Arts Commission

Minutes | Special Meeting Middletown Commission on the Arts Thursday, February 15, 2024 5:00 p.m., Middletown, CT Virtual Meeting by WebEX Attendance: Sandra Russo Driska, Chair, Anthony Pandolfe, V.Chair David Wolfram, Secretary, Sari Rosenblatt Domenique Thornton, Gary Wallace Also in attendance: Kisha M. Michael, Staff 1. Call to order – 5:07 p.m. 2. Public Session – none in attendance 3. Approval of Minutes – Wolfram made a motion to approve the minutes from the PSG Interviews 2-7-2024, this was seconded by Rosenblatt, unanimously approved. Rosenblatt made a motion to approve the minutes from the GOS Interviews 2-6-2024, this was seconded by Pandolfe, unanimously approved. 4. Remarks from the Chair – Russo Driska noted that the two interview sessions were informative and detailed. The “pot” of grant funding has not increased, and new groups have entered the application process, making it difficult to “honor” the work of longstanding Middletown groups, and at the same time, recognizing the work of new organizations. The panel’s evaluation is based on utilizing a rubric that reflects the stated criteria as listed in the guidelines. Applications were scored on those criteria, including community impact, especially on children, and award amounts were categorized in tiers. 5. Old Business a. MCA PSG & GOS Matching Funds Grant Applicants – Discussion of award amounts Arts Coordinator presented spreadsheet of requests and recommendations. Through the rubric and recommendations of tiering the awards at 100%, 75%, 50% and 25%, applicants were awarded the $59,001.00 available funds remaining. The Chair pointed out that tiering the applications reflects the focus on the involvement of the Middletown community to the organizations’ events. Wolfram emphasized the importance of the impact and participation of local people in funded events. Thornton noted that other income streams are considered in tiering, as well as additional operating costs. 6. New Business a. MCA PSG & GOS Matching Funds Grant Award - Recommendations Thornton made a motion to approve recommendations as presented, seconded by Pandolfe. No discussion, approved unanimously. Ekklessia Ballet $12,601.00 Free Center Inc. $12,000.00 Police Activity League of Middletown/PAL $2,000.00 Oddfellows Playhouse $10,000.00 ARTFARM $6,500.00 Middletown Arts Fest $5,500.00 Resonant Motion, Inc. $1,500.00 Susan Nathiel $1,000.00 Artists for World Peace $5,400.00 GMChorale $2,000.00 Kaleidoscope $500.00 TOTAL $59,001.00 7. Adjournment – Thornton made a motion to adjourn, this was seconded by Pandolfe. Meeting adjourned at 5:22pm. Attachments: MCAFY24 Grant Recommendations winter2024 MCA Grant Interview Rubric (PDF) Submitted by, Julia Faraci, Staff