Subject: Organization Newsletter August 2023

News & Information for Arts & Cultural Organizations & Creative Businesses in Fairfield County

August 2023

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Eastbound Theatre is a community theatre under the umbrella of the Milford Arts Council. In its 29th season, EBT is run by a passionate team and committee board. EBT presents: three full stage productions of farce, drama, romance, or mystery in September, February, and June; a two-weekend original one-act festival in collaboration with the Westport Community Theatre every summer; a NEW series called "Plays in Development" presenting staged readings before an audience with a playwright/director/cast talk-back; and a first-year "al fresco" production of Shakespeare in Eisenhower Park. EBT offers a wide range of theatre - classics, fan-favorites, new and innovative plays, re-imagined stand-bys, and new works in development.

CAFC NEWS

ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY (AEP) STUDY IS COMPLETE!


Thank you all for participating in AEP survey events, for generously hosting and helping us complete the audience survey collection of the Americans for the Arts Arts & Economic (AEP) Prosperity Study as of July 8, 2023.


We collected a total of 807 individual audience member surveys from 26 cultural events. In addition, 271 certified cultural nonprofit organizations in our region were sent short surveys to complete about their spending and activity in their communities. Eventually, 149 organizations completed and submitted surveys, 11 were started but were not finished, and 103 were not started. This was a 57% compliance rate (compared to a 23% compliance rate in 2015). See the results of our 2015 study HERE.


We met our goals and now look forward to the analysis and report which we expect in October. Thanks again to all for this great collaborative effort. See the numbers and the sites here:

LEARN MORE

NEXT FUNDING BOOSTER SESSION: AUG 9th


Jessica Morozowich + Introducing Penny Cook

FREE and open to all members! On Zoom at 10AM.


Development consultant Jessica Morozowich will answer your questions and tackle any grant writing issues you currently have. She will also introduce and walk you through the revised local funders spreadsheet. We'll also introduce Penny Cook who will be taking over from Jessica from September onwards. Book a one-on-one consultation with Jessica ahead of time if you wish.


PLEASE NOTE: If you haven’t registered for the program as a whole (you only need to do it once) register here. Once you have registered for the program you then need to register for each event.

REGISTER FOR PROGRAM
REGISTER FOR AUG 9 EVENT

HISTORICAL SOCIETIES NETWORK MEMBERS!

JOIN THE AUG 16th CONVENING


After a successful 6th convening of 15 representatives from 12 historical societies May 9, 2023, at the Norwalk Historical Society (Mill Hill), the historical  societies of Fairfield County will convene again August 16 at The Fairfield Museum. The agenda will consist of brief news updates from each of the attending organizations and then division into work groups on topics including Preparations for the 250th Anniversary of U.S. Independence; Membership Issues, Inclusion Strategies, Marketing, Funding, and more. 

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

MARKETING NETWORK MEMBERS!

MARKETING ROUNDTABLE SET FOR AUG 23rd


Speaker: Patrick J. Flaherty, Director of Research and Information at the CT Department of Labor


All marketing officers and executive directors of member organizations are invited to attend the next Marketing Roundtable on Wednesday, August 23, 10:30-noon at the Westport Country Playhouse Barn.


The subject for presentation and discussion will be the "Changing Demographics of Fairfield County," with a particular focus on post-pandemic developments.


The Office of Research gathers, analyzes, and disseminates information on the economy, workforce, and careers that is used to evaluate the economic health of Connecticut, support and promote state workforce development activities, and assist students and job seekers in making career choices. 

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE


The July Spotlight On Arts & Culture: “Good to Great” Transforming Cultural Organizations on WPKN – 89.5 FM July “Spotlight” shined a light on 9 quite different organizations in our region who received the highly competitive “Good to Great” grant, jointly administered by the CT Office of the Arts and CT Humanities, designed to help transform the visitor experience at their institutions.  The grant is awarded to “organizations of all sizes who demonstrate deep thinking about who they are as organizations, and what they could be if granted access to capital funding.” We thought this was a great opportunity to spotlight these organizations, the work they do, and how they will be using their grants to transform their organizations. Our guests were:


• Cybele Maylone, Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield
• Peter Gistelinck, Avon Theatre Film Center, Stamford
• Kathy Maher, Barnum Museum, Bridgeport
• Tracy Kay, Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, Stamford
• Howard Lasser, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield
• Hilary Wittmann, Carriage Barn Arts Center, New Canaan
• Clare Murray, cARTie, Shelton
• Maggie Dimock, Greenwich Historical Society, Greenwich
• Steve di Costanzo WPKN, Bridgeport

LISTEN HERE

NOTE: Some content may get clipped. Click "View Entire Message Online" for full version.

