Erving Cultural Council Unanimously Backs Partial Payments for Pandemic-Affected Artists

ERVING -- May 13, 2020, Erving Cultural Council unanimously adopts a policy allowing partial grant payments to artists suffering COVID-19 hardship. The May 13 remote meeting was called specifically to address a request from artist Greg Macheck, whose $499 pastel painting workshop grant, a collaboration with the Erving library scheduled for December, had stalled due to the pandemic. Macheck requested $245, documenting purchased materials and completed research; the council confirmed with a Massachusetts Cultural Council state representative that a proportionate progress payment was permissible. Rather than vote case by case, the council broadened the motion to cover any grantee who requests relief, passing it without opposition. The council also heard from library grant coordinator Barbara Friedman, who said $4,500 in separate state arts funding for the library's grand opening concert series faced a September deadline and risked going unspent.