The Medford Arts Council hosted introductions for prospective members, discussed the upcoming autumn grant cycle, received a presentation on city economic development initiatives, and debated a research proposal for a Tufts University student field project.
[Laura Jasinski]: Great. Well, this is really great to see such a good turnout. My name is Laura Jasinski. I've been on the Medford Arts Council, I think since 2020, and currently the co-chair, our other co-chair is taking some time away to deal with some family issues right now. But we thought we'd start this meeting with a formal presentation, but just go around the room and introduce some members and also hear a little bit from people that are interested in potentially joining the Arts Council. as we will kind of maybe share in our intros to current council members, many of us are not actually artists. So do not feel like that is a prerequisite. But we think we do a really good job at getting out resources to artists in Medford to help serve our community. That's really our focus. So we thought we'd start with some intros, maybe do a couple of questions. We also have Kayla here from the city to talk a little bit about some, I think, work we were trying to do, some more coordination with the city and her role as economic development planner. So, if I just get to listen in generally to a couple of different agenda topics, and then 1 of them will also be Kyler on screen just talking about really our big action of the year is going through our grant cycle, which is in line with the mass cultural councils, local cultural council. process. So maybe we'll try to keep it to like, I don't know, a minute or so each, just because we have a lot of people here, which is great, or under that, and don't feel like you even have to fill the minute, but we're really excited to have so much interest and can also find time to kind of follow up with people individually too if there's anything of particular interest. So like I said, I'm Laura. I've been here for about five years. I got involved just because I was interested in kind of learning more about what was happening in Medford, everything from like kids programs up to public art and adult programs and just looking for a way to kind of get involved in the community. I, like I said, have very few, like, besides making, like, some Halloween costumes, very few, like, artistic tendencies. But and professionally work for a nonprofit, have also gotten to work with some in some public art projects and can just see, like, what a difference that can make and how we also need people working on spreadsheets and working on coordination and working on permitting with the city to make all these things happen. So that's kind of the skill set that I have brought to the council.
[hLm7uOhMYTQ_SPEAKER_21]: Hi everyone, I'm Irene. I'm pretty new to the Council. I just joined maybe six months ago, so maybe a little more actually. Yeah, the last grant cycle. And I'm an engineer by day, and I dabble in the arts by late evening or weekend. And I joined because I moved to Medford about three years ago, and I really wanted to get involved with the community here.
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_05]: Hello, everyone. I'm Swabana. I think a few of you saw my video, hopefully. So I joined the council beginning of last year. I've been living in West Bedford since 2018. So I work for a health insurance company. That's it.
[Laura Jasinski]: Let's jump on screen to the other current council members and then maybe come back to the rest of the group. Kyler.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: Great. My name is Kyler Tostin. I'm the grants director lead person that does the, that leads for the council, all of the grant cycle and takes charge of that process. I come to the council after serving as, for 15 years as an executive artistic director of a theater, touring theater company that actually was on the other side of most of the application for arts, local arts councils. So I would apply to probably, 15 of them every year for my company across Massachusetts. And so when I moved to Medford, and after I closed my company, and I'm now in, in HR in the corporate world, a very different side of things. But I decided when I moved to Medford, I did want to kind of get to the other side of the table and help to distribute those funds to quite high quality artists and artists in the community that are making a difference. So I come having been on both sides of that table. Now, I'm entering into my almost my second anniversary with the council, my third grant cycle with with Everett with the council as well, and looking forward to diving in again this year.
[Kit Collins]: Kristen. Hello, sorry I got our times mixed up in my head. I'm in the middle of a move. I'm Kristen McDuffie I've been in Medford for seven years I'm moving to Arlington, and I've been with the council for two years. And let's see, I'm the treasurer right now. I keep track of, you know, who's, well, once we give out the grants, then we, you know, keep track of who's requested to actually receive their funds and remind people that they got a grant, for example, and we keep in sync with the city and with the state on the funds that they've given us and then what's been awarded out and that it's been an interesting experience to find out how disconnected some of those different groups are. And so bridging that in the arts councils is interesting, figuring out how to create better lines of communication and understanding, you know, how things work behind the scenes at the city has been interesting. My work professionally, I used to be in non-profit operations, but now I work for a commercial real estate company, I manage a retirement plan. But in my soul, I am an artist, so I am happy to be able to use my spreadsheet skills to support art being made and, you know, the arts in Medford. Passionate about that and I enjoy working with these extremely talented and hardworking and dedicated council members. So grateful for that. This is also my third grant cycle. Kyler and I came on right around the same time.
[Laura Jasinski]: Both of their spreadsheets are works of arts. And Sheila is not an official member of the board, but Sheila, do you want to give a quick introduction since you've been involved in a while?
