Arts Commission

Minutes of the Meeting Regular Meeting Middletown Commission on the Arts Wednesday, November 15, 2023 7:00pm, Room 208, Municipal Building 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT Hybrid – Held Both In-Person and By WebEx In attendance Also in attendance Sandra Russo-Driska, Chair Arts Office Staff: Anthony Pandolfe, Vice Chair Kisha Michael, Arts Coordinator David Wolfram, Secretary Julia Faraci, Admin. Secy Sharon Riley Sari Rosenblatt Pamela Steele Renee Soares, via WebEx Domenique Thornton, via WebEx Gary Wallace, via WebEx 1. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Chair Russo-Driska at 7:03pm 2. Public Session: no members of the public present 3. Approval of Minutes: October 25, 2023 Meeting  Motion to approve Minutes by Pandolfe, seconded by Rosenblatt, passed unanimously with no discussion. 4. Approval of Agenda:  Motion to approve Agenda by Steele, seconded by Pandolfe, passed unanimously with no discussion. 5. Remarks from the Chair – Russo-Driska and Michael attended a tour of the Church of the Holy Trinity conducted by Rev. Mary and the Episcopalian diocese’s real estate consultant. The diocese is conducting an extensive study to evaluate potential community uses of the Church; Rev. Mary will welcome input from Downtown stakeholders. The Church’s extensive facilities include its sanctuary, which can be used for events, an elevator and a commercial kitchen. Rev. Mary particularly wants to welcome the arts. The Church of the Holy Trinity said they will share their consultant’s report after the New Year. 6. Old Business – A. Staff Report Commissioners agreed to a group photograph to be taken in the new year, after the Council ad hoc members joins the Commission. MCA’s 2024 meeting schedule will be presented to the Town Clerk by December 13. The schedule will be attached to next month’s agenda. The Grant Resolution for the $14,999 in MCA grants awards is supported by Council Member Gene Nocera for submission to Common Council’s December meeting.  Minutes of the Meeting Regular Meeting Middletown Commission on the Arts Wednesday, November 15, 2023 7:00pm, Room 208, Municipal Building 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT Hybrid – Held Both In-Person and By WebEx A Q&A session for grants applicants will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 4:00 to 5:30pm in Council Chambers. Previous Q&A sessions generated an FAQ list that will be posted on the Arts Office website. Michael encouraged Commissioners to attend. A theater excursion is planned for a busload of students and their parents or guardians to attend a performance of “Dreamgirls” at the Goodspeed Opera House. An invitation was extended to Middletown High School Theater Arts students, giving young adults the opportunity to invite an adult to accompany them to attend the performance, and promoting an impactful adult-child learning experience. The policy for the display case dictates its assignment to the City Art Collection with the oversight of the MCA Public Art Committee. The Arts Coordinator asked the Commission’s permission for the Arts Office to exhibit cultural artifacts in the display case on a seasonal basis. The Arts Coordinator also requested guidance concerning the temporary storage of permanent Collection items ordinarily in the display case that would be removed during cultural displays. The Municipal Building Custodian will be consulted for safe and secure designated storage for permanent City Art Collection items while temporary exhibits are in place. The Arts Coordinator attended the GM Chorale’s concert, which was performed to a full house on November 12. Michael said the music was “exquisite”. A trio of Middletown High students will perform at the Mayor’s Coffee Hour on the morning of December 1st. Ekklesia Dance is performing Ahavah on December 2nd and 3rd. The Tree Lighting celebration will be at 6:00pm on November 24. Festivities start at 5:00pm, and will continue on Main Street and at Eli Cannon’s after the tree lighting. Michael will share other holiday events by email and on social media. United Way forms were offered to Commissioners who wanted to pledge to donate. B. Committee reports I. Committees Assignments – no report II. Planning and Projects – Pandolfe reported on Committee’s meeting on November 14. a. Music Ambassador 2024 – Pandolfe drafted criteria to create a standard operating procedure for selection of the Music Ambassador. The rough but comprehensive draft will be attached to the minutes for review by the full Commission. Pandolfe requests Commissioner feedback. b. Arts Advocacy Award 2024 – Pandolfe drafted criteria for Arts Advocacy Award selection. Arts Advocacy Month celebration will take place in October 2024, coinciding with the  Minutes of the Meeting Regular Meeting Middletown Commission on the Arts Wednesday, November 15, 2023 7:00pm, Room 208, Municipal Building 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT Hybrid – Held Both In-Person and By WebEx national observations. MCA will have January through July to plan to spearhead arts activities and events; Arts Advocacy Month would be a platform for MCA presentations. III. Public Art – no report. Steele and Wolfram are planning a meeting in the new year. IV. Nominating Committee – no report. Committee will meet on November 20. V. Grants Review Subcommittee – no report 7. New Business - none 8. Announcements – none 9. Adjournment Motion to adjourn by Pandolfe, seconded by Steele. Meeting adjourned at 7:35pm. Next Regular Meeting, which will be held virtually, is scheduled for Wednesday, December 13, at 7:00pm. Respectfully submitted, Julia Faraci Admin. Secretary III, Arts & Culture Office CC: Mayor’s office Attachments: Recipients of the Arts Advocacy Award Arts Advocacy Award Criteria (PDF) Music Ambassador Criteria (PDF) 03h Display Case Policy (PDF)