Arts Commission

MINUTES OF MEETING Middletown Commission on the Arts PLANNING AND PROJECTS COMMITTEE March 16, 2023 5:00 p.m. Room 208, Municipal Building Hybrid - Held Both In-Person and By Webex PLANNING AND PROJECTS COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting In attendance: MCA Commissioners: Anthony Pandolfe, David Wolfram Via Webex: Lee Godburn (Chair), Domenique Thornton (Secretary) Arts & Culture Office Staff: Kisha Michael, Arts Coordinator; Julia Faraci, Admin Sec’y; Ed McKeon, Common Council Member 1. Call to order: meeting started at 5:13 p.m. 2. Public session: no one from the public was present. 3. Secretary assigned: Thornton was assigned to take minutes 4. Approval of agenda: motion to approve by Godburn, seconded by Wolfram, approved unanimously 5. Approval of Minutes from February 16, 2023: motion to approve by Godburn, seconded by Wolfram, approved unanimously 6. Remarks from the Chair: Godburn suggested that a regular day and time should be set for all MCA committee meetings; he will so advise the Commission at the next regular meeting. 7. Old Business: A. Year at a Glance: Discussed adapting / readjusting timelines for each task item. i. Music Ambassador – Barbara Arafeh will forward nominees. She asked if Music Subcommittee members (some of whom are not on the MCA) were made aware that the subcommittee has been subsumed into Planning and Projects. Tabled. ii. Wadsworth Mansion Open Air Market (August 27th) – Discussion of MCA booth. “What’s Your Art” has been a successful talking point at past events. Bags with gifts and handouts will be offered as well. Many attendees are out- of-towners who are interested in local eateries. MCA’s supplies for the booth and the payment of the $75 registration fee will be further addressed at the MCA’s May meeting. iii. Middletown PRIDE (June 3rd) - Discussion of activities for the Arts Office booth. Participatory public art, in the form of an oversized painting mural, and adult face painting by drag makeup artists were suggested. A Commissioner would reach out to the New Orleans style band “Funky Dawgs” to perform at the booth. Sponsorship fee $2500; also artist payments to be considered.  MINUTES OF MEETING Middletown Commission on the Arts PLANNING AND PROJECTS COMMITTEE March 16, 2023 5:00 p.m. Room 208, Municipal Building Hybrid - Held Both In-Person and By Webex iv. Arts Advocacy – Anne-Marie Cannata McEwen was selected for the individual Arts Advocacy Award and The Middletown Music Academy was selected for the group Arts Advocacy Award. v. Poet Laureate / Artist Laureate – Godwin reported that he had been in contact with a possible candidate. Pandolfe proposed that the Commission further give further consideration on the description of the Laureate position. 8. New Business a. Youth Involvement – tabled b. Inspirational grant – tabled c. 50th anniversary – tabled 9. Other a. Next Planning and Projects meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. 10. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. Attachment: Music Ambassador Nominees Respectfully submitted, Julia O’Halloran Faraci Admin. Secretary III, Arts & Culture Office