Arts Commission

Minutes of the Meeting Regular Meeting, Middletown Commission on the Arts Wednesday, June 26, 2024 5:00pm, Room 208, Municipal Building 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT Hybrid – Held in Person and Via WebEx Commissioners In attendance Also in attendance Anthony Pandolfe, Vice Chair Amber Michael, Youth Representative David Wolfram, Secretary Sari Rosenblatt Arts Office Staff: Pamela Steele Kisha Michael, Arts Coordinator Julia Faraci, Admin. Secy Commissioners in Attendance via Webex Richard Pelletier Ad Hoc, Common Council Members: Domenique Thornton Steven Kovach Gary Wallace (arr 5:13pm) Jon Pulino (arr 5:06pm) Commissioners Absent Sandra Russo-Driska, Chair Phil Pessina Sharon Riley 1) Meeting Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Vice Chair Pandolfe at 5:02pm. 2) Public Session: no members of the public present 3) Approval of Minutes Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Motion to approve Minutes by Rosenblatt, seconded by Steele. Votes in favor: Pandolfe, Wolfram, Rosenblatt, Steele, Thornton, Wallace. Abstaining: Pelletier. 4) Approval of Agenda Motion to approve Agenda by Wolfram, seconded by Rosenblatt, approved unanimously. 5) Remarks from the Chair – Pandolfe welcomed Pelletier, new Commissioner, and Amber Michael, new Youth Representative. 6) Old Business a) Staff Report 1. MCAAAA Award – Student award painting is currently displayed outside the Arts Office. Other MCAAAA award works will be located to the display case. The Arts Coordinator will need a check to pay for a gift card for the 2023 MCAAAA winner. 2. By-Laws – The MCA is tasked with revising the By-Laws, which have been reformatted and mailed to all commissioners. The criteria for the Music Ambassador and Arts Advocacy Award are to be included into the revised By-Laws document.  Minutes of the Meeting Regular Meeting, Middletown Commission on the Arts Wednesday, June 26, 2024 5:00pm, Room 208, Municipal Building 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT Hybrid – Held in Person and Via WebEx 3. Grants Q&A – In order to steward applicants through the grant application process, the Arts Coordinator is scheduling Grants Q&A. Invitations will be sent to the current pool of inquirers, and to past applicants. 4. Grant Guidelines – Revisions can be halted, as the current guidelines are in place for 24/25. 5. Children’s Circus – As fiduciary for the program, the Arts Coordinator was in attendance for the first day of staff training for the 28 counselors and nurse. On Monday, over 160 kids will be onsite. Commissioners are asked to attend Children’s Circus on Friday, August 2 at MacDonough School. 6. Fireworks Festival – The Arts Coordinator wasn’t able to get the carousel but will have a dance floor put up. 7. Office support position – The position is on a 10-month schedule, and Friday, June 30, is Faraci’s last day. The Arts Coordinator thanked Faraci for her work over the past year and a half, stating that the position is a “game changer” for the office. b) Subcommittee Reports i. Planning & Projects – Committee Chair Pandolfe said there was no meeting; no report. ii. Public Art – Committee Chair Steele said there was no meeting; no report. iii. Nominating – no meeting a. Present Slate of Officers Committee Chair Thornton asked the following Commissioners to serve as MCA Officers: Anthony Pandolfe, Chair; David Wolfam, Vice Chair; Sari Rosenblatt, Secretary; all agreed. Thornton nominated Pandolfe, Wolfram, and Rosenblatt for the slate of officers. Steele made a motion to accept nomination as presented, Rosenblatt seconded, the motion was approved unanimously. Vote on the slate is to take place at July meeting. Thornton noted that nomination could be brought to the floor with a write-in option. 7) New Business - none 8) Announcements Faraci reported that she attended the CVH Art Show announced by Pessina at a previous MCA meeting. She suggested future contact with the organizers of the event. Thornton announced the MCA-supported screening of the historical film “Max Corvo for Freedom” at the High School on July 10. Corvo was a Middletown native who participated in the liberation of Europe during WWII.  Minutes of the Meeting Regular Meeting, Middletown Commission on the Arts Wednesday, June 26, 2024 5:00pm, Room 208, Municipal Building 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT Hybrid – Held in Person and Via WebEx Pulino noted that “Yoga in Our City” presents yoga in various locations throughout town. The events are free and for participants of any level; Pulino recommends that participants bring water and a mat. Pelletier inquired whether a person in a wheelchair could participate. Pulino will send information to the Arts Coordinator. 9) Meeting Adjournment Motion to adjourn by Steele, seconded by Pulino. Meeting adjourned at 5:26 pm. ***** NEXT REGULAR HYBRID MEETING: July 24, 2024 at 5pm ***** ROOM 208, MUNICIPAL BLDG, 245 DeKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457 Respectfully submitted, Julia Faraci Admin. Secretary III, Arts & Culture Office CC: Mayor’s office