(Feb. 16, 2017) Town of Berlin funding will be restored to the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee, ending a nearly three-year dry spell.
The committee had operated during that span using public donations and self-funding, as well as in-kind services from the town.
Before that, former Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day had earmarked $2,000 in annual support for the nonprofit group, taken from his annual departmental budget. That level of support will now, apparently, resume.
Members of the committee met with Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, Town Administrator Laura Allen and current Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells last month in what both sides described as a productive summit.
“We had a good meeting. It was something I think we’ll be doing on a regular basis,” Town Administrator Laura Allen said. “I think it was a good way to kick off the year and make sure we’re all on the same page and coming up with good ideas to keep things coordinated.”
Berlin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Larnet St. Amant was also present during the meeting.
“Ivy felt comfortable with an allocation within her budget of about $2,000 [annually, for the committee],” Allen said, adding the town asked for written proposals of exactly what the committee would use those funds for. “We’re responsible to the taxpayers to be able to account for any expenditures, so we asked them to put a proposal together so that we could understand how they would want to use that money.
“I haven’t seen that, but I expect it will be here shortly,” Allen added.
Committee members present during the meeting, Jan. 24, were President Heather Layton, Vice President Robin Tomaselli, Treasurer Patty Gregorio and board member Anna Mullis, who is also the executive director of the Worcester County Arts Council.
“It was a very positive meeting that we had with the town,” Gregorio said. “The town expressed their dedication to supporting the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee with financial support, as well as continuing their in-kind donations. They’re very supportive and very energetic about what we want to do.”
Also part of the discussion was the division of town events – specifically which group would be responsible for each. Committee-specific events include the Outdoor Movie Nights, the monthly 2nd Friday art strolls and Maker’s Markets.
Last November, the committee hosted the first Artists Giving Back: Meals for the Hungry event. Gregorio said two such dinners were planned for 2017.
Along with hosting events, the committee supports the community of artists within Berlin. For instance, Gregorio said those living in the Berlin Arts and Entertainment District can acquire tax-incentive forms by visiting the committee website at artsinberlin.org/a-e-district.html, or in person at the Berlin Visitor’s Center on 14 South Main Street.
“Artists can get either benefits or discounts on their taxes that they pay, simply by being an artist within an A&E District,” she said.
She said the committee was also working on a project involving public bicycle racks, as well as raising funds to complete the third panel in an outdoor public mural currently hanging at the visitor’s center.
On that front, the committee has come up with a series of incentives for anyone who donates money for the mural. Donors who contribute $5, for instance, will receive a Berlin A&E Committee coozie and a handwritten thank-you note. Incentives are tiered up to $5,000, which is the cost to produce one mural panel.
For more information, visit shop.artsinberlin.org.
The committee had operated during that span using public donations and self-funding, as well as in-kind services from the town.
Before that, former Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day had earmarked $2,000 in annual support for the nonprofit group, taken from his annual departmental budget. That level of support will now, apparently, resume.
Members of the committee met with Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, Town Administrator Laura Allen and current Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells last month in what both sides described as a productive summit.
“We had a good meeting. It was something I think we’ll be doing on a regular basis,” Town Administrator Laura Allen said. “I think it was a good way to kick off the year and make sure we’re all on the same page and coming up with good ideas to keep things coordinated.”
Berlin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Larnet St. Amant was also present during the meeting.
“Ivy felt comfortable with an allocation within her budget of about $2,000 [annually, for the committee],” Allen said, adding the town asked for written proposals of exactly what the committee would use those funds for. “We’re responsible to the taxpayers to be able to account for any expenditures, so we asked them to put a proposal together so that we could understand how they would want to use that money.
“I haven’t seen that, but I expect it will be here shortly,” Allen added.
Committee members present during the meeting, Jan. 24, were President Heather Layton, Vice President Robin Tomaselli, Treasurer Patty Gregorio and board member Anna Mullis, who is also the executive director of the Worcester County Arts Council.
“It was a very positive meeting that we had with the town,” Gregorio said. “The town expressed their dedication to supporting the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee with financial support, as well as continuing their in-kind donations. They’re very supportive and very energetic about what we want to do.”
Also part of the discussion was the division of town events – specifically which group would be responsible for each. Committee-specific events include the Outdoor Movie Nights, the monthly 2nd Friday art strolls and Maker’s Markets.
Last November, the committee hosted the first Artists Giving Back: Meals for the Hungry event. Gregorio said two such dinners were planned for 2017.
Along with hosting events, the committee supports the community of artists within Berlin. For instance, Gregorio said those living in the Berlin Arts and Entertainment District can acquire tax-incentive forms by visiting the committee website at artsinberlin.org/a-e-district.html, or in person at the Berlin Visitor’s Center on 14 South Main Street.
“Artists can get either benefits or discounts on their taxes that they pay, simply by being an artist within an A&E District,” she said.
She said the committee was also working on a project involving public bicycle racks, as well as raising funds to complete the third panel in an outdoor public mural currently hanging at the visitor’s center.
On that front, the committee has come up with a series of incentives for anyone who donates money for the mural. Donors who contribute $5, for instance, will receive a Berlin A&E Committee coozie and a handwritten thank-you note. Incentives are tiered up to $5,000, which is the cost to produce one mural panel.
For more information, visit shop.artsinberlin.org.