for work totally or partially completed, are in fulfillment of the purpose identified in the application.  Reimbursements may be made either directly to the applicant, or directly to the third-party vendors who have provided goods and services to the applicant.

2. Financial Report

The applicant is required to furnish a financial report to the LAC not later than ninety (90) days after the completion of the program. The report will provide an account of the use of the funds, including where appropriate, dates of payment, names of recipients, and amounts expended (including cancelled checks).

3. Acknowledgment

In all published materials and announcements regarding activities or programs supported by the LAC funds, the sponsoring group or individual must acknowledge this support with the following statement:

“This program is supported in part by a grant from the Leicester Arts Council,

A local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.”

   * Proof of this acknowledgment must be submitted with the request for reimbursement. 

Members 

Chairman: Charles “Chip” Leis, Jr.  (508) 892-0471

Treasurer: Sharon Nist

Clerk: Christine Swanson  (508) 892-4235

Harvest Fair Chair: Kurt Parliment 

Diane Lennerton   sydelwa@aol.com

Judith Ivel    (508) 892-3321

Christie Higginbottom   (508) 892-1160

Kenneth McCance