SOUTH HADLEY CULTURAL COUNCIL FUNDS 44 PROJECTS FOR 2025

–$19,441 distributed to local artists and culture creators–

The South Hadley Cultural Council (SHCC) has awarded 44 grants totaling $19,441 for cultural programs in or near South Hadley in 2025. The amount awarded included a 2025 allocation of $18,000 from the Mass Cultural Council for 2025 and additional funds left over in the local SHCC fund from previous years. 

Amounts granted ranged from $35-$1,000. This year’s grant recipients include local organizations involved with the high school musical, and several concerts and events at the South Hadley Public Library and the South Hadley Senior Center. Also funded were grants to organizations providing various cultural opportunities (music, dance and theatre performances, festivals, workshops, and more) for South Hadley residents and others in the region. 

A complete list of recipients and grant amounts can be found at this link to massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/south-hadley/.

A calendar of events funded by these grants can be found at South Hadley Arts, which is also the website for Showcase South Hadley, a weekend of live music, dance, art, and other celebrations of local culture scheduled for April 25-27, 2025.

Among the first events supported by a 2025 SHCC grant is the South Hadley High School Musical, We Will Rock You!, with performances scheduled Jan. 31-Feb. 2,

The South Hadley Cultural Council prioritized applications for: 

• Programs and organizations by and for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities
• Programs and organizations that make arts and culture more accessible to more South Hadley residents, including individuals with disabilities, low-income communities, seniors, and individual artists
• Programs and organizations that bring art and culture to students in South Hadley Public Schools and to South Hadley youth

About the South Hadley Cultural Council 

The South Hadley Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. Funds are awarded based on individual  community cultural needs, assessed and set by Council members. Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by the municipally appointed volunteers who serve on LCCs. For South Hadley’s local guidelines and recent grant awards visit: https://massculturalcouncil.org/local-council/south-hadley/

Meetings 

Business meetings, open to South Hadley residents, are currently scheduled on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm at South Hadley Public Library. A Zoom link offers the chance to attend virtually.The November grant review meeting may be held later in the month and the meeting may begin earlier as this meeting typically takes two hours or more. In addition to business meetings, the Council may plan other community arts activities or events.

Agendas, Minutes, and Zoom recordings

Agendas are available prior to the meetings.
Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

To see recordings of recent meetings via Zoom, click here.

Membership

The term of membership for a voting council member is three years; under state law, LCC members may serve a  maximum of two consecutive terms or a total of six years, unless the appointing authority removes a member before  the expiration of a term. After serving two consecutive terms, members must remain off the council for a one-year interval before serving additional terms. 

The South Hadley Cultural Town Government has established the size of the Council as 11 voting members and two non-voting associate members. Council is currently made up of 10 full (voting) members. Applicants for membership should  expect to be interviewed at an open, televised meeting of the Selectboard, which makes appointments to town  committees and boards for an open seat or to fill a vacancy for a partial term. Terms are staggered and generally expire  in June. Applicants must be registered to vote in South Hadley. To apply for appointment to the Council please go to:  www.southhadley.org/formcenter/selectboard-4/application-for-appointment-to-board-co-44

New Member Orientation

The Town of South Hadley requires all appointees to complete the on-line MA state training on Conflicts of Interest.

The MCC’s website offers information and tools for both LCC members and grant applicants.  

LCC members are expected to become familiar with Massachusetts Cultural Council program regulations and guidelines  for Local Cultural Councils, available at https://massculturalcouncil.org/documents/lccguidelines.pdf

Community Arts and Cultural Planning

Sources of information for local arts/cultural programming and resources include: 

• The Valley Arts Newsletter
• American Towns-South Hadley 
• Know Your Town-Around Town
• Mount Holyoke College

Contact Us / More Information

If you are interested in our work, please email us at: culturalcouncil@shadleyma.org,. 

 You can also learn more here:

• LCC website
• Facebook
• MCC website

Mailing address: South Hadley Cultural Council
c/o South Hadley Public Library, 2 Canal Street, South Hadley MA 01075