Cultural Commission

CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 March 27, 2023 Minutes of the Meeting Meeting called to order by Chairman Harvey Center at 6:30 pm with Commissioners: John Cooke, Cheryl Hill, Ed Moore, Perry Price, Gregory Smith, and Coordinator Gregory Wencek. Absent: Mary Burke, Alma Faham, and John Cherry. Presentation of Minutes The Minutes of the February meeting were presented. A motion by GSmith to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by PPerry. Passed by unanimous voice vote. Correspondence EMail: various Commission projects (poet laureate, literary contest, make music day, City Council grant meeting, field work archive) Mail: Phone: Reports on DCC sponsored events ● Danbury Concert Association ○ Daedalus Quartet - Danbury Concert Association Sunday, March 12⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Danbury events not sponsored by the Commission ● Danbury Music Centre ○ Community Band March 5 4-5:30pm ○ American Soundscapes - Danbury Music Centre Danbury Symphony Orchestra March 26⋅3:00 – 5:00pm HCenter: the concert was very good. A small sample of the concert was played. ● 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 ● Music at the Ridge Concerts 2022-2023 - Sunday, March 5⋅4:00 – 6:00pm ● Danbury Railway Museum teamed with the Railroad Museum of New England ● City Center Danbury ○ Tastes of Danbury - March 1 – April 30, 2023 ○ HOLI - Saturday, March 25 ● Palace Theater Danbury ● Galleries ○ Vicinity - Opening Art exhibit by Cultural Commissioner Alma Faham ○ 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 Upcoming events See addendum Minutes of the Meeting Page 1 of 5 Approved: April 24, 2023 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 Coordinator’s Report 1. Scholarship winners from Henry Abbott Tech and Academic Center for Excellence have been named 2. Meeting with Derek Poitr a. Recording sessions started b. New round of publicity began with flyers being printed 3. Make Music Day Grant $1,000 received and forwarded to Finance 4. Make Music Day progress a. Websites for information and for signing up at https://www.makemusicday.org/danbury/ b. The event will start at 11:00 A.M. and conclude at 9:00 P.M. on the Ives Green. c. New map in the works and John is trying to get the restaurants and businesses to do specials or something outside. 5. CT Humanities grant a. Connecticut Humanities Council: working on getting awarded grant into Commission budget 6. Jane Jacobs walking tour a. Scheduled for May 9 7. Arts & Economic Prosperity (AEP6) survey submitted to Americans for the Arts 8. Arts & Culture Concierge Meets a. Cooperative Learning Session with Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut on March 9, 2023 6:00 at the Commission Office, was well received 9. Poet Laureate request for Mayoral support sent 3/6/23 10. Meeting the goals stated in the Finance budget document a. Provide Equalable advocacy, and increase Diversity - meeting continue with Lisa Scales b. Explore participation with the CT Office of Film, Television & Digital Media - fact finding continues c. Continue to increase the participation of younger audiences - no action d. Sponsor events - work on Walking tour in May and Chalk Art in July e. Expansion into the community - no action.(diversity inclusion) 11. Commission projects a. Literary Contests - underway b. Audio Drama - Planning restart with Dracula c. Podcast interviews - will resume in March d. City walking tour in May e. Sidewalk Chalk Art with CityCenter in July f. Make Music Day in June g. Public Gardens Week May 12-21, 2023 photo shoot request Appeals from Community groups: Deepti Nagaraja, Visual Artist $10,000 Deepti Nagaraja Blossom and Blooms An exhibit of 30 pieces of artwork and a workshop for youngsters and seniors. This grant would be a significant investment from the Cultural Commission to support a local, woman of color artist in advancing her career, including in her work to bring together a community of artists to contribute to the Danbury community. Deepti has been an artist for 30 years. She works in Health Care and Finance. She would like to encourage art in Danbury. HCenter: Have you approached the Library? DNagaraja: Yes but with limited success. Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 of 5 Approved: April 24, 2023 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 HCenter: Can you work with a smaller budget? DNagaraja: Yes. JCooke: City Hall has artwork displayed. Old Business 1. Naming a Poet Laureate for the City sent for the Mayor to review The Mayor’s office has no objection. The Commission will set up a seven-member, Danbury Poet Laureate Selection Committee which will include members of the Danbury Cultural Commission, Danbury Library staff, poetry advocates, representatives from the school and senior communities, and others. The Danbury Cultural Commission Coordinator will help coordinate the application process. Applications will be accepted from July 15, 2023 through September 15, 2023 MOTION: by EMoore to proceed with naming a poet laureate per recommendations set up in February. Seconded by GSmith. DISCUSSION: A number of Commissioners said they would be interested in serving. It was suggested that EMoor’s father might be interested. CALLED: Passed by unanimous voice vote. 2. JCooke notes that the brochure printed in color will cost about $60 for 75 copies. His recommendation is to produce them in black and white. 3. EMoore notes that outreach from the Commission should be available in multiple languages, most notably Spanish and Portuguese. New Business 1. Invitation has been received for a Commissioner to address Henry Abbott Technical High School at their scholarship award June 9th. HCenter expressed an interest. 2. Coordinator requests permission to proceed with Jane Jacobs walk May 9, no budget required. MOTION: by PPrice to approve the plans for an architectural walk to be conducted by GWencek. Seconded by EMoore. DISCUSSION: No funding is requested. CALLED: Passed by unanimous voice vote. Action on Grant Requests: Deepti Nagaraja, Visual Artist $10,000 MOVED: by GSmith to grant $3,000 for the project. Seconded by EMoore. DISCUSSION: Commissioners are delighted to have a visual artist applying for a grant as mostly performance arts are represented. CALLED: Passed by unanimous voice vote. Other Business 1. An important Zoom meeting with state legislative leaders to maintain Arts funding on March 30th at 4:00 PM. The Coordinator will send details. 2. Railway Museum partnership announced Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 of 5 Approved: April 24, 2023 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 a. When Members of the Danbury Railway Museum visit the Railroad Museum of New England, they receive free passage on regularly scheduled Naugatuck Railroad trains and a 10% discount in the gift shop. b. If you are a member of both organizations, you also receive a 25% discount on featured excursions at the Railroad Museum of New England (excluding Christmas), and a $100 discount on the Hands on the Throttle program at the Danbury Railway Museum. Motion to adjourn at 7:37 Made by EMoore. 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 Meeting ID: 845 4924 2159 Passcode: 816120 One tap mobile: Dial by your location +19294362866,,84549242159 # US (New York) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) Meeting ID: 845 4924 2159 Passcode: 816120 Meeting ID: 845 4924 2159 Passcode: 816120 If the Zoom video connection is lost, call the backup phone conference at 1 605-475-4120 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: April 24, 2023 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 High school arts competition - Congresswoman Jahana Hayes Trailer Box Gallery March 13 – April 19, 2023 Juan Bordes ​Sculpture 12 Francis J Clarke Circle- Bethel Ct. HUDSON VALLEY SALLY - Music at the Ridge Still River Editions Sun, Apr 2, 4:00 PM The Ladies: Leslie Singer Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury Opening reception Sat. April 8, 2023 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 24 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT APRIL 8 - JUNE 30, 2023 128 East Liberty Street, Danbury, Connecticut Easter Festival - CityCenter Danbury Sunday, April 9⋅1:00 – 2:30pm Connecticut Institute for Communities (CIFC) building - Alma Faham exhibit * Joan Bujacich and Joe Bilotti - Richter Arts Spring EXHIBIT DATE: March 2nd – April 21st, 2023 Series LOCATION: 120 Main Street, Danbury, Connecticut Sunday, April 23⋅3:00 – 5:30pm Richter Art Center 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, CT Western Connecticut State University * Margarita Rovenskaya - Richter Arts Spring Series Fairview - WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts Sunday, April 30⋅3:00 – 5:30pm Friday, March 31⋅8:00 – 10:00pm weekends, until Apr 17 Richter Art Center Visual & Performing Arts Center, MainStage Theatre, 43 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, CT Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT 06811, USA * Danbury Concert Association Marat/Sade - WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts American Brass Quintet - Danbury Concert Association Friday, April 21⋅8:00 – 9:30pm Weekends, until May 1 Sunday, May 21⋅3:30 – 5:00pm Visual & Performing Arts Center, MainStage Theatre, 43 Visual & Performing Arts Center Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT 06811, USA 43 Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT *Events sponsored by the Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 5 of 5 Approved: April 24, 2023 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.