Cultural Commission

CITY OF DANBURY CULTURAL COMMISSION 256 Main Street Danbury, Connecticut 06810 203 797 4508 September 25, 2023 Minutes of the Meeting Meeting called to order by Chairman Harvey Center at 6:40 pm with Commissioners: John Cooke, Alma Faham, Cheryl Hill, Ed Moore, Deepti Nagaraja, Perry Price, Gregory Smith, and Coordinator Gregory Wencek. Absent: Mary Burke and John Cherry. Attending from the public: Siubhan Fallon. Presentation of Minutes The Minutes of the August meeting were presented. A motion by JCooke to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by GSmith. Passed by voice vote. Correspondence EMail: various Commission projects (Poet laureate, State Grants, Federer Mural preservation), “Falling for Downtown” event - Scarecrow Decoration 2023, Reports on DCC sponsored events ● Richter Association for the Arts at Danbury Museum 3:00pm. ○ Buby Brothers - Pop & Rock Sunday, September 3rd ○ Eric Clark - Piano Recital Sunday, September 10th ○ Berkshire Jazz Orchestra Sunday, September 17th ○ Chris Monty Sunday, September 24th ● Danbury Concert Association - Cecile Licad, Piano - Danbury Concert Association Sunday, September 10⋅3:00 – 4:00pm HCenter: Ms. Licad is a passionate performer. Another very good event by the Concert Association. ● PARK(ing) Day Friday, September 15⋅9:00am – 1:00pm GWencek: A few dozen people, including Commissioners, stopped by during the event. ● Danbury Music Centre ○ Nutcracker Auditions Danbury events not sponsored by the Commission ● Danbury Museum ○ Guided Tours of 4 Danbury Museum Historic Buildings on our Main Street campus ○ Guided Tours of the Ives Homestead ○ SEE Richter Arts ● Danbury Railway Museum ○ Ride “The Husking Bee” Pumpkin Patch Train October 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29 beginning at 10:00 AM ● Music at the Ridge - Jim Scott in concert Sun, Sep 10, 4:00 PM ● City Center Danbury ○ Concert on the Green ○ Dancing Under the Stars ○ Farmers’ Market ● Palace Theater Danbury ● Galleries ○ Trailer Box Gallery Between the Notes Runs Thru Oct. 21, 2023 12 Francis J Clarke Circle- Bethel Ct. ■ Artist Reception:​September 24th 2:00PM - 5:00PM ○ Gallery of the Visual and Performing Arts Center WCSU Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension ○ Gallery at Still River Editions 128 E Liberty St. Minutes of the Meeting Page 1 of 6 Proposed: September 27, 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 ■ 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 ● in VIEW project Main Street Danbury ● Greater Danbury Irish Festival Saturday, September 23-24 ⋅12:00 – end⋅ 2 Ives St. Danbury ● WCSU Upcoming events See addendum. There is at least 1 event every weekend day to November. Coordinator’s Report 1. Grant payment NEW PROCEDURE a. Going forward the City would prefer to issue the checks after the event is complete. ie: Brass Band check at end of Nov., Richter arts would get their check November 2024 b. They can make exceptions for those organizations that use the grant as seed money, on a case by case basis c. The Commission will now have to pickup the checks and pay to mail them. 2. Poet Laureate a. Reached out to find more judges and increased publicity b. Two candidates applied (See below) 3. Park(ing) Day Sept 15 a. Mayor didn't attend b. Cooperation from the Parking Authority and the Parks Department c. About a score of individuals stopped to chat or to sit 4. BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE on the website 5. Make Music Day publicity meeting re: photography 6. America250 meeting 7. Sidewalk Chalk day Canceled Sept 30 a. Chalk was not purchased 8. Annual Business Supports the Arts Awards Breakfast 2023 at the Amber Room a. Thursday, October 12 · 7:30am EDT $45.00+$3.46 Fee b. Reservation for Table of 10 450+$3.46 Fee 9. FY 22-23 Budget modifications ongoing 10. Apparel is available 11. Commissioner candidates 12. Meeting the goals stated in the Finance budget document a. Provide Equalable advocacy, and increase Diversity - supporting the Danbury Museum b. Explore participation with the CT Office of Film, Television & Digital Media - Continuing research on this project with filmmakers. c. Continue to increase the participation of younger audiences - research social platforms d. Sponsor events - work on Poet Laureate July through September, e. Expansion into the community - with Center City to assist Downtown autumn decorations 13. No response from my website/Facebook call for promotional volunteers Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 of 6 Proposed: September 27, 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. Richter Association for the Arts $10,000 Richard Teasdale, Treasurer. 2024 Performance & Artistic Season. To bring quality performers and visual arts to the Danbury area public at no charge, accepting only donations. As is traditional, there are 2 seasons a year, Spring and Fall. This fall the events are moved to the Danbury Museum due to restoration of the Richter House. The Museum is not charging the Association a rental fee. Attendance has been growing since the temporary move to the Museum. HCenter: Events are always top notch. Old Business 1. The cultural commission recognition award - AFaham a. Discussion tabled until October, waiting for a specific document to review. 