Cultural Commission

CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 July 24, 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, Gregory Smith, and Coordinator Gregory Wencek. Absent: Mary Burke, John Cherry, Alma Faham, Deepti Nagaraja, and Perry Price. Attending from the public: Siubhan Fallon. Presentation of Minutes The Minutes of the June meeting were presented. A motion by JCooke to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by CHill. Passed by unanimous voice vote. Correspondence EMail: CoJack re: coordination of their art project with the City; Leah Maier, Director of Harm Reduction and Prevention at Apex Community Care in Danbury re: inquiring about possible resources or collaboration opportunities; and various Commission projects (literary contest, poet laureate, make music day) Mail: Phone: request for information about grant application. Reports on DCC sponsored events ● Sidewalk Chalk Day July 15 with CityCenter Danbury & the Farmers Market EMoore: There was good attendance. GWencek: there were a total of 9 participants. ● Musicals at Richter - The Addams Family and Fairy Tale Theater JCooke: There was a good size audience and they did a great job. Danbury events not sponsored by the Commission ● Danbury Music Centre ○ Chamber Music Intensive Faculty Concert - Danbury Music Centre Thursday, July 20⋅7:00 – 8:30pm ● Summer Movies Outdoors - PAL, Library and Parks and Recreation Thursdays in July ⋅8:45 – 10:45pm ● Danbury Museum ○ Music in the Garden June 30⋅5:30 – 6:30pm ○ Guided Tours of 4 Danbury Museum Historic Buildings on our Main Street campus ○ Guided Tours of the Ives Homestead ● Carillon concert series Saint James Church Wednesdays June 28 - July 26 1:00 PM ● Music at the Ridge ● Danbury Railway Museum ● City Center Danbury ○ Concert on the Green ○ Downtown Chow down ○ Farmers’ Market ● 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. ■ Flag Bearers: jennie carr, Keisha Rollins, Roxy Savage, Mark Savoia, and Rita Valley Five artists’ take on flags and flag-like motifs July 8 - September 29, 2023 Minutes of the Meeting Page 1 of 6 Proposed: June 28, 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 ○ in VIEW project Main Street Danbury ■ A Storefront is available near Main and White ● WCSU Upcoming events See addendum. There is at least 1 event every weekend day to November. Coordinator’s Report 1. Contact with Carmen Cobb of CoJack art and their vision for the City not only in terms of showcasing their Art, but more in attracting artists from various locations and age levels. a. Carmen 203-449-3518 CoJack54.com (website) 2. Marketing - is the Commission in making banners for events Commission sponsors i.e.: International Festival a. Apparel - need to finalize the order this week. This is NOT a Commission expense. 3. Sidewalk Chalk day a success a. 9 participants, three signed up in advance but didn’t check in. b. Four winners were picked by EMoore, Laz Chavez, and me. Prizes sent by CityCenter. 4. Jane Jacobs walking tour August 6th tour a. Meeting with Briged Gurtin at the Museum, the tour partner on August 16th. 5. Project development 6. Make Music Day a. Grant Report filed 7. Request for publicity volunteer to assist with gleaning events and writing blurbs a. The Commission now may post events on the CAWC calendar. It is a partially automated process. They will import the raw data and I will have to edit it and provide an image for each. ONLY Commission produced events will be allowed (not grant events). 8. Poet Laureate project begun a. Notice is on the website and emailed to the press. (Patch picked it up.) 9. Budget appears to be finalized 10. The Supporting Arts grant program Application Deadline is Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 11:59 PM a. This is a grant we have now. There is insufficient time to apply in this fiscal, as the process takes 3 months. This could be used to pay me. The timeline opened July 9. b. New Requirements for FY24 1. Arts organizations must have a designated accessibility coordinator. This requirement must be met prior to submitting an application. 2. An applicant must complete an ADA Self-Evaluation to receive grant funds. The ADA Self-Evaluation is not due at the time of application. c. This is the general operating support to help Connecticut’s municipal arts departments cover programmatic costs associated with their mission-related work. This type of grant is flexible and gives the grantee the ability to use the funds where they are most needed. 11. Meeting the goals stated in the Finance budget document a. Provide Equalable advocacy, and increase Diversity - a grant request for next month Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 of 6 Proposed: June 28, 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 b. Explore participation with the CT Office of Film, Television & Digital Media - I have begun to research this project again. Gathered information from the state’s program and from New Milford and Southbury. c. Continue to increase the participation of younger audiences - discussion with Carmen Cobb of CoJack d. Sponsor events - work on Poet Laureate July through September, Walking tour with Museum in September and Chalk Art in October e. Expansion into the community - with Center City to assist Danbury International Festival Appeals from Community groups: None Old Business 1. Designs for Danbury GSmith presented his draft of rules modified to reduce the scope of the project, as discussed at the June meeting. This draft requests ideas, not projects, and reduces the awards accordingly. GWencek: offers that the submissions should have a Creative Commons license applied rather than copyright transferred to the City. GSmith asks the Coordinator to submit the proposed modification to him for review. 