[Sheila Ehrens]: Yeah. Hi, my, my name is Sheila. Um, I've been in Medford probably for seven years and have been involved with the arts council, but as she said, I'm not on the board. Um, and, uh, I came to the council because art and beauty is really important to me and being involved in the community. And, um, that's basically it. It's a great, very hardworking group of people. And, um, It's a fun place to be. Thank you guys for coming and we hope you enjoy the meeting.
[Laura Jasinski]: Great. If folks just want to give a quick introduction, name, and then either something that piqued your interest about the Arts Council or a question, that would also be really helpful so we can try to address some of those at some point in the meeting.
[SPEAKER_06]: I moved to Medford 11 years ago. I've been on the board of MACI for several years, you know, Arts and Education. The letters matched. Yeah, I was just interested in the process. Being an alien artist, I don't have a big job.
[Laura Jasinski]: Have you ever applied for one of the grants?
[SPEAKER_06]: No.
[Laura Jasinski]: Awesome. Thanks for being here.
[SPEAKER_04]: I think we're going to be. I have worked in Denver since 2008 and I have been up over there since 2019. And what Shayla said, I really think art and beauty are important to the community and interested to see how things get done. I kind of want to get more involved in Medford in like the least gross possible way.
[Sheila Ehrens]: So did you say your own doggy locks bagels?
[SPEAKER_04]: I do. Yes. Um, I'm third generation Medford, my son's fourth. Um, I, um,
[SPEAKER_01]: just a receptionist by day, also New Endeavor face painting. That's where I've seen you. I've been face painting. I did PV last night. I've been doing the Midford Farmers Market. I also, somehow I'm hosting a somehow very large craft fair in October. I don't know if anyone's seen it. The sign's in such a round. It's going to be October 18th at the Condon show. I'm doing, you know, artist forward, no AI, no MLM junk, no resale team who pretend that it's our craft. So yeah, so I'm really interested in kind of getting involved. Awesome.
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_00]: Hi, I'm Ryan, my wife and I bought a house here last fall, and since we're putting down roots we want to try to get more involved in the community. By day, I'm an attorney. Somehow that came out of a theater degree. to my artsy roots, because I don't get enough of that in my day job. So getting involved in the arts council seems like a natural direction. Awesome.
[Laura Jasinski]: Welcome. Mary looks first on my screen here. I think you might be on mute.
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_01]: I am. OK. Mary, go ahead. And basically, I moved to Medford in 2019 from California when I became a grandmother. Unfortunately, COVID hit a few months later, so it was a couple of years, and just wanted to get more involved in the community. My son's a writer. My mother was an artist. My father was a musician. I'm a musician. But my career had to do with program management and marketing. I lived in Buffalo for many years and was on the boards of many of the arts organizations there and did a lot of fundraising and programming, et cetera, for the arts. So when I saw this notice, I signed up a while ago to say I was interested and would like to become more involved in the arts community here in Medford. Great.
[SPEAKER_11]: Meredith? Hi there. My name is Meredith and my husband and I moved to Medford in 2021. I have just been wanting to get more involved in the community and I've been involved with the performing arts community in various ways in the Boston area for about a decade. And it just feels like a good fit, a good place to start. By day, I'm a marketing communications consultant, and I work a lot with nonprofits. So again, it just feels like a natural fit to get involved with the Medford Arts Council.
[Laura Jasinski]: And Kayla, I know we'll hear from you, or we'll talk in a bit, but I'd love to have you introduce yourself, too.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: Thanks. Hi, everyone. My name is Kayla Miros, and I am the economic development planner for the city of Medford. I have been with the city for about a year and a half. And yes, as Laura said, I'll give my larger speech to you later. But thank you all for having me, and excited to learn more about Thanks for being here.
[Laura Jasinski]: Great, did I miss anybody? Um, well, maybe if we just give, uh, we'll talk a little bit about kind of some action items for our upcoming grant cycle at the end of the meeting, but maybe Carla, do we want to, I'm happy to start, but will you please jump in if just to give like a lay of the land of like what our typical, um, grant cycle is. And then I think there's also opportunity for other projects with, with, um, the arts council as we are looking to grow. Um, we've. kind of built up to, there's six of us now in the last, five of us in the last couple of years, six with Sheila coming to meetings, but yeah. But we, as I mentioned, so we are the local cultural council of Medford, which is a program through the Mass Cultural Council. Folks, just raising hands, like I'm fairly familiar with the Mass Cultural Council, Cool, anybody like, I've never heard of these things before?
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_01]: Never heard of these things before.
