Arts Commission

Minutes of the Meeting | Regular Meeting Middletown Commission on the Arts Wednesday, August 28, 2024 5:00 p.m., Middletown, CT Virtual Meeting by WebEX Commissioners In attendance Commissioners Absent Anthony Pandolfe, Vice Chair Sandra Russo-Driska, Chair David Wolfram, Secretary Amber Michael, Youth Representative Sari Rosenblatt Steven Kovach Pamela Steele Jon Pulino Richard Pelletier Domenique Thornton Arts Office Staff: Gary Wallace Kisha Michael, Arts Coordinator Phil Pessina Julia Faraci, Admin. Secy Sharon Riley 1) Meeting Call to Order – 5:00 p.m. 2) Public Session - Public session started with a member of the public, Julia Faraci, attending as an observer. 3) Approval of Minutes – motion to approve made by P.Steele, second by P. Pessina, 1 abstained. 4) Approval of Agenda – motion to approve made by D.Wolfram and second by P.Pessina, approved unanimously. 5) Remarks from the Chair - The Chair expressed excitement for the upcoming program year and mentioned recent interactions with Kisha in the arts office. 6) Old Business a) Staff Report included updates on committee assignments for R. Pelletier (nominating) and P.Pessina (nominating and public art). Bylaws have been updated to reflect previous and current commissioners. Staff has had several pieces of artwork restored and replaced on the wall for display. The Regatta posters of the 70’s and 80’s are now on display in the south staircase and bottom floor of city hall. Grant season started with two Q&A’s that were successful and this season is expected to have a very diverse pool of PSG applicants. Staff provided the arts office end of year expenditures for fy24. Art excursions are being planned and are intended to reach participants that are at or below the federal poverty level. Poet Laureate activities are in progress with the selected panel of judges: Sari Rosenblatt, Stephan Allison, William Foster, Julia Faraci and Oliver Egger. This effort is considered a soft opening and this group plans to help build interest of poetry and literacy in the City through recommended programming. Announcements: Mayor’s Ball on 9/28 at the Elks; Splash Pad Mural Opening on 9/3 at 1pm at Vets Park. b) Reports i. Planning & Projects – no report ii. Public Art – no report iii. Nominating – Bob Santangelo’s name has been offered as a nomination for the next vacancy seat with D.Thornton stating her resignation at this meeting. 7) New Business i. Slate of Officers FY25 - A slate of officers for the year 2025 has been presented to nominate A.Pandolfe as Chair, S.Rosenblatt as Secretary and D.Wolfram as Vice Chair. A motion to  approve the slate of officers was made by P.Steele and second by P.Pessina. Motion passed unanimously. ii. Arts Advocacy Award Nominations – Chair asked for nominations to be brought forward at the September meeting. Discussion ensued by referencing the criteria, attached. iii. MCA Grants Panel Assignments and Interview Date – Staff stated that the MCA grants panel needs to be formed and interview date/s will be decided in September. Staff will deliver dates to coordinate the panel’s availability. R. Pelletier, P.Steele, P.Pessina and G.Wallace stated their potential availability based on the day and timeframe. 8) Announcements – Staff stated the success of the Open Air Market and showed images of the booth display. D.Wolfram announced that artist David Schulz passed away recently and honored his artistic impact and military service. G.Wallace announced that the 10th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk Committee has presented to the city the idea of painting the crosswalk of Main/Grand Street. Gary Wallace will receive the William J Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award at the November chamber breakfast. The Q Williams event is on October 10th from 5 to 9 at the Wadsworth Mansion. 9) Meeting Adjournment Attachments: Arts Office FY24 Expenditures; Arts Advocacy Award Criteria