Amesbury Cultural Council Meeting
Announced Lisa Phillips as the new Poet Laureate; elected new officers (Sally Nutt as Chair, Ann Johnson co‑chair, Amy Vander Els treasurer, Laura Kozlowski secretary); denied a $3,000 grant request from artist Whitney Dellea and approved featuring the Poet Laureate in an upcoming advertisement.
The Cultural Council met and covered grant decisions, marketing, public art planning, upcoming events, and officer elections. The Council reported on grant administration (20 approval letters were issued and several denials sent), discussed the possibility of shifting to direct grants administered by city hall, and noted four outstanding 2023 grant reimbursements. The Council decided to deny a $3,000 grant request from artist Whitney Dellea because of unspecified risks and open questions (ownership of concrete, liability, need to coordinate with DPW and whether to call for art for tunnel panels) while expressing a desire to support the artist in other ways.
Marketing and programming items included purchasing a 4½-page ad in the Amesbury Merchant and a unanimous motion to feature the Poet Laureate in the next advertisement (to include a poem from the Mayor’s inauguration and information about an artist mixer). The Council announced Lisa Phillips as the new Poet Laureate and noted her upcoming inauguration and related reception. The Council also approved the Art at City Hall exhibit theme and dates, discussed logistics for public art in a tunnel, and planned an artist mixer at Barewolf brewery. Officer elections filled leadership roles: Sally Nutt (Chair), Ann Johnson (Co‑Chair), Amy Vander Els (Treasurer), and Laura Kozlowski (Secretary). There were no public comments recorded.