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Cultural Council
In Massachusetts, public funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences is provided through a central state agency, the Mass Cultural Council (MCC), and through a network of Local Cultural Councils that serve every city and town in the state.
The East Longmeadow Cultural Council receives an annual appropriation of State Funds from the MCC and makes these funds available to the community through its grant programs. We accept grant applications from individuals and organizations. Grants are issued to support arts, humanities and the sciences. Priority is given to grant applicants that have secured a local venue and offer programs that offer diverse cultural programs for a variety of audiences.
2025 Grantees:
This year's grantees have been awarded and the projects are below. We will update this section as we get more details from the vendors.
| Name of project | Location | Date and time |
| Intro to Wool Sculpting | East Longmeadow Public Library | Spring 2025 |
| Pioneer Valley Community Band Festival | Springfield Symphony Hall | June 21, 2025 |
| Pathway to Parents - STEAM | East Longmeadow Public Library | Summer 2025 |
| Muddy Buddies | Squire Farms East Longmeadow | Summer 2025 |
| Rotary Club's Celebrate EL | Center Field | Fall 2025 |
| Chain Reactions & Creative Contraptions | East Longmeadow Public Library | July 23, 2025 |
| Vibe Check: A Mental Health Experience | United Methodist Church | February 17, 2025 |
| Spun & Blown Glass Demonstration | Pleasant View Senior Center | March 12, 2025 |
| Sheryl Faye Presents Historical Women: Queen Elizabeth II | East Longmeadow Public Library | March 25, 2025 |
| Pathways for Parents: Tinker Garden | The Depot in EL | Summer 2025 |
| Reenactment by Dennis Picard | Pleasant View Senior Center | Fall 2025 |
| Pleasant View Players | First Congregational Church | Spring 2025 |
| Novi Cantori | Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield | June 8, 2025 |
| Ms. Senior MA Musical Review | Pleasant View Senior Center | June 27, 2025 |
| Christmas & Holiday Sing-a-long by the Fanfare Brass Ensemble | Pleasant View Senior Center | December 18, 2025 |
| The Seahorse: How to paint pastel | East Longmeadow Public Library | May 13, 2025 |
| Hip Hop Chair Dance for Seniors | TBD | TBD |
| Green Lawn Cemetery Tour | Green Lawn Cemetery in EL | Summer 2025 |
| Artists' & Authors' Fair | Pleasant View Senior Center | May 17, 2025 |
| Ask Me Now - Live in Concert | TBD | TBD |
The Cultural Council consists of nine members who are appointed by the Town Manager to serve three-year terms.
| Name | Position | Term End |
|---|---|---|
| JoAnn Asselin | Chair | 2027 |
| Maria Wilson | 2028 | |
| Eleanora Walsh | Treasurer | 2028 |
| Teresa Bendzinski | 2027 | |
| Jane Riley | 2026 | |
| Mary Ellen Sheehan | 2027 | |
| Vacant | 2028 | |
| Maryann Igoe | 2026 | |
| Paula Fimognari | 2026 |
Applications must be submitted online and are open from September 1, 2022 through October 17, 2022 . During the November/December timeline the Council will conduct the grant voting meeting to determine grantees. Those applications that will not be funded are notified by email immediately after the meeting and will have 15 days to request reconsideration. After the 15 day reconsideration period, approval notifications will go out by email to grant recipients followed up by a full approval letter by mail.