Cultural Commission

CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 October 24, 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 Cooke, Alma Faham, Cheryl Hill, Perry Price, Gregory Smith, and Coordinator Gregory Wencek. Absent: Mary Burke, Ed Moore, John Cherry. Presentation of Minutes The Minutes of the September meeting were presented. A motion by GSmith to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by JCooke. Passed by unanimous voice vote. Correspondence EMail: Grant application, Designs for Danbury letter to judges, Legislative Council preparation, National Trust for Historic Preservation request for Letter of Intent (LOI), Rockland Arts Festival invites local poets to submit, Request for literary contest school coordinators Reports on events, DCC sponsored ● Richter Association for the Arts HCenter: Attended most of the programs. Very nice. A wide variety of programs. Ed Moore was attending often. ○ Benesori Quartet - Sunday, September 25⋅2:00 – 3:30pm ○ Cosmos Piano Duo - Fall 2022 Sunday, October 2⋅2:00 – 3:30pm ○ From Bach to Montsalvatge - Sunday, October 9⋅2:00 – 3:30pm ○ DizzyFish - Sunday, October 16⋅2:00 – 3:30pm ○ Catoonah Street Jazz & Blues Society - Sunday, October 23⋅2:00 – 3:30pm Danbury events not sponsored by the Commission ● Danbury Music Centre ● Danbury Museum ○ 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 ● Danbury Railway Museum ○ Ride the Pumpkin Patch Train October 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30 from 10:00 to 2:00 PM ● City Center Danbury ○ Farmers Market - Friday, June 24⋅10:00am – 2:00pm until Oct 29, 2022 ○ Dancing Under The Stars - Friday, September 30⋅6:30 – 8:30pm ● Folk Songs and Spirituals - Noteworthy Sunday, October 16⋅7:00 – 8:30pm ○ Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 30 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 ● 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 Minutes of the Meeting Page 1 of 5 Approved: November 28, 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 ● WCSU ○ Oktoberfest Jazz - Friday, October 21⋅6:00 – 7:30pm ● Charles Edward Ives - Birthday Thursday, October 20 (148 years) Upcoming events See addendum Coordinator’s Report ● Application for Connecticut Funding Opportunities ○ Major assistance from Dan Garlick, Assistant Finance Director and his staff ○ Legislative Council meeting approved request to obtain approval for State Grants. ■ The Supporting Arts Grant Program has a minimum $1,000 award. ■ The CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant has a minimum $5,000 award. ○ Supporting Arts application waiting for approval, Operating Support application will be sent by the November 4 deadline. ● The Coordinator is now working on implementing Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) NEA-SECTION-504-Self-Evaluation-Workbook. ● Commission Podcast outreach ○ No work done on this project. ● Designs for Danbury ○ Three judges confirmed. Waiting for a name from the Mayor. ○ Waiting for Corporation Council review of the rules. Discussion meeting in November. ● Mosaic committee ○ Citycenter Danbury Arts and Aesthetics committee invited the Cultural Commission members to form an 8 person team for a large-scale community art project planned for October. Only Alma Faham expressed an interest. ● National Trust for Historic Preservation ○ Funding available but no Danbury sites appear to qualify. ● Commission projects ○ Literary Contest ■ Accepted coordinators from: DHS - Justin Hitchcock, ACE - Joanne Tolles, IHS - Wild, Alexa, Wooster - Elizabeth Higgins. Waiting for HAT ○ Make Music Day funding $350 (Commission dues are at lowest rate of $325.) There is a potential State grant available (the 2022 Mini-Grant was $750) Appeals from Community groups: Danbury Music Centre $25,000 Laura Flachbart, President Request for two projects in fiscal 2022/2023 Project 1- Nutcracker, in December and Project 2- Danbury Symphony Orchestra- Young People's Concert in May 2023 1. The annual production of the DMC's Nutcracker, now in it's 55th year, continues this December 9-11, 2022 with a Projected Audience of 2,800 The DanburySymphonyOrchestra, under the baton of Ariel Rudiakov, conducts at Danbury High School, This year, with more normalcy as COVID-19 restrictions are Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 of 5 Approved: November 28, 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 lifted, almost 200 dancers from the greater Danbury area and 23 dance studios will perform to Tchaikovsky's score, performed live in its entirety by the Danbury Symphony (utilizing approximately 55 musicians). The opportunity to perform this ballet allows dancers, musicians and audiences of all ages and backgrounds to experience the art forms of ballet and classical music. The number of performances of the Nutcracker is reduced from 4 to 3 as there have been low audiences on Saturday night. 2. The Young People's Concert will be a performance of the Danbury Symphony and the Danbury Centre Strings around May 2023 at WSCU, School of Visual & Performing Arts with a projected audience of 400. The ensembles will perform works from the classical genre that have a wide appeal to children and their families. This may include a combination of electric/amplified instruments with orchestra. Past concerts have included such works as Prokofiev, "Peter and the Wolf" with narrator, Ravel's, "Mother Go0se Suite". Narration has been from local personalities, puppetry and dancing have enhanced past performances. The Young People’s Concert, directed to youngsters, may be their first exposure to classical music. HCenter: The Commission appreciates the work of the Music Centre. LFlachbart: COVID is still adversely affecting programs. Old Business 1. Designs for Danbury AFaham and GSmith: Due to the delay from the City, the start of the project is moved to January 2023 JCooke will contact the Mayor’s office for a name to be a judge. New Business 1. Should the Commission continue with electronic meetings? The City & State no longer requires remote meetings but the Commission will continue to offer the option. 