The Pittsfield Cultural Council (PCC) is supported by volunteers from the community who have an interest in and support the arts, humanities and/or interpretive sciences. The Council manages the Local Cultural Grant selection process, a scholarship program and other cultural programs available and accessible to the Pittsfield community.

Please see below for the 2010-2011 Cultural Grant Program Information.

News & Events

PITTSFIELD CULTURAL COUNCIL News & Events 2010-2011

Special Collaboration Grant Initiative

The Pittsfield Cultural Council is pleased to announce a Special Collaborative Grant Initiative for the Pittsfield Community. This initiative is in addition to the regular cycle of community grants. Application and guidelines are now available here.

2011 Grant Writing Workshop and 2010 Recipient Reception
Wednesday September 23th, 2010

The 2011 Pittsfield Cultural Council Grant Writing Workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 29th from 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM. Following the workshop, a reception will be held for the 27 grant recipients of 2010.

Both events will happen at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
located at 28 Renne Avenue, Pittsfield. Phone: (413) 499-9348

This reception is free and open to the public.

 

Amount Available for Granting in FY 2011

(information not yet available)

PASS applications are accepted.

LCC Program Guidelines (PDF)

Funding Priorities

EXPLANATION OF PRIORITIES

Projects must represent a solid contribution to the vitality of Pittsfield’s cultural life. While in some cases projects originating outside of Pittsfield may be funded, priority is given to those involving Pittsfield residents.

Priority will be given to:

1. projects planned by Pittsfield artists or organizations;
2. projects planned by individual artists, rather than established organizations;
3. new applications and/or new projects (as opposed to individuals/organizations which have received funding in recent cycles for the same, or similar projects);
4. projects for which the budget reflects equal expense and revenue lines and for which a thorough and complete budget has been presented.
5. projects that reach diverse audiences, especially people who do not usually benefit from arts offerings.

LIMITS OF FUNDING

1. The maximum grant amount is $2,000.
2. Council funds are not intended as the sole source of funding on projects of a continuing nature.
3. Applicants will not be funded for more than three consecutive years.
4. Projects must be financially feasible with evidence of any other committed funds presented with the application and a reasonable date of completion included in the application.

The Cultural Council does NOT fund:

1. administrative costs for salaried staff, support staff or volunteers;
2. projects that do not pay artists at a professional, or union, scale;
3. fund-raising projects;
4. materials such as paint, paper, etc.; food or beverages;
5. capital expenditures (i.e. permanent equipment), unless a case can be made for community use after project’s completion and project has a 2 to 1 match of funds (i.e. $100 from other sources to $50 from Pittsfield Cultural Council).

Please note: Cultural Council funds are not intended to substitute, replace or relieve existing responsibility for municipal or other funding of programs in the arts and humanities.

Local Guidelines

2010-2011 Grant Application Guidelines : Pittsfield Cultural Council

Deadline: October 15, 2010

Please read the following guidelines carefully. They are in addition to the instructions on the Grant Application.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Application must be complete, including budget and signature sections. Typed applications are preferred but hand-printed (if legible) is acceptable.
2. All applications must be mailed via the US Postal Service and postmarked by October 15, 2010.
3. Please mail applications to:
   Pittsfield Cultural Council
   PO Box 1192
   Pittsfield, MA 01202-1192
   
   
   Note: Applications delivered to any other address in any other way will be ineligible.
4. Only one application will be considered from any individual or organization during each grant cycle.
5. Projects with an audience must be given in a disabilities accessible site.
6. Submit only one copy of your application. We will make copies for Council use. Keep a copy for your records.