[Laura Jasinski]: Perfect, great. So the Mass Cultural Council is kind of our state arts agency, and they provide some funding to municipalities that set up a local cultural council. So we annually get about $30,000, $35,000 from the state, and then the city also allocates about $60,000 over the last couple of years. in the current budget proposal 65 this year and so our kind of main function as the local cultural council is to go through a process to put out a grant opportunity people apply and then we review those grants and then allocate funds and also follow through on awarding those funds as well as reporting. The funds, we are all volunteers. So we work with the mayor's office, primarily with Lisa Coliani, and have kind of set up a system for people to kind of get their funding, but the city holds that money. And so when somebody, we kind of award them a grant, but really all of that kind of financial process goes through the city. So that's why we kind of work with them and also have an interest building other partnerships with folks like Kayla and others in the planning department. And we've been advocating for a liaison to kind of read that this existed years ago, but have someone kind of help more directly with all of these meetings with the city as well. I think that would just help us do even more. In the past, we've also done projects, actually, let me pause there. Kyler, what did I miss? Really high level of?
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: Nope, I think you hit all the high level things.
[Laura Jasinski]: And the Mass Cultural Council, their website does have a lot of really great resources. And so if this is something you are interested in learning more about, we can also share like they have taped webinars on the processes of what the grant entails, the financial reporting and all of that. I think what I can really say is if you're interested and you're willing to take on a task that's an hour to a month, that goes a really long way in helping us be efficient and get those funds out to artists that are serving Medford. People do not have to live in Medford to either be on the council or be awarded those funds, but we do look for them to have, be Medford serving, community serving, right? And sometimes there's questions about that. I'd say the biggest kind of peak of the year for that is coming up with the grant cycle open September 1st. Cool. And then we, I think closes October 15th, 16th. So folks have about six weeks to apply. And then we get a really big PDF of all the applicants we've gotten about what we get last year 120, something like that. Yeah. Um, applicants and so we break up into groups and we try to ideally we would have, I think, um, three people read each of those applications because we've been a little smaller. We've been trying to have at least two folks review those applications and we kind of come up with like a rubric. So the meetings in the fall, September, October, and really November are really focused on that process. And, um, you know, making sure everyone's provided the, the documentation, um, and then. um, you know, uh, figuring out who we, we, we give the $90,000 or so, cause the, as you can imagine, the request is quite a bit higher for that. So we can't find every applicant that we can. In the past, the council has also been able to do kind of other projects. You know, if we try to keep some reserves and we built some up over time, and that's kind of a discussion we also have is how much do we grant out versus how much do we want to hold to be able to do projects like painting the electrical boxes was a Metford Arts Council project. During my time, I know we also did the open doors project over in Duggar Park where there were like literally old doors that artists painted. We set up kind of a walk of those panels, really. And I think there's definitely opportunity to do even more of those projects with more capacity. We can certainly seek more funding through grants and other opportunities as well in partnership with the city. So we're not limited to those funds, but that's been our primary focus as of late. Anything else?
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_05]: I know a lot of people were asking, like, can I apply for a grant if I join the Council? Oh, yeah, good question. Do you want to answer that?
[Laura Jasinski]: The short answer is yes. We just wouldn't have you review your own award, right? I think that you kind of recuse yourself. And even there are some folks that have had, like, interaction with some grants or they're supporting a grant or they are aware of it and they've just recused themselves from that, from kind of reviewing that specific one of those.
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_05]: And September 10th is when MCC is going to post that information. I think on the YouTube channel you will find it from last year.
[Laura Jasinski]: Yeah.
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_05]: So they do upload that, but then just register if you cannot join. They'll let you know when they're posting the video.
[Laura Jasinski]: And the spectrum of projects and work that we have funded is quite broad. Everything from like PorchFest, as they've been kind of getting up and running, the Fairytale Ball here, Sarah Bradley Fulton Day, did I get that right? So it kind of also crosses, you know, certainly history, STEM, education, there's a lot. skills building that we try to do. And we also try to really build up the kind of priorities and try to message those out to folks so they can put in the best application they can given our priorities.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: If I can chime in one thing there just for folks. can seem intimidating at first, that we're asking you to review all these things, so just to note that you're not responsible at any point to review all 120 applications. We do break that down. We also do ask you to review things that they specifically might have a background in or something that they absolutely enjoy and they would have, whether as an audience member or as an artist, they have expertise to be able to read these applications and be able to adjudicate, you know, and give them a score. and an assessment that is in alignment with things that they have some connection to. And then also just to note that we do have a rubric. So as Laura said, we do have our priorities and then we have a pretty easy scoring sheet that you input that then calculates the bottom score. We then do a calibration period with your team and then we talk about everything as a whole council. So there's always a safety net in case you are nervous about that kind of thing, and that there will be seen by a variety of different people. And we do try to cater to people's backgrounds as best we can, knowing that we do have the disciplines that are out. I think there are 15 or 20 different disciplines people can label themselves as when they are applying. So we try to put them in. If you've got a performing arts background, maybe we put you in the performing arts group, so on and so forth. And it really does just allow us to get a little bit deeper into these to really understand what these folks are trying to accomplish and make sure that they can effectively execute.