2. Sidewalk Chalk again in the fall a. CityCenter and the Coordinator would like to host another event in October 3. Poet Laureate for the City a. The Coordinator is asked to reach out to Western Connecticut State University and the Danbury School system to solicit participation and potential candidates. Applications will be accepted from July 15, 2023 through September 15, 2023 New Business 1. Federer mural restoration, EMoore.GWencek: will discuss this with the Museum director. The museum has worked on this plan in past years. Also the State has a grant available but it takes so long to go through the City’s grant application process that the 2024 window closes too soon. The Commission should aim at the FY2025 timeline. GSmith: the National Trust for Historic Preservation has grants available for this purpose. JCooke has heard that the City is interested in having more people see the mural. It could include moving the mural to another location. GWencek noted that rather than moving the mural, which would be very expensive, more viewing opportunities should be available, to augment this Commission's efforts such as CT Open House Day. Discussion about how to increase interest included inviting students to identify the stories. It was noted that many children today are not aware of these stories. It was suggested that a correlation between these stories and “Pixar” or “Disney” movies be highlighted. Commissioner Moore knows someone from the Preservation Experience and Mr Cooke will invite State Representative Farley Santos to discuss this issue. Action on Grant Requests: None Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 of 6 Proposed: June 28, 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. EMoore: Should the Commision consider a retractable banner to make it available to groups which receive funding from the Commission? JCooke will inquire at Bethel Printing re: their input. This banner would be offered for display at events financially supported by the Commission and would potentially include the logo, website, and the phrase “This event Sponsored in part by the Danbury Cultural Commission.” Discussion is tabled for a future meeting. Motion to adjourn at 7:38 Made by EMoore. Passed by Unanimous voice vote. Minutes of the Meeting Page 4 of 6 Proposed: June 28, 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 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: 847 9469 1061 Passcode: 816120 One tap mobile: Dial by your location +19294362866,,84794691061 # US (New York) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) Meeting ID: 847 9469 1061 Passcode: 816120 Meeting ID: 847 9469 1061 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. Available Grants: Walmart Overview http://giving.walmart.com/walmart-foundation/co Community Grants range from a minimum of $250 to mmunity-grant-program the maximum grant of $5,000. Organizations must submit an online application to be State of CT considered for funding. The 2022 grant cycle begins Feb. 1, 2023 and the The Artists Respond program Application Deadline: application deadline is Dec. 31, 2023. October 25, 2023 at 11:59pm Applications may be submitted at any time during this Artist-led projects use the arts to inspire, empower, funding cycle. Please note that applications will only educate, and transform Connecticut communities. remain active in our system for 90 days, and at the end of this period they will be automatically rejected. The Supporting Arts grant program Application Organizations may only submit and/or receive 25 Deadline: Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 11:59 PM applications. general operating support to help Connecticut’s arts organizations and municipal arts departments cover Areas of Funding: (Partial list) programmatic costs associated with their Quality of life: Improving access to recreation, arts mission-related work. This type of grant is flexible and or cultural experiences for low income individuals gives the grantee the ability to use the funds where and families in the United States they are most needed. Education: Providing after school enrichment, tutoring or vocational training for low income individuals and families in the United States Minutes of the Meeting Page 5 of 6 Proposed: June 28, 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 Downtown Chowdown - CityCenter Music at the Ridge Thursday, June 1⋅11:30am – 3:00pm Sunday, July 2⋅4:00 – 6:00pm Weekly on Thursday, until Jun 30, 2023 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury 24 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT Concert on the Green - CityCenter Danbury Saturday, July 7⋅7:00 – 10:00pm * Danbury International Festival - CityCenter Danbury Bi-Weekly on Saturday, until Jul 8, 2023 July 29 – 30 Ives Street Danbury, CT Italian Festival - Amerigo Vespucci Lodge Carillon concert series Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 4⋅1:00 – 9:00pm Wednesday June 28 - July 26 1:00 PM 10 Christopher Columbus Ave, Danbury, CT 06810, USA Saint James Church West St. Danbury * Charles Ives Music Festival at the WCYO Orchestra Dancing Under the Stars - CityCenter Danbury Concert - Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra Thursday, July 28⋅6:30 – 8:30pm, until Sep 30 Thursday, August 10⋅7:00 – 9:00pm Rooftop of the Patriot Garage (21 Delay St) Western Connecticut State University - Hagman Hall Westside Campus, 43 Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT 06811 Farmer's Market - CityCenter Danbury Saturday, July 1⋅10:00am – 2:00pm until Oct 29 San Gennaro Festival Danbury' 2nd Annual Ives Street Green Danbury, CT 06810 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 23 until Aug 28, 2023 Music in the Museum - Danbury Museum & Historical 1 Ives St, Danbury, CT 06810 Society Friday, July 28⋅6:00 – 7:00pm Monthly on Friday, until Aug 26, 2023 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810 Trailer Box Gallery Juan Bordes ​Sculpture * The Music Man - Musicals at Richter 12 Francis J Clarke Circle- Bethel Ct. Friday, July 28⋅7:00 – 10:30pm Weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday, until Aug 13, 2023 Still River Editions 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, CT 06811, USA The Ladies: Leslie Singer APRIL 8 - JUNE 30, 2023 128 East Liberty Street, Danbury, Connecticut Western Connecticut State University *Events sponsored by the Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 6 of 6 Proposed: June 28, 2023 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.