2. Ideas for Danbury - GSmith & AFaham a. Should it be renamed in light of the Zoning Department survey? GSmith: suggests “Shout out for Danbury” The Commissioners concur with a change. 3. Poet Laureate for the City a. Danbury Poet Laureate Selection Panel to review: i. Atom Rush [A pseudonym for Tyler Keur] Current Poet Laureate of Brookfield CT 2020-2023 ii. Cheryl Panosian, MS, LPC 4. Federer mural preservation EMoore a. September 22 meeting with Sydney Nikolaus of Nikolaus Conservation. https://www.nikolausconservation.com/about.html EMoore: Ms. Nikolaus spent much of Friday examining the Federer mural. She will send a report in a week or two. Her first impression is that it is not in too bad condition. EMoore, JCooke, and GWencek were on hand to answer her questions. Commissioner JCooke treated her to lunch. b. I need to follow up Recommendation from Still River Editions - https://www.woodruff-brown.com/ New Business 1. City Grant payment recommendation: Commissioners ask the Coordinator to send a letter to the Finance Director, Cc: the Mayor, asking that all requests for payment be processed in the month in which they are submitted. As a granting commission the recipients are using the finances to get their projects started. Grantees should not be made to self finance and wait for reimbursement. The grants are usually ‘seed’ money used to assist with upfront expenses which must be paid in order to make the ‘art’. This is funding used prior to an event that cannot be covered by admission/tickets. The grantees cannot acquire these funds without upfront assistance. Since 1967 the City has paid approved grants in advance of events. This is the traditional form of grantmaking. The Danbury Cultural Commission would like to continue to be of the greatest value to the community by supporting the arts and cultural awareness by making funds available when the artists and cultural organizations need them most. Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 of 6 Proposed: September 27, 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 Action on Grant Requests: 1. Richter Association for the Arts $10,000 Moved by AFaham to allocate $3,000 for the 2024 Performance & Artistic Season. Seconded by PPerry. AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY EMoore to increase the allocation to $5,000, seconded by JCooke. There being no objection from AFaham and PPerry the amendment stands. DISCUSSION: They are not financially stressed this year. There is some uncertainty about spring time venue rental costs. CALLED: Authorize $5,000 to Richter Association for the Arts 2024 season. Passed by unanimous voice vote. Other Business 1. Breakfast Moved to allocate $100 to purchase 2 tickets for the Annual Business Supports the Arts Awards Breakfast 2023 sponsored By the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut on October 12, 2023 by DNagaraja seconded by PPerry. DISCUSSION: This is a good opportunity to make the work of the Commission more known in the community. CALLED: Passed by unanimous voice vote. 2. Mural additional honorarium JCooke moved to offer an additional honorarium of $250 to Sydney Nikolaus for her professional work evaluating the mural, which took longer than originally estimated. Seconded by EMoore. DISCUSSION: AFaham: it is better to wait for the report before sending any additional money. CALLED: Passed by unanimous voice vote. Motion to adjourn at 7:44 Made by PPerry. 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: 820 7943 2224 Passcode: 816120 One tap mobile: Dial by your location +19294362866,,82079432224# US (New York) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) Meeting ID: 843 0075 3536 Passcode: 816120 Meeting ID: 820 7943 2224 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 6 Proposed: September 27, 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 Available Grants: gap in access and prioritizes school in Alliance and Walmart Overview Opportunity Districts. More information on Alliance Community Grants range from a minimum of $250 to and Opportunity. the maximum grant of $5,000. Organizations must submit an online application to be The Supporting Arts grant program CLOSED Deadline: Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 11:59 PM considered for funding. general operating support to help Connecticut’s arts organizations The 2022 grant cycle begins Feb. 1, 2023 and the and municipal arts departments cover programmatic costs associated application deadline is Dec. 31, 2023. 