[Kit Collins]: I would also add that although the applications are many, like the whole thing is many pages, you get used to the format. So like you kind of know what you're looking for, you're like quickly skimming through and you know you kind of like can get a sense and so you're really only looking at a few significant sections because although they need to write when it's going to be you don't really need to like process that yourself or like their contact info. So it narrows down to like mostly just really interesting things that you're like wow what are people wanting to propose to do in Medford like would that, you know, would we love that? And yeah, I think it's, I mean, it's the bulk of the work, but it's also very fun. I mean, it's fun.
[Laura Jasinski]: Yeah. If you're, if you're joining something, it should be like, I want to know what's going on in Medford. It is a great thing. to learn about that. I feel like there's a lot of things like, oh, this is cool. And one of the things we also want to be able to do is promote even more of it. I know SoBarn has been working on that, too, with social media and just getting the word out about all of the things that are happening and also connecting more folks to the funding opportunities, I think, through trying to work with our collaborator at Medford, too, and connect those jobs. Any immediate questions, we can also take some time at the end of the meeting. I think we'll have some time for some questions at the end too.
[hLm7uOhMYTQ_SPEAKER_21]: So we're talking through the process of someone becoming a member.
[Laura Jasinski]: Great. What our process has, there's a couple, there's. maybe parallel processes, but what we ask as an arts council is that you attend three meetings, and then you're kind of eligible to be added to the council to be a member that is then reviewing and making decisions about grants. There's also, you apply through the city's portal, so that's fairly straightforward, putting in information. If you have ever, I think some names we got from that portal already where you're kind of like, emailing and saying what you might be interested in. It looks similar to that. And then, you get, I think now the city council actually has to vote on new members for all boards and commissions, but we have also had members continue, like you don't have to not come to meetings and not get involved as that. I think we've worked with Lisa to try to streamline that as much as possible, but I know that's something I think the city is also getting adjusted to, but which kind of official process for the city, but to get to kind of get to that level, we asked folks to just kind of show commitment by coming to three meetings. They don't have to be consecutive, but it's great if they are. We typically meet once a month. I think generally it's been the third Monday evening. We've also adjusted that based on certainly holidays, and then if we just don't have enough people have a conflict, then we'll shift that meeting around as needed. We've been trying to do more in person because I think, again, as lots of folks said here, the reason people want to do this is because you want to get to know your community and get more involved. Coming back from COVID, that's been tricky, but we also do try to offer this knowing that volunteers also have busy lives. So, and there are some meetings where we will, you know, decide to do strictly online for whatever reason. Sometimes we've done that during the grant process for screen sharing and just fewer shuffling of that. But that's generally been our process and we're trying to also get out to more events, like you said, whether that's through tabling, we have those opportunities and to just go enjoy a lot of the great things that get funded.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: And the joy of you all coming in August is that this is one, September is two, October would be three, meaning you then can be an adjudicator for the grant cycle. I really, really love that. So just to have more eyes and to be able to have those teams built out and it just, it does make, you know, more hands make light work here. So that will be helpful just so we're not reading. as many. Your eyes do get a little cross at times, so you have to get it out. But so if we can, if you can come to September and October and are interested and want to join, that is in your future and that's very exciting.
[Laura Jasinski]: We also try to plan a celebration with all of the artists that we have invited each year. We've done that at Real Gusto a couple of times. I think that's also up for, if that was something somebody was like, yes, I want to do that, Sheila's been a big part of that and helped out with that a lot, but that's also a real opportunity, I think, to help the council.
[Sheila Ehrens]: FYI, they closed the business, Laura.
[Laura Jasinski]: What? Yeah, I was going to discuss that.
[Sheila Ehrens]: We can talk about it. I've already been thinking about other places. Yeah, they're closed. Just got pizza there. It's now, it's now Ibu Yusa, the Japanese market. They have a Japanese market that used to be on Riverside Ave. It's now a restaurant there. They've taken over the space.
[SPEAKER_04]: I'm willing to find out.
[Sheila Ehrens]: I'm willing to find out.