APPROVAL, REIMBURSEMENTS, COMPLETION

1. Final approval of funding is given by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
2. Funds granted are paid on a reimbursement basis only following project completion, or in partial payments if pre-approved by the Pittsfield Cultural Council.
3. Any changes to the project, after approval of original grant must be submitted in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and approved by the Pittsfield Cultural Council in advance of the changes.
4. Projects must be completed within eighteen months from the date of the application (for example: If application dated October 15, 2010 then completion deadline is April 15, 2012).
5. Grantees must submit a final report with proofs of financial expenditures when requesting reimbursements and the PCC logo must b used in all advertising materials. completed reimbursement request form with proof of expenditures (e.g. receipts) attached. Those who fail to do so may be ineligible to receive subsequent funding. The PCC logo is available in several formats here.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1. A resume (if individual) and/or mission statement (if organization) of applicant’s qualifications is required. Consideration will be given to applicant’s accomplishments and quality of work. Slides, photographs, or tapes will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
2. Project must be clearly arts, humanities or interpretive sciences in nature.
3. Project locations (i.e. performance venue/gallery space) and dates must be secured in advance of application and a letter of confirmation from the site or sponsor must be included with the application.
4. Project proposals must be well-researched and documented, including information about other funding sources and a complete budget.

A copy of these guidelines is included in the application package along with a sample model grant application. .

There will be a grant-writing workshop and public input session on Wednesday, September 29th at 5:30pm. Location: Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue , Pittsfield. If you have any questions, or if you need help, please contact any member of the Council or e-mail pittsfieldculture@yahoo.com.

Grant Applicants

• Tips for Grant Applicants
• LCC Grant Application (PDF, 20 KB)
• PASS Grant Application (PDF, 35 KB)

Grant Recipients

• LCC Reimbursement Form
• Credit and Publicity Kit for LCC and PASS Grant Recipients
• Download an MCC Credit Logo

FY 2010

Name	Project	Discipline	Amount
Artscape Public Art Committee	Art Walk-About	Visual Arts	$500
Barrington Stage Company (BSC)	KidsAct!	Theater	$500
Berkshire Bach Society	Free Student Ticket Program	Music	$600
Berkshire Lyric Theatre, Inc.	Concerts and Educational Program	Music	$1,000
Berkshire Museum	Artist in Residence	Visual Arts	$1,000
Berkshires Jazz, Inc.	2010 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival	Music	$1,000
City of Pittsfield	Memorial Park Rededication Program Guide	History	$750
Clark, Richard	Educating Rita - Two Person Show	Theater	$300
Collatos, Theodore	Pittsfield Film	Media Arts	$740
Community Access to the Arts, Inc.	Sticks & Stones - Art Exhibit at the Ferrin Gallery	Visual Arts	$430
Conte Community School	Colonial Theatre, Berkshire Museum, Hancock	Multidisciplinary	$500
Crosby Elementary School	Colonial Theatre: If You Give a Pig a Pancake	Theater	$340
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.	Pittsfield Ethnic Fair	Multidisciplinary	$1,000
Eagles Band, Inc.	3rd Annual Eagles Band Concert at the Colonial	Music	$1,000
Hebert Arboretum, Inc.	Tuesday Night in the Park Music Series	Music	$1,000
Hilltown Choral Society	Choral Concerts in the Hilltowns	Music	$200
IS183 Art School of the Berkshires	Learning Through Arts Program - Morningside	Visual Arts	$1,500
Minerva Stage	Student Independent Film Festival	Media Arts	$500
Moonshine Holler	Moonshine Holler at 3rd Thursdays	Music	$400
Nutshell Playhouse	Pirates!	Theater	$800
Premier Brass Quintet	History of the Brass Musical Instrument	Music	$600
Shakespeare & Company	Shakespeare in the Courts	Theater	$1,500
Sinai Academy of the Berkshires	Sinai/Conte - The Israeli Dance Connection	Dance	$1,000
Stockbridge Sinfonia	Free Community Concerts	Music	$400
Tamarack Hollow Cultural Programs	Drum it up! Afro-Caribbean Drum & Dance	Music	$500
Too Human	A Celebration of Song: The American Songbook	Music	$500
Triple Shadow	Music, Masks and Dance of Bali, Indonesia	Music	$400
Weber, Stefanie	Pittsfield City Hoopla! 2010	Multidisciplinary	$600
Westside Neighborhood Resource Center, Inc.	Gather-In 2010	Multidisciplinary	$1,000
Wintergreen Folk Trio	Free concert at Berkshire Atheneum	Music	$450