CHICOPEE – The Chicopee Cultural Council may be best known for its series of four “Lights on” art events in the downtown, but the council is preparing many events in the city.  

Susan Knightly, the chair of the council, told Reminder Publishing, what has helped the council become more active is a $10,000 line item in the city budget. This designation has allowed the council to seek out additional grants to fund programs.

“We’re trying to make the council sustainable,” she explained.

The council receives funding for programs from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, but the addition revenue from grants allows the Chicopee council to raise money for more programs.

The organization is finishing a website that will link to all of the arts and culture events in the city.

The council recently conducted a fundraiser at Red Fire Farms in Granby and co-sponsored “ El Puerto Rico, The Rich Port,” a concert of contemporary classical music featuring “Caprichos” by renowned Puerto Rican composer Roberto Sierra, a new piece by Puerto Rican composer Omar Surillo, and compositions by Surillo, Tony Solitro, and Christian A. Quiñones. The concert was presented in several locations including Chicopee Comprehensive High School.

Coming up this summer will be a variety of events sponsored in part or completely by the council. The list includes:

• Artist Greg Maichack will present a pastel class at the library on July 9 at 6 p.m. This class is for adults of all skill levels. All materials are provided. Register at the Reference Desk to participate or call us at 594-1800 ext. 3.

• The Berkshire Hills Music Academy Performance Troupe will perform at the library on July 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Music will cover a variety of genres and showcase the skills of various students. This program will take place in the Community Room.

Both programs are supported in part by a grant from the Chicopee Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

The council is also participating in the annual Downtown Getdown block party that will run Aug 23-24.

Knightly said there will be many events in September including a fundraiser at The Loft Comedy Club and the presentation of “We Did It for You: Women’s Journey through History” at Chicopee Comprehensive High School on Sept. 19.

The council has also been producing a video series called “Village Voices.” The episode titled “Chicopee Cooks” can be seen at https://vimeo.com/337809643.

Knightly said currently council volunteers are finishing the post-production on another episode of the series with a focus on the Polish heritage of the city. She said the crew shot five hours of footage at the Polish Center of Discovery and Learning.

Knightly said the presence of the arts in a downtown can help small businesses attract people and compete with “big box” stores. Part of the council’s future planning involves engaging with the residents in the conversion of the former Cabotville and Lyman Mills factory buildings into market rate housing.
For more information on the council, go to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/chicopeeculturalcouncil.