[SPEAKER_11]: Well, you go away for a weekend. I have a quick question. Yeah. So in the meantime, as for those of us who are joining our first meeting today and have to join at least two more meetings until we become members, What are some things that non-members could help with in the meantime?
[Laura Jasinski]: You can still participate in all of the discussions when it comes down to votes. That's something that only members vote on. And I think there's still a lot to be, even if you were, say, participating in a meeting where we're talking about grants, they're all open to the public. Obviously, some of that material is sensitive. So we asked folks to be thoughtful about that. But you'd still kind of get to see that that process and I think there's opportunity to even help with. like the administration of note, like we're like, can someone take some notes tonight? Or can somebody help share things on social media? Or, you know, I think there's other things that we are certainly looking for kind of support with on the council. But I think the first couple of meetings, I don't know, any of the newer members feel like they want to share what their experience was during that period.
[hLm7uOhMYTQ_SPEAKER_21]: I think I joined when I came, it was right at the end of the cycle, you guys are already discussing everything. And so I was to listen, but I'd ask questions sometimes or you know, just learn more about the process. I don't think I did anything useful, but it was a great way to learn and just also kind of, I got excited about it. It was fun to see you grow up.
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_05]: Initially, when I joined Devon, I think it was after the Grand Slam. It was like March, April-ish. but then they were discussing mostly I had similar questions in the thought process but what right how what we are because we are we have six which she died is seven but we do want to do other projects yeah whatever ideas you can share and definitely there are other If possible, can we do a fundraiser? These sort of ideas, if we hear, sure.
[Laura Jasinski]: I want to talk about a couple of things that kind of each of us are focused on and kind of bringing back to the group, not necessarily through like official committees or anything, but just different, I think, projects that we're working on or ideas.
[Sheila Ehrens]: And I'm not on the board and I help whenever I can, I've helped with the events and I booked the library and do, you know, a handful of other things, but obviously I can't vote and I'm not involved in the grant cycle, but I do whatever I can.
[Kit Collins]: That was really like a perfect time to just hear what we're talking about for logistics, like preparation logistics, because it's about to be, you're about to be able to be extremely. helpful if you want to be. If you're coming into this being like, I'd like to join as soon as possible and I'd like to contribute, there's going to be so many opportunities in the next year.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: Because we are a volunteer organization, we do have to, we do, there is going to be rollover in some of the officers, so to speak. So shadowing, if there is a specific officer that you're interested in doing, eventually to either become a co-chair type, there's two there, or become the person who would be the successor for someone in one of those titled roles. You can shadow them in some of their more administrative work or in things of that nature. So really, so there's, It's either new things, new ideas, new projects, because we have more capacity and people with new talents coming in that you would want to add in that way, or you could support an existing project or person or role.
[SPEAKER_11]: Sounds great. Thank you.
[hLm7uOhMYTQ_SPEAKER_21]: Great.
[Laura Jasinski]: Well, maybe we can talk about a couple of things that we're working on now. I also am conscious that city staff go to a lot of evening meetings. And so, Kayla, a chance to both just share a little bit of who she is and her role in the city and anything else you'd like to and some possible connections there. I know we've emailed a little bit about that with the council. But yeah, I know you also have to, you do a lot of evening meetings in your role, so.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: I appreciate, yes, your attention to that. And thank you, thank you for giving me the time to join your meeting, introduce myself, share a little bit about the work that I do at City Hall. So like I said before, I'm the economic development planner. I work in the Office of Planning, Development and Sustainability, so we're a team of 10 staff, plus or minus, and a few very dedicated interns. And in my role, I oversee programs that are aimed at supporting small businesses within Medford or supporting aspiring entrepreneurs. You may have seen some of these businesses, some of these programs being talked about across the city. We hosted Project Papa, in two different locations over in 2025 and this year as well. And this project pop-up is an opportunity for low to moderate income Medford residents to test out what it's like to be in a retail storefront to determine if that's something that they want to do and something that they can take on in a very low risk environment. So this program We have three entrepreneurs in one space, in one storefront for a temporary period of time. And it is no cost to them. So no rent, utilities, any of that. They basically are able to really focus on what it's like to own and operate a storefront. And we've had several artists join as entrepreneurs and learn what it takes and what lessons and how they can grow their business and what way does that look for them as artist entrepreneurs. And really the goal of that is to help the entrepreneur themselves, the artists themselves establish what their next steps are. But in turn, there's also is an opportunity for the city to have empowered entrepreneurs taking space in our small business and our storefronts to create really vibrant neighborhoods and commercial districts, which in turn supports other small businesses, whether