T O W N O F M IL T O N

REPORT OF THE MILTON CULTURAL COUNCILTo the Honorable Board of Selectmen: June 30, 2011The Milton Cultural Council is pleased to submit its annual report for thefiscal year ending June 30, 2011. The Milton Cultural Council is the local affiliateof the Massachusetts Cultural Council, formerly the Massachusetts ArtsLottery Council.BackgroundIn Massachusetts, public funding for the arts, humanities, and interpretivesciences is provided through a central state agency, the Massachusetts CulturalCouncil (MCC) and a network of 329 local councils that serve every city andtown in the Commonwealth. The program is the largest and most decentralizedof its kind in the United States. The state legislature provides an annual appropriationto the MCC, which then allocates funds to each local council. Decisionsabout which activity to support are made at the local level by the board of municipallyappointed volunteers.The duties of the Milton Cultural Council are to review and recommendaction on local grant applications, report to the MCC, comply with MCC guidelines,communicate its role to the public, solicit community input, and assesslocal cultural needs. The Milton Cultural Council directs funds to individuals,organizations, and schools that are dedicated to productive and creative effortsin the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences and that contribute to the culturalvitality and well-being of Milton.Under the MCC initiative, local cultural councils with strong procedures,a high level of member training, and a clean approval record qualify for streamlining.Streamlining allows communities to receive their state funds earlier inthe year, reducing the long delay between grant requests and reimbursements.The Milton Cultural Council has maintained its streamlined status since at least2001.FY11 Activities2011 MembershipLocal Cultural Council memberships are valid for 3 years. Membershipcan be renewed once, bringing the maximum consecutive years of service allowedby the MCC to 6. The Milton Cultural Council for FY11 consisted of 8individuals:96