Committee recommends acceptance of two Mass Cultural Council grants to Somerville Arts Council

The Somerville Finance Committee on Feb. 25 recommended approval to accept two grants from the Mass Cultural Council: $54,400 for the Local Cultural Council grant program and $18,300 in unrestricted operating support for the Somerville Arts Council.

The mayor’s requests for both grants were presented together; staff supplied a memo summarizing the annual grant-acceptance items. No councilor sought changes to the requests, and the items were laid on the table to be included in the combined approval vote at the meeting’s end.

Committee members noted the value of the Local Cultural Council program. Chair Jake Lisonbee said, drawing on his own pre-council experience, that he appreciated “that program exists and benefits the arts here in Somerville.” The committee approved the consent package by roll call at the meeting’s close.

The meeting record did not include a detailed breakdown of how the Arts Council will allocate the funds; that information was not specified in the committee discussion but may be available in the Arts Council’s staff memo that accompanied the agenda materials.