that's a restaurant or a tailor or whomever, and creating a very strong ecosystem and a local economy for Medford. So that's Project Pop-Up, and I brought that one up first because that has historically been one where most artists or people affiliated with the arts have taken that opportunity. And another one that we recently ran was the Community Business Builders Program. And this was an eight-week program with a learning cohort. of aspiring entrepreneurs or people who are already running their business. And it was an educational course. And this cohort they met over the course of eight weeks and learned the fundamentals of starting a business, growing a business, and truly building out their business plan. And a very unique opportunity to be a part of a group where Maybe you've been in the business for five years and you're looking to figure out how you can step back, maybe hire a few people. And then also learning from a person who is just starting their business and really trying to get a product or an idea off the ground. And this was, I've run one cohort. It met in the late spring and summer. And we had seven participants who were also low to moderate income Medford residents. And through this, they left the program with a business plan and direction for where they wanted to go next. And finally, I also received the vacant storefront grant program. So similar to project pop-up where we're trying to support our small business communities, entrepreneurs, while also revitalizing our neighborhoods and commercial centers. The vacant storefront grant program is a matching grant from the city and a tax credit from the state for any small business owner anywhere who wants to move to a vacant storefront in Medford. A storefront is first floor retail space. and they can receive a grant of $25,000 with a matching tax credit of the same amount. And we've awarded, we've run two years of this program. In the first year, we were able to award one grant. And in this year, I believe we'll be able to do both grants that we have. So that's the grant side. Those are the programs that I oversee as economic development planner, but in addition to, say, direct support through these programs, a part of my role is to understand what the community needs. I've been in many conversations with small business owners, obviously entrepreneurs, and also artists, and understanding what they need and how the city can best support them to create a stronger local economies is really key. And so I, I host regular office hours, I am available virtually and in person. And I, essentially, you can come to me during these office hours with questions or concerns or things that you have. And through these conversations, what I do is then work them into either policy plans. And this all then feeds into what sort of programs we offer. So the first, those three programs that I named are funded through our Community Development Block Grant funds. And a part of running these programs is also reflecting what works and what doesn't. What is serving the needs of Medford residents, Medford business owners, and what can we adapt and change? So This is, in me joining here, I want to connect and let people know that I'm available to speak to you as a resource. I am also, I listen, and if you are advocating for a certain program or what you need or what you see as an issue, while I don't have an endless bucket of funds, we do have funds available to us, so reconstructing programs as needed is a priority.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: I have a question and I was hoping I could, but the one that, I'll come to office hours and ask many of them as with my artist hat on, but from New York's council hat, I assume that in order for you to link entrepreneurs with space, I presume you also are connected to the owners of these buildings. Is that accurate?
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: Yes. Obviously, some owners are harder to reach than others, but I do my best whether there's a space coming online or has been sitting vacant to get to know the property owner and do matchmaking where I can. I'm obviously not a broker, but yeah, having relationships in both units to do that matchmaking process is something that I can do.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, because I think that from with my grant hat on, I know a lot of people come to us and they don't know where to do their program. Or they're only trying to do their program at one of three places, which is the library, the senior center, or the Arts Club of Medford. And those are the only three options that they can kind of hold up. So if there was a way, I know obviously these owners want to prioritize long-term leases, want to prioritize that type of thing, but if there was a way for us to hook artists up with you who are looking for venues early on before they even apply to use and activate vacant space and bring a vibrant, even if it's a one night only or if it's a week or if it's something of that nature, If that is a way for us to collaborate for these vacant spaces in the interim before they can get a long-term tenant, that could get some lights turned on in some of those vacant spaces and also provide much needed space and reduce the burden and diversify locations on those three spots that are basically where most of our grants end up doing their program.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: No, that makes sense. Yeah, the vacant storefronts in Medford, there's definitely very long term ones that are harder to lease. But then there's other ones where the property owner might be more flexible or amenable to a shorter term sort of pop up. And that's where we have seen, we've run the pop up program. we have worked out relationships with some of these property owners to open their minds to something that is shorter term or temporary, because I think most people are in the frame of wanting that long-term lease. So knowing that artists, too, also need that space how can that look and how might I be able to reconfigure a project pop-up in a way that serves maybe artists' needs as well, so.
