Cultural Commission

CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 April 24, 2023 Minutes of the Meeting Meeting called to order by Chairman Harvey Center at 6:30 pm with Commissioners: John Cooke, Alma Faham, Cheryl Hill, Ed Moore, Perry Price, Gregory Smith, and Coordinator Gregory Wencek. Absent: Mary Burke, and John Cherry. Presentation of Minutes The Minutes of the March meeting were presented. A motion by GSmith to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by JCooke. Passed by unanimous voice vote. Correspondence EMail: various Commission projects (poet laureate, literary contest, make music day, City Council budget meeting, field work archive) Reports on DCC sponsored events ● S.L. Richter Association for the Arts - Richter Arts Spring Series Joan Bujacich and Joe Bilotti Sunday, April 23⋅3:00 – 5:30pm HCenter: the concert was music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The audience about ¾ full. Weather was iffy. 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 ● 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 March 5⋅⋅4:00 – 6:00pm ● Broadway Favorites - Noteworthy May 6⋅7:00 – 9:00pm ● Danbury Railway Museum Partnered with New England Train Museum ● City Center Danbury ○ Tastes of Danbury - March 1 – April 30, 2023 ○ Easter Festival - CityCenter Danbury Sunday, April 9⋅1:00 – 2:30pm ● Palace Theater Danbury ● Galleries ○ Vicinity - Art exhibit by Cultural Commissioner Alma Faham 3/2 – 4/21 Connecticut Institute for Communities ○ Gallery of the Visual and Performing Arts Center WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension ○ Gallery at Still River Editions 128 E Liberty St. ■ Opening reception for The Ladies: Leslie Singer Saturday, April 8⋅2:00 – 4:00pm ○ in VIEW project Main Street Danbury ○ Alma Faham exhibit s 120 Main Street ● High school arts competition - Congresswoman Jahana Hayes March 13 – April 19, 2023 ● WCSU ○ Fairview - WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts Friday, March 31⋅8:00 – 10:00pm weekends, until Apr 17 ○ Marat/Sade - WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts Friday, April 21⋅8:00 – 9:30pm Weekends, until May 1 Minutes of the Meeting Page 1 of 5 Proposed: April 26, 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 See addendum Coordinator’s Report 1. CoDA (Celebration of Danbury Arts) - Is there interest in having a table to advertise the Commission? Please reply to Rachelle Wade (K-8 Art Department Head) and Jill Russell-Benner (K-8 Music Department Head) to reserve a space. May 20 between 11-4 at the High School. 2. Mayor’s proposed 2023/2024 Budget $68,000 is available on the City’s website a. Council sub committee ad hoc 4/17 - I attended, gave them a summary of what the Commission does, and they had no questions. 3. Jane Jacobs walking tour a. 7 sign ups to date for May 6th tour starting at 10:30 AM b. Listed with the Jane Jacobs foundation (Jane Jacobs Walks are free self-organized walks and discussions led by committed citizens sharing their knowledge about and love for places.) 4. Poems received and sent for judging a. Winners for Short Story have been returned. (2 DHS, 1 IHS) b. Awards set for May 18 6pm at WCSU. Tom Zarecki will MC again this year. 5. Project with Derek Poitr - no participants 6. 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. 7. Finance Department in the process to make grants available to the Commission - they prefer separate projects and spending completely within this current fiscal year. 8. Meeting with Brigid Guertin a. Walking tour in September - a riding tour on the trolly looping along Main, White, Deer Hill b. Collaboration to replace the worn out signs on the Museum in the Streets exhibit as part of the United States Semiquincentennial is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies in 1776. 9. Meeting the goals stated in the Finance budget document a. Provide Equalable advocacy, and increase Diversity - Next meeting May 4 b. Explore participation with the CT Office of Film, Television & Digital Media - No progress. 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 - with Center City to assist Danbury International Festival 10. May is the final month for spending. Bring ideas for closing the budget on May 22. 11. Commission projects a. Literary Contests - underway b. City walking tour May 6 c. Sidewalk Chalk Art with CityCenter in July d. Make Music Day in June Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 of 5 Proposed: April 26, 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 Appeals from Community groups: 1. Danbury International Festival $5,000 Sandra Ferreira-Molina, Deputy CEO The Danbury International Festival (DIF) is an annual initiative organized by the MOSAIC Coalition consistent with its vision to build an inclusive and equitable society in the State of Connecticut. The City of Danbury has endorsed the festival and assured the MOSAIC Coalition of its support for the implementation of the intercultural event which is scheduled to take place from July 29-30, 2023. The goal of the Danbury International Festival is to promote diversity among residents of the great City of Danbury through the exchange of historical and contemporary ideas and forge mutual understanding, and respect for all cultures. A family emergency prohibited the CEO from attending. She is rescheduled for the May 22nd meeting. Old Business 1. The Designs for Danbury project will be tabled until the next fiscal year because there isn’t enough time to complete the program prior to the end of the current fiscal year. 2. Naming a Poet Laureate for the City The announcement for seeking Poet Laureate will be made at the Literary Awards Ceremony. The Poet Laureate will be named at the Literary Awards in May 2024. New Business 1. Q: Would the Commission like to have a presence at CoDA? - A: The Commission will not attend as a group. 