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. Applications may be submitted at any time during this Artist Fellowship Program The program is not accepting funding cycle. Please note that applications will only applications in the current fiscal year 2024 grant cycle. remain active in our system for 90 days, and at the The Connecticut Arts Endowment currently closed end of this period they will be automatically rejected. The Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship is currently closed Organizations may only submit and/or receive 25 EMPOWER Grant Program is currently closed applications. The General Operating Support for Theaters and Performing Groups program is currently closed Strategic Partnership Grants are currently closed Areas of Funding: (Partial list) Quality of life: Improving access to recreation, arts American Theater Wing or cultural experiences for low income individuals and families in the United States Jonathan Larson Grants OPEN Education: Providing after school enrichment, The grant is awarded to musical theatre composers, tutoring or vocational training for low income lyricists, and librettists, or writing teams, early in their individuals and families in the United States career, to support artistic endeavors and safeguard http://giving.walmart.com/walmart-foundation/co long-term music writing careers. mmunity-grant-program The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative OPEN Grant funding can be used for: Essential resources and equipment fundamental to State of CT arts education, specifically focused on enhancing learning in the area of theatre. This can include: The Artists Respond program ● Purchase of production equipment (audio, Application Deadline: October 25, 2023 at 11:59pm lights, shop tools, etc.) and and professional Artist-led projects use the arts to inspire, empower, installation costs. educate, and transform Connecticut communities. ● Production supply costs associated with the presentation of plays, musicals, and other Every Child Art Experience theatrical performances including, but not Application Deadline: November 30, 2023 limited to, costumes and material, lighting The Every Child Art Experience grant is a $2,500 supplies, and scenery/scenic supplies. award given directly to schools to support taking ● Musical Instruments students to an out of school art experience. ● Licensing fees Experiencing and participating in art is an essential ● Costs associated with artistic consultants to part of creating strong communities and developing leverage equipment and/or resources. This healthy, engaged, and creative students. could include artistic residencies, Understanding that not all students have equal mentorship, and technical consultants. access to the arts, this program seeks to close the Minutes of the Meeting Page 5 of 6 Proposed: September 27, 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 Dancing Under the Stars - CityCenter Danbury Adam Grabois & Margarita Nuller - Cello & Piano Duo Thursday, July 28⋅6:30 – 8:30pm, until Sep 30 Sunday, October 22nd⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Rooftop of the Patriot Garage (21 Delay St) Danbury Museum & Historical Society 43 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810, USA Farmer's Market - CityCenter Danbury Saturday, July 1⋅10:00am – 2:00pm until Oct 29 * Pre-Halloween Concert - Danbury Brass Band Ives Street Green Danbury, CT 06810 Sunday, October 29⋅2:00 – 3:30pm Immanuel Lutheran Church- Danbury, 18 Clapboard * Richter Association for the Arts Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811, USA Callie Sorrento, Sergio Mandujano, Andrew Gordon - Opera & Musical Theater Trailer Box Gallery Sunday, October 1⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Between the Notes Runs Thru Oct. 21, 2023 Danbury Museum & Historical Society Artist Reception:​September 24th 2:00PM - 5:00PM12 43 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810, USA Francis J Clarke Circle- Bethel Ct. * Richter Association for the Arts Still River Editions Roarin' Ramblers - Dixieland Jazz Flag Bearers: jennie carr, Keisha Rollins, Roxy Savage, Sunday, October 1⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Mark Savoia, and Rita Valley Danbury Museum & Historical Society Five artists’ take on flags and flag-like motifs 43 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810, USA July 8 - September 29, 2023 128 East Liberty Street, Danbury, Connecticut Music at the Ridge Mustard's Retreat WCSU ART ALUMNI EXHIBITION Sun, Oct 8 4:00 PM Oct 5 – Nov 12, 2023 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury Opening Reception: Thurs, Oct 5, 2023, 6-8 pm 24 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT THE GALLERY at the Visual & Performing Arts Center WCSU, Westside Campus * Richter Association for the Arts Victoria Schwartzman - Piano Recital Sunday, October 15th ⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Danbury Museum & Historical Society 43 Main St, Danbury, CT 06810, USA Western Connecticut State University * The Great Necks guitar trio with Jacob Reuven, mandolin - Danbury Concert Association Sunday, October 15⋅3:00 – 4:30pm Veronica Hagman Concert Hall 43 Lake Ave Ext, Danbury, CT 06811, USA *Events sponsored by the Commission * Richter Association for the Arts Minutes of the Meeting Page 6 of 6 Proposed: September 27, 2023 NOTE: Additional and supporting information can be found in the files at the Commission office.