[SPEAKER_11]: To briefly second that, sorry, I just, to build off of that, one of the number one complaints I hear from performers in the area is space related. It is, I need rehearsal space or I need performance space or both. And so Kyler, I think that's a great idea to team up.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: It is, as a theater artist in Boston, that was one of the biggest problems we had for my whole career in theater. And when I lived in New York, there were programs comparable to what I'm talking about, and they did it. They were, obviously the landlord was given some kind of incentive. The artist was not gonna be able to really pay rent, but there was some incentive for them to get artists in the space, get it activated, get people into the space to see it. And that was obviously a collaboration with the city itself. Yeah, very cool.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: This is, this is very interesting, and kind of reworking of what was imagined to be, which is a retail store, but a pop up arts space is something definitely to explore, because we're looking to do foot traffic we're looking to make the neighborhoods feel lively to support a really strong downtown and commercial districts.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: I ran a touring theater company. My line the whole time was, anything can become a theater. Really, any space can be converted. And I just think that that would be a really great way to get people, like you said, on the streets and going to the restaurant before a show.
[hLm7uOhMYTQ_SPEAKER_21]: Yeah, even just having a very basic, like, gallery space for people who do more visual arts would be huge, and all you need is a wall and a door and some lights. But, you know, I think about, like, Blue Triangle Gallery in Somerville, just drawing so many people that food trucks come, and then, you know, it's like a whole production, and, you know, there's so many artists that I don't really think have a space to display work right now.
[SPEAKER_11]: The comedy community in particular is really really looking for space, both performance space. There are so many improv groups at this point that are just looking for an affordable space to rehearse in and perform in. The demand is really high.
[Kit Collins]: It makes me think too about Lilypad and Inman and how simple their space is. And I'm often like, why don't we have more of this? It's just so straightforward. And so, yeah, that seems like a great concept.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: I'm taking a look. Thank you.
[Laura Jasinski]: Yeah, even if there was one or two spaces to pilot, right, just that we could help advertise or make some connections with.
[CAS00002541_SPEAKER_05]: Especially if they're taking leases, like somebody else is coming and somebody else left, there is a two week gap. It's already a clean space, so.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: I literally could book three months right now. With Meredith and I, we could probably do more than that.
[SPEAKER_11]: Oh, yeah, I could, I mean, I could book, I could book a lot of teams, a lot of improv teams, for both performing and rehearsals.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: And they might have a small budget, it might not be a ton, but they will have something that they could put toward it. But it's no retail numbers, but it is not nothing. And it's better than being empty.
[SPEAKER_11]: And they don't need, I mean, Comedy people don't need anything. We need two chairs. Electricity optional.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: Awesome.
[Laura Jasinski]: Yeah.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: And I'll just share too that something that I hear over and over from restaurants and other small businesses in the square is just how impactful the Chevalier Theatre is. And so understanding that, um, It's not just about retail, it's not just about goods, but experiences and people coming together. And I think that the performing arts can definitely provide that. And so I'm really, this is a really interesting idea that I like to delve into more of a pop-up space for art, whether it's gallery or performing arts. This is really helpful.
[Sheila Ehrens]: The bottom line is, isn't that what art is all about? It's bringing people together and creating community and joy. I mean, that's the bottom line, right? I bet artists would be willing if the space was yucky, I bet people would be willing to go in and paint and just clean it up, and the landlord would benefit from that.
[Laura Jasinski]: What I didn't hear what you said. I know I just we were for an administrative interlude. I'm sending everybody on the zoom link currently, except for Medford community media. If there's somebody there that wants to shoot me an email, I'm happy to add. a link to a extension of the meeting. We will run out of time at 7.30. Again, welcome to being scrappy volunteers. But we just have another Google Meet. So if you get dropped off of this, because I think we're going to extend till 8, I'm going to hit send. And if you don't see something in your inbox from the Arts Council with that link, please let me know. But everybody should get that to rejoin if we need to at 7.30.
[Sheila Ehrens]: And that's going to be on our email, Laura?
[Laura Jasinski]: Yeah, I just emailed you.
[Sheila Ehrens]: OK, cool. All right, thank you.
[Laura Jasinski]: But great. Thanks for giving us that overview, Kayla. And I think this type of like, how do we work with you would be a great thing to follow up on with the council. And I think a good example also could be through our existing grant program, but could also be something that we do kind of outside of that as a council. Those types of things that we focus on in a given year is something we discuss as members.
[y94cUzx0pcQ_SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely. I'll put information in the chat, even though this meeting will go away shortly, about my office hours and my email and other information. But I'm happy to continue this conversation. But maybe for the sake of time, I'll hand it over to y'all.
[Kit Collins]: Did she get your email?