2. Grant Spending: The Mayor’s office said they would prefer to spend the 2 state grants in the current fiscal year and on specific projects rather than as grants. DISCUSSION: ● The Designs for Danbury could be spent using some of the grants but there is no longer enough time to complete the project in the current fiscal year. ● The Signs which make up “Museum in the Streets” have become damaged and would cost approximately $10,000 to replace them. AFaham: Could the wording be changed to include the Commission’s name, if the funds were applied? No because the original project spelled out the exact nature of the signs and cannot be altered. AFaham: Can the signs be changed to be “Updated” such as adding solar lights to be read at night? Most likely not because the quote from the original sign manufacturer is to replace what is there. The Coordinator is asked to ask if any additional money could be applied and then used to change the text, to include the Commision logo, and modify the sign’s physical look. ● Other projects were solicited from the Commissioners, with no others considered. Action on Grant Requests: Danbury International Festival $5,000 A family emergency prohibited the CEO from attending. She is rescheduled for the May 22nd meeting. Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 of 5 Proposed: April 26, 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 Other Business 1. Coordinator requests permission to spend up to $700 for office supplies. MOTION: by AFaham to approve spending up to $700 for office supplies. Seconded by PPrice. DISCUSSION: There is no toner or paper left. Toner is $300/cartridge and paper is $84/ream. CALLED: Passed by unanimous voice vote. 2. Refreshments for the Literary awards spread sheet is available. Commissioners are asked to bring something if they can. Motion to adjourn at 7:35 Made by PPrice. 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: 852 6771 6939 Passcode: 816120 One tap mobile: Dial by your location +19294362866,,85267716939 # US (New York) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) Meeting ID: 852 6771 6939 Passcode: 816120 Meeting ID: 852 6771 6939 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 Proposed: April 26, 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 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, CT HUDSON VALLEY SALLY - Music at the Ridge Literary Contest Awards ceremony Sun, Apr 2, 4:00 PM Thursday, May 18⋅6:00 – 7:30pm Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury WCSU Midtown White Hall 24 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT CoDA - Fine & Applied Arts Program Danbury Schools * Margarita Rovenskaya - Richter Arts Spring Series Saturday, May 20⋅11:00am – 4:00pm Sunday, April 30⋅3:00 – 5:30pm Danbury High School Richter Art Center 43 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811, USA 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, CT * Jane Jacobs Walk - Danbuy Architecture Trailer Box Gallery Saturday, May 6⋅10:30am – 12:00pm Juan Bordes ​Sculpture 12 Francis J Clarke Circle- Bethel Ct. * Danbury Concert Association Still River Editions American Brass Quintet - Danbury Concert Association The Ladies: Leslie Singer Sunday, May 21⋅3:30 – 5:00pm APRIL 8 - JUNE 30, 2023 Visual & Performing Arts Center 128 East Liberty Street, Danbury, Connecticut 43 Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT * Andrew Levine & Friends - Richter Arts Spring Series Sunday, May 7⋅3:00 – 5:30pm Richter Art Center 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, CT Western Connecticut State University DAVID ROTH in Concert - Music at the Ridge Sunday, May 7⋅4:00 – 6:00pm Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury Marat/Sade - WCSU Dept. of Theatre Arts 24 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT Friday, April 21⋅8:00 – 9:30pm Weekends, until May 1 Visual & Performing Arts Center, MainStage Theatre, 43 Go Public Gardens Days May 12-21, 2023 Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT 06811, USA * Andrew Levine & Friends - Richter Arts Spring Series Sunday, May 7⋅3:00 – 5:30pm Richter Art Center *Events sponsored by the Commission 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury, CT * Billy Michael - Richter Arts Spring Series Sunday, May 14⋅3:00 – 5:30pm Richter Art Center Minutes of the Meeting Page 5 of 5 Proposed: April 26, 2023 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.