Cultural Commission

CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 July 25, 2022 Minutes of the Meeting Meeting called to order, in person and as a video conference call, by Chairman Harvey Center at 6:30 pm with Commissioners: John Cherry, John Cooke, Cheryl Hill, Ed Moore, Perry Price, Gregory Smith, and Coordinator Gregory Wencek. Absent: Mary Burke, and Alma Faham. Presentation of Minutes The Minutes of the June meeting were presented. A motion by GSmith to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by JCooke. Passed by voice vote, with 2 abstentions. Correspondence EMail: Website payment, Make Music Winter, Mail: Thank you from The Danbury Music Centre for supplemental grant, Thank you from Halanda Thi Nguyen Danbury High School Music Scholarship Phone: Thank you from Musicals at Richter for Supplemental grant Reports on DCC sponsored events ○ Musicals at Richter ■ * The Sound of Music Friday, July 22- Aug 8 8:30 – 11:00 Commissioners plan to attend Danbury events not sponsored by the Commission ○ Musicals at Richter ■ Renaissance of Richter Celebration Benefit Dedication of the new stage ○ Danbury Music Centre ○ City Center Danbury ○ Danbury Museum ■ Music in the Garden Saturday, August 5 ⋅4:00 – 6:00pm ■ Guided Tours of 4 Danbury Museum Historic Buildings on our Main Street campus ■ Guided Tours of the Ives Homestead ■ The outdoor exhibit panels are installed ○ City Center Danbury Farmers Market - Friday, June 24⋅10:00am – 2:00pm until Oct 29, 2022 ○ Danbury Railway Museum ○ Palace Theater Danbury ○ Galleries ■ Gallery of the Visual and Performing Arts Center WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension ■ Gallery at Still River Editions 128 E Liberty St. ■ in VIEW project Main Street Danbury ○ WCSU Minutes of the Meeting Page 1 of 4 Approved: August 22, 2022 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.  CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 Upcoming events See addendum Coordinator’s Report ● Application for Supporting Arts Grant Program - Underway ○ Help is required from the City to identify Federal ID numbers and Auditing procedures ○ The submission deadline is August so the City Council must approve at their meeting 8/2 after review from the Finance office ● Danbury Ethnic Cultural Festival - no progress ● Danbury museum has invited Commissioners to tour the restored Ives homestead ● Commission outreach ○ To increase awareness of the Commission and its projects I suggest a series of audio recordings (Podcasts) which showcase each Commissioner followed by a series of interviews with organizations which the Commission supports. ○ I would like to schedule a time with each Commissioner to record their segment. The final program will be about 5 minutes for each Commissioner. It should take about 15 minutes to record, in person is best or by phone if necessary. ● Designs for Danbury ○ Updated rules submitted to GSmith and AFaham for review ○ A list of potential businesses to invite for participation is being prepared ● Commission projects (see - c:\Users\g.wencek\Documents\My Commission\Projects\Project Yearly overview.xlsx) ○ Park(ing) Day September 16, 2022 ○ Sidewalk Chalk Art July 22, 2023 ○ City walking tours each quarter starting in the fall ● Budget - available funding for this fiscal year is $25,000 which appears to be very small compared to past years, partially because the pre-expenses were increased from last year: ○ Coordinator’s salary has gone from $9,900 in 2021 through $11,000 last year to $13,200 ○ Additional scholarship added for Alternative Center for Excellence of $1,000 ○ Increase to Designs for Danbury from a proposed $3,000 to $5,000 ○ Last year MAR, Richter Arts & Music Center were granted $32,600 ○ Funding levels for Sustaining grants cannot be sustained at last year’s level ○ Funding for New works is not available unless a different course of funding is taken ● Derek Piotr latest project results are available: “ THE DEVIL KNOWS HOW “ Appeals from Community groups: Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra - Ruth Feldman, Executive Director, requests $3,000 for the Charles Ives Music Festival at Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra’s Chamber Ensemble Concert. The Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra is seeking funding to assist with the cost of presenting the August 14th concert at the Ives Concert Hall, open to the public and free of charge for all attendees. The Charles Ives Music Festival (CIMF) at the WCYO has relocated its annual summer festival to the home of Danbury native, composer Charles Ives. The two-week festival will be held primarily on the Wooster School campus with the final concert held at the Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the midtown Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 of 4 Approved: August 22, 2022 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.  CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 campus of Western Connecticut State University on Sunday, August 14, 2022 from 1 :00-4:00 PM. The concert will consist of diverse chamber ensemble performances by 48 youth musicians from Danbury and 17 other surrounding towns, in collaboration with 13 professional musicians who make up the artist-faculty for CIMF. The WCYO was founded 20 years ago. This program was launched in 2019/2020 with plans to move to Danbury, and was hampered by COVID19. This year they were able to move the 2 week program to Wooster School with the final concert at Ives Concert Hall on the downtown campus of Western Connecticut State University. Students audition to participate. There are 11 scholarships offered. Old Business 1. Ethnic Cultural Festival revival - PPerry no new information. 2. Designs for Danbury - GSmith, HCenter no new information 3. Expand Literary contest to include Inter-city writing workshop with WCSU The Coordinator is directed to inform WCSU that this year the program will not be expanded New Business 1. Commission outreach podcast series 2. Coordinator's evaluation and remuneration - HCenter The Commision moved to Executive session to discuss a personnel matter. Action is tabled until next month. The Coordinator is asked to provide a Job description for the Coordinator. Action on Grant Requests: Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra - Ruth Feldman, Executive Director, requests $3,000. Moved by GSmith to grant $1,500 for Charles Ives Music Festival at Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra’s Chamber Ensemble Concert. Seconded by PPerry. DISCUSSION: This amount shows a commitment to the program, within the budget recommendations. CALLED: Motion to grant $1,500 to the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra passed by voice vote with one abstention. Other Business ● Meeting with the Mayor The mayor will not be able to attend this evening. ● The Coordinator is asked to secure access to Zoom, or some other electronic meeting platform, to replace the City’s apparent discontinuance of their Zoom account. Motion to adjourn at 7:30 Made by PPrice. Passed by Unanimous voice vote. NOTE: Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 of 4 Approved: August 22, 2022 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.  CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 Corporation Counsel has provided the Clerk's office with the following... Current as of 3/16/20: Effective with Gov. Lamont's Executive Order No. 7B issued on 3/14/20, the requirement of public attendance at all meetings of public agencies is suspended. Meetings are to be held remotely by conference call, videoconference, or other technology, provided that (in summary): 1) the public has the ability to view or listen to each meeting or proceeding in real time by phone, video or other technology. Therefore the Commission office had set up a video conference call which started at 6:00 on Monday evening. Commissioners and the public connected to Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88453315817?pwd=a0JxS3N5dVh3SmRJSnhSQ0dYdzQvUT09 Meeting ID: 884 5331 5817 Passcode: 846028 One tap mobile: Dial by your location +19294362866,,82772697887# US (New York) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) Meeting ID: 884 5331 5817 Passcode: 846028 Meeting ID:884 5331 5817 Passcode: 846028 The meeting started at 6:30 and was not recorded by the Commission. Upcoming events Addendum Scratching the Surface: David Haislip - Gallery at St. James’ Carillon Concert Series Still River Editions Every Wednesday in July JANUARY 24 - June 30, 2022 25 West Street - Danbury, CT Still River Editions 128 E Liberty St Suite 3, Danbury, CT 06810 Danbury 's Farmer's Market - City Center Friday, July 1⋅10:00am – 2:00pm Weekly on Trailer Box Gallery Friday, until Oct 29, 2022 Opening May 22, 2022 through August 6, 2022 Danbury Railway Museum 12 Francis J Clarke Circle- Bethel Ct. 120 White St, Danbury, CT 06810, USA With an outdoor sculpture exhibition featuring 6 artists. *Events sponsored by the Commission Western Connecticut State University Minutes of the Meeting Page 4 of 4 Approved: August 22, 2022 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.