[Laura Jasinski]: I added, yeah, if you want to reply to that email with that information. Or if somebody else from online, maybe Kyler someone wants to take down that information from the chat. So we have that would be great. And then we'd also love Kayla to, when we have, if you would also be interested in helping promote that grant cycle that opens September 1st, we can be sharing that with the city as well, with Lisa, we can also include you to make sure we're getting the word out to folks that, and that's what we'd emailed about too, is trying to connect people to different resources. So that would be one coming up for us. Um, awesome. So, to be continued, I'm going to also keep us moving on our agenda. And this is, I guess, Kayla, also a little bit, our next thing we're going to talk about was the potential for the council to think about doing a project with a Tufts student group. I know, so this is, I guess, adjacent within your department, Kayla, but won't put you on the spot here, but would love to follow up with you about this. And I've also talked with Amanda and Alicia briefly about this opportunity too, and we'll follow up with them, but just thought I would note that. But we've, talked about different ways that we could also help with kind of longer term cultural planning in the city and one thing I know I've brought up before is on the Tufts urban environmental policy and planning master's program does it like a field project every spring I know the city's also done several projects with them. I'm also an alum from there, so I have a little bit of a... Yeah, a good resource. They just put out their call for proposals to think about what the spring projects would be. So you work with a team of about four to five grad students in planning. You have to apply to have your project be one of theirs that they might pick to work on. But this is a little bit connected to kind of some of the work that's been doing and working with the city and advocating for some funding for a liaison. So we still expect that there will be somebody that can provide kind of arts and culture liaison. I think it's 15 hours a week or so is currently in the budget that's still being worked out. But this might be something that we could kind of couple with that to look at other opportunities that we might help pursue as a council. So we talked about cultural districts or different resources to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council that is meant to help kind of provide toolkits for building up arts and culture resources within a city. So I think I sent this over to some members, just like the description of it. I think by early September, we need to just kind of say like, here's a paragraph or two about what we might look to explore. Um, generally my, my thought though, this is just say, I think with lots of things that we can do as a council, as we're growing and as the city of Medford, of course, is growing and dealing with things like zoning, right. And these things like, you know, pop-up opportunities, you know, different things that, how could this be an opportunity to leverage students to get, um, to be researchers on that and help guide, here are some opportunities that we could pursue as a council, pursue with the city as a council. advocate for and just get some more kind of work and really research behind that opportunity. So I'd be happy to basically put down the two paragraph version of that to share with the members to put that in. I think that would be something that would require some time for members to like meet with the students, right, share perspectives, help make connections, that sort of thing that would be, could be at council meetings, but probably also in addition to That popped up in my inbox so that I would share that here as another potential resource.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: I love this. I definitely think we should aim to do it in some capacity and with more people getting involved. I think that will be wonderful. I know that in the, I mean, you were talking about other things that we're kind of working on. We've been in conversations, a part of the conversation with the arts collaboratives on Medford Arts and Cachet. in working with them. And I do think that our role in the arts community is about advocacy, giving out this money. And then obviously, we want to do other creative projects as well. But I do think this falls very much in line with us being an advocacy organization and group as opposed to one that is necessarily making the art itself. So this feels in alignment with my understanding of our role in the community.
[Laura Jasinski]: Any other thoughts on how we might focus that, like, what the it would be of the project, right? Like, I think there's a number of different things we could look at. There would be another step where we dig in with that a little bit more with the professors and with the educators if we were selected, but. that might be an area where people just kind of think about how we might focus that. It could even be like the relationship between the Arts Council and Arts Collaborative Medford, right? Like we're looking at other funding opportunities or precedents, municipalities or communities that have grown their arts kind of council and capacity over time, right?
[hLm7uOhMYTQ_SPEAKER_21]: I think even this question of transient space for different types of performers and how to create that ad hoc, which obviously would involve Kayla and her team quite a bit, I suspect, but it'll be interesting just how we figure out how to grow that.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: I think the public-private partnership that, and because we are this, just for the new folks as well, we are technically part of the city. And this public-private partnership, this, how do we get involved with the economic development? How do we get involved with the nonprofit sector? How are we involved with the actual government and advocacy for money? And then how are we, we are also the connection to the state with the MCC. So we are kind of at this nexus that I do think figuring out what, is the best role for us, but then- Oh, okay. I thought it was the clock.
[Laura Jasinski]: Sorry. There was screaming here that we were a little bit off. It's like, okay, it's 7.30. Sorry. Yeah.
[Unidentified]: Yeah.
[jMy4r_5VbVA_SPEAKER_03]: I just, I do think it's somewhere in that who is responsible for what and how do the arts Yeah, the organizations that do exist in the infrastructure, we do have work together and work more effectively in order to bring about the change that we want to see.
[Laura Jasinski]: Yeah. We could draft something and also share it with like Regina or something over at ACM, not to sign her up for anything, but I feel like she's on every every board and every committee there is. Yeah. All right, why don't we, before we go into other quick updates, switch meeting links for those that are joining. And we will see you all in 2 minutes. I'll open that up on here. Does that sound good? Sounds good. Thank you.
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