MEMBER NEWS

East Coast Contemporary Ballet is happy to report that the Fairfield County Dance Festival, in partnership with Thomas/Ortiz Dance, was a huge success. They doubled their audience in Stamford and created a whole new fan base in Norwalk at Calf Pasture Beach and in Milford at the Green. The audiences in New Canaan and Darien were warm and enthusiastic. In Westport, the performance was moved indoors due to rain, but the setting was a perfect complement to the costumes, and the audience was energetic and gracious.

Fairfield University Art Museum has received a $30,000 CT Humanities grant in support of their upcoming exhibition "In Real Times. Arthur Szyk: Artist and Soldier for Human Rights." Organized by the The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at UC Berkeley, where it opened in May 2021, it was curated by Francesco Spagnolo, PhD. At Fairfield, the exhibition is organized by Philip Eliasoph, PhD, Professor of Art History & Visual Culture, Dept of Visual & Performing Arts, Sam & Bettie Roberts Lecturer in Judaic Studies, Fairfield University College of Arts & Sciences. This exhibit will be on view in the Museum's Bellarmine Hall Galleries Sept 29 - Dec16. EXHIBIT LINK

Greenwich Choral Society announces the appointment of Dr. Christine Howlett as the new Music Director and Conductor of the ensemble as it approaches its 100th Anniversary. Dr. Howlett’s appointment comes after a year-long search following the retirement of Maestro Paul Mueller, and was conducted with the participation and support of the members of the Choral Society. Joanne Falinski, Chair of the Choral Society Board of Directors, said, “Christine demonstrated her keen intelligence, strong musicianship, excellent teaching skills and a wonderful sense of humor throughout the long search process and convinced us that we could continue to make beautiful music with her as our new music director.” LEARN MORE

KEYS (Kids Empowered by Your Support) shares the news of Founder Rob Silvan’s plan to retire on September 1st, 2023. The Board of Directors of KEYS along with Karen Cobham, Laurie Bradbury (Assistant Executive Director), and Jen Bartlett (Marketing & Communications Director) thank Rob Silvan for founding KEYS, and for his many years of tireless service. They are grateful for his commitment to a quality music program, for bringing people together that shared the mission, and for his dedication to KEYS’ vision of a world where every child has access to the transformative experience of studying and playing music regardless of circumstances. There will be a celebration of Rob and his legacy at the KEYS fall benefit on Nov 3rd.

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk opened its new Sturgeon Touch Tank which allows for up-close encounters with Atlantic sturgeon, whose ancestors swam through the water long before dinosaurs roamed! This new exhibit is special because it is especially rare – only a few aquariums in the nation have sturgeon touch tanks. Once abundant, Atlantic sturgeon were harmed by over-fishing, pollution, and dams blocking river routes. Today, these fish are classified as an endangered species and there are conservation efforts being made on both the federal and state levels to protect them. Found between Canada and Florida, Atlantic sturgeon can grow up to 14 feet long and live up to 60 years.

Mark Twain Library is pleased to share their 2022-23 Annual Report. It has been 115 years since Mark Twain donated his own books to create the cultural, informational and educational center that bears his name. This report reflects the progress and impact the Library has made in and on the Redding community over the past year. We are so grateful for all of you who have helped us make this such a successful year! READ MORE

Neighborhood Studios received a special visit from Congressman Jim Himes last month. It was a wonderful opportunity for him to experience first-hand all the activities at Camp Hart and see their campers in full creative action. He got a taste of everything the children taking in their artwork displayed on the walls, tjamming out during a cultural drumming session, and listening in on a theater class learning about their theme of the summer — the environment. Congressman Himes said, “I was delighted to visit Neighborhood Studios and see their incredible work come to life at Camp Hart. It was clear through the joy on the campers’ faces as they proudly displayed their arts and crafts that the enthusiastic team at Neighborhood Studios is succeeding in their mission."

New Canaan Museum and Historical Society is thrilled to share that the restoration of the c.1868 Gothic-style studio build for sculptor John Rogers is complete. Designed by the renowned architecture firm Peabody & Stearns, it is a building with exquisite detailing and rich history. This building is designated as a National Historical Landmark for its ability to illustrate United States heritage.

The Glass House, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announced the appointment of Kirsten Reoch as the site’s Fourth Executive Director starting September 11, 2023. Reoch is an experienced non-profit leader with expertise in cultural resources, preservation planning and managing complex historic facilities and operations with high public engagement. She currently serves as the Director of Capital Planning, Preservation, and Institutional Relations for the Park Avenue Armory, a city, state, and national landmark in Manhattan. Reoch has served the Armory for over twenty-five years. Reoch is returning to the National Trust as she began her career in historic preservation at the Decatur House, another National Trust for Historic Preservation site.