2. Literary Contest vote to approve award amounts. a. $500 for each contest, $100 for each judge for a total of $1,200 i. First Prize is $200. ii. Second Prize is $125. iii. Third Prize is $75. POSSIBLE two Honorable Mention $50 each prizes may also be awarded. Moved by PPerry to approve $1,200 for the Literary Contest. Seconded by JCooke. DISCUSSION: Prize awards will remain the same. CALLED: passed by unanimous voice vote. Action on Grant Requests: Danbury Music Centre $25,000 Laura Flachbart, President, for the Nutcracker and the Young People's Concert. Moved by GSmith to grant $6,000 for the two programs. Seconded by AFaham. DISCUSSION: The Music Centre has received a few state grants to augment their budget. CALLED: Motion to grant $6,000 to the Danbury Music Centre passed by unanimous voice vote. Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 of 5 Approved: November 28, 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 Other Business 1. Moved by PPerry to approve $44 for mailing Designs for Danbury invitations to participate. Seconded by JCooke. DISCUSSION: none. CALLED: passed by unanimous voice vote. 2. City Center Mosaic committee AFaham: inquired about the reported requirement that only 8 person teams were accepted. That did not appear to be the case. The Commissioner feels that the Commission is not taken seriously and a formal method for including Commissioners at City arts/cultural events should be introduced. A proposal is that an email invitation be extended to the Commission for events funded by the Commission and/or events sponsored by the City. JCooke: A proposal is to appoint liaisons among the Mayor’s office, City Center and the Commission. JCooke and AFaham will seek an appointment to discuss these proposals with the Mayor. 3. Commissioner Alma Faham will be exhibiting some of her paintings and an unveiling of a new work at a pop-up “Night with Alma Faham” at Pink Lemon, 3 West Street on October 28 from 7PM to 9PM . AFaham feels this is a way to support local businesses. Motion to adjourn at 7:39 Made by JCooke. Passed by Unanimous voice vote. NOTE: 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 6:15 on Monday evening. Commissioners and the public connected to Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86349296848?pwd=RXloMXlQcFVIK3hSWDdwWXVHZnRVQT09 Meeting ID: 863 4929 6848 Passcode: 128917 One tap mobile: Dial by your location +19294362866,,86349296848# US (New York) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) Meeting ID: 863 4929 6848 Passcode: 128917 Meeting ID:863 4929 6848 Passcode: 128917 If the Zoom video connection is lost, call the backup phone conference at 1-605-475-5950 Access Code: 816120 The meeting started at 6:30 and was not recorded by the Commission. Minutes of the Meeting Page 4 of 5 Approved: November 28, 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 Addendum Danbury Symphony Orchestra - Danbury Music Centre City Center Danbury Friday, October 28⋅7:30 – 9:00pm Danbury 's Farmer's Market Western Connecticut State University - Westside Friday, July 1⋅10:00am – 2:00pm Weekly on Campus 43 Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT 06811 Friday, until Oct 29, 2022 * Pre-Halloween Concert - Danbury Brass Band Trailer Box Gallery Sunday, October 30⋅2:00 – 3:30pm 12 Francis J Clarke Circle- Bethel Ct. Immanuel Lutheran Church 18 Clapboard Ridge Coming in October - Cathy Vanaria Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 * Andrew Armstrong and friends, Piano - Danbury Western Connecticut State University Concert Association Bat Boy: The Musical - WCSU Dept. of Theatre Sunday, October 30⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Arts Friday, Sat, Sun. October 28 until Nov 6 Visual & Performing Arts Center 43 Lake Ave Ext, MainStage Theatre - Visual & Performing Arts Danbury, CT 06811 Center 43 Lake Avenue Extension Danbury, CT * Soprano Callie - Richter Association for the Arts Piano Studio Recital - Sunday, November 6⋅3:00 – Fall 2022 4:30pm Sunday, October 30⋅2:00 – 3:30pm Veronica Hagman Concert Hall, 43 Lake Avenue Richter Association-The Arts Extension, Danbury, CT 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Opera Scenes - Friday, November 11and Saturday, Music for the Heart and Soul - Danbury Music November 12 ⋅ 7:00 – 8:30pm Centre Danbury Concert Chorus Veronica Hagman Concert Hall, VPAC, 43 Lake Sunday, October 30⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Avenue Extension, Danbury, CT First Congregational Church 164 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, CT 06810 Season's Greetings - WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts Friday, December 2⋅8:00 – 10:00pm DMC Community Band - Danbury Music Centre Daily, until Dec 3, 2022 Saturday, November 19⋅7:30 – 9:00pm MainStage Theatre - Visual & Performing Arts First Congregational Church 164 Deer Hill Ave, Center 43 Lake Avenue Extension Danbury, CT Danbury, CT 06810 https://www.eventbrite.com/o/visual-and-performi Handel’s, Messiah - Danbury Music Centre ng-arts-center-at-western-connecticut-state-unive Saturday, December 3⋅3:00 – 5:30pm rsity-6275173871 First Congregational Church https://www.wcsu.edu/art/category/art-events/ 164 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, CT 06810 https://www.wcsu.edu/svpa/events/ Holiday Concert - Mad Hatter Chorus Saturday, December 3⋅3:00 – 4:30pm *Events sponsored by the Commission Church of Christ-Danbury 90 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Minutes of the Meeting Page 5 of 5 Approved: November 28, 2022 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.