Making a Case for the Arts

Whether they realize it or not, most Norfolk residents have benefited from the town’s cultural council. The group has provided grant monies for library and school programs, summer concerts, and numerous other ongoing and special events in the area.
Those grant monies and the programs they fund, however, are in jeopardy unless more residents volunteer to serve on the council’s board. Two of the five current members will be stepping down, and according to state guidelines, cultural council boards must have at least five members in order to be considered a viable board and thus receive grant money allocated by the State.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, determines the funds distributed to each town based on town population and other factors. According to Norfolk Cultural Council Chairperson Rick Tedoldi, the town typically receives just under $5000. Last fall, the group received twenty-three grant applications and was able to fund or partially fund twelve requests.
“It’s safe to say these programs will suffer if we were to fold,” acknowledged Tedoldi.
Board members serve a three-year term, and can serve no more than two three-year terms before they must step down. Tedoldi and another board member have both served six years now and are required to give up their seats. The remaining three members are hoping other town residents will step forward so the board can continue supporting cultural events in town.
Current board member Charity Stolarz says no particular artistic ability is needed to serve on the board.
“You don’t need to have a fine art background at all,” she emphasized. “As long as you’re interested in promoting the arts, that’s really the only qualification.”
Stolarz, currently a stay-at-home mother, says the arts have always been important to her. A former auditor, she says she rekindled her love of painting after having her children. Chairperson Tedoldi enjoys photography, but says “I’m not even close to being a professional.”
Both board members believe a diverse board would be an asset to the town.
“It would be wonderful to have musicians and educators,” said Stolarz. “A scientist would be amazing because that’s part of our mission as well. Getting people involved in the applied sciences is an aspect of culture.”
Stolarz joined the board after moving to Norfolk from Boston a few years ago. At the time, she was expecting her second child.
“I was looking for a way to connect with the community and culturally-minded people who were interested in the arts,” she explained. “It was a tough transition, moving from Boston which is so culturally-rich and there’s something for everybody all the time. You don’t have to seek those things out.”
According to Charlotte Cutter, a Program Officer for the Local Cultural Councils, which operates under the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the importance of the arts cannot be minimized. Besides generating more than 45,000 jobs and $2.5 billion of economic activity in the state—much of which goes back into state coffers to help fund education, transportation, and other public services—the arts also contribute to the overall health of the community.
“At-risk students with access to the arts have better academic results, better workforce opportunities, and are more engaged in their communities,” noted Cutter. She also cites a study from the National Endowment for the Arts and George Washington University, which observed that “participation in community-based cultural programs reduces the risk factors that drive the need for long-term care for persons older than 65 years.”
The Massachusetts Cultural Council and its Local Cultural Council partners is the largest cultural support network in the nation, adds Cutter. The program is unique because each town is represented and assured cultural funding, but only if their boards remain viable with enough members.
For FY 2017, the Norfolk Cultural Council has funded several library programs for children, a music program for Norfolk Cooperative Preschool, the Norfolk Quill, Norfolk Recreation programs, and a Stony Brook program, among others.
Chairperson Tedoldi says although the board’s primary effort has been to manage the grant cycle, more members would also enable the group to fundraise and then create new arts programming for the town. The group hosts a very popular juried art show every other year, but it’s a monumental effort with a small board, he explained.
The group is now on Facebook and is also launching a new website (www.norfolkculturalcouncil.org), in hopes of reaching more people in town. Modernizing the group’s communication, says Stolarz, will serve to both highlight the group’s role and help publicize the cultural events in the area. The potential is great, she believes, for the town to grow its art culture. More members will not only assure continued grant monies, but will also enable the group to create more arts programming for all segments of the population.
“The more people we can get on the council, the better. We have lots of great ideas and we have great outlets already in place. I think the goodwill is there from the community. I think the community is very generous,” said Stolarz.
For more information about joining the Norfolk Cultural Council, email [email protected] and a board member will be in touch.