Creative Connections will hold their 2023 Summer Youth Connection August 15-24. Students from The Norwalk Art Space and RaDity camp in Western Ukraine will have a chance to exchange art and connect through live videoconferencing. RaDity Camp is solely for children who have been affected by the current war. Both the Ukrainian and American participants will explore the relationships in their daily lives that help ground them. The goal of the program is bonding and healing. It will focus on the theme of “connections” with the students sharing the joys and challenges of forming and maintaining the relationships that mean the most to them. The teens will enjoy the exchange of art, theatre games and activities, and discussion over 4 ½ hours of live Zoom sessions.

The Palace Theatre is hosting the celebration of the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine's Independence on Aug 20th. Blue Sky Ukraine will present a charity concert in support of children and the elderly in Ukraine. The concert will feature masterpieces of Ukrainian choral, vocal and instrumental music performed by famous Ukrainian performers, The Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York conducted by Vasyl Hrechynsky, Pavlo Gintov - piano, Hanna Golodinskii - soprano, Denys Savelyev - flute, as well as the Ukrainian-American Bandura Group. Also included is Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble “Kalynon’ka.” This event is supported by The Consulate General of Ukraine in New York and the Stamford Town Clerk office. LEARN MORE 

Quick Center for the Arts has partnered with the Pequot Library to provide the following classes: “High/Low: Classical Meets Popular Music;” “Jewish Art & Spirituality From Sinai to Szyk: Defying Idols/Inventing Icons;” “Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt: Tradition and Innovation in European Prints;” and “Seize the Beat: A Look Inside American Music." Classes will be held both on Fairfield University’s campus and the Pequot Library in Southport, CT. OPEN MINDS Institute offers topical seminars and workshops. Under the direction of master academics, including Fairfield University faculty, these classes emphasize active participation. LEARN MORE  

Thomas/Ortiz Dance is happy to report that the Fairfield County Dance Festival, in partnership with Thomas Ortiz Dance, was a huge success. They doubled their audience in Stamford and created a whole new fan base in Norwalk at Calf Pasture Beach and in Milford at the Green. The audiences in New Canaan and Darien were warm and enthusiastic. In Westport, the performance was moved indoors due to rain, but the setting was a perfect complement to the costumes, and the audience was energetic and gracious.

Westport Country Playhouse is thrilled that the community has rallied around them to "Save the Playhouse." $1,941,557 million raised to date toward $2 million goal to broaden appeal of Playhouse programming in 2024-25. The “Save Your Playhouse” campaign’s objective is to transform the Playhouse into a performing arts center that appeals to a broader audience while continuing to produce theater. 300 donors have participated in the recently launched fundraising campaign to transform the Playhouse into a center for a wide array of performances that appeal to a broader audience while continuing to produce high-quality theater. LEARN MORE

Westport Country Playhouse has announced that Playhouse alumnus Mark Shanahan has been named Artistic Director for the 2024/2025 Season! The Board of Directors is thrilled to partner with Mark in this next chapter, as he brings enthusiasm, talent, experience, and a deep commitment to the Playhouse along with the right vision, and a desire to connect with his audience. Shanahan, currently serving as curator of the Playhouse’s Script in Hand playreading series, will succeed Mark Lamos in March 2024. He is a New York-based theatre artist whose work has been seen on and Off-Broadway, internationally, and at numerous regional stages across the country. He is the writer/director of The New York Times Critics’ Pick A Sherlock Carol (Off-Broadway Alliance nomination, Best New Play 2021), playing two seasons in New York and annually at London’s Marylebone Theatre.

OTHER NEWS

PERRY SO APPOINTED NEXT MUSIC DIRECTOR OF NEW HAVEN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 


The New Haven Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Perry So has been appointed as its next Music Director. So will assume the title of Music Director beginning with the 2024-2025 season, succeeding Alasdair Neale, who will end his five-year tenure with the orchestra in May 2024. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Stetson Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library. Perry So is currently Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra (Navarre Symphony Orchestra).

READ MORE

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO AMERICA'S NOT-FOR-PROFIT THEATERS?


Several major companies have announced cuts in staff and programming at theaters across America. What is happening to America’s not-for-profit theaters? In recent weeks, several venerable organizations have announced their intention to scale back programing, reduce staff, or shutter all together. The Theatermania Story of the Week takes a look at the impacted theaters to see what their stories have in common.

READ MORE

THE FY24 SUPPORTING ARTS GRANT PROGRAM IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS


Deadline: August 13


The Supporting Arts grant program provides general operating support to help Connecticut’s arts organizations and municipal arts departments cover programmatic costs associated with their mission-related work. This type of grant is flexible and gives the grantee the ability to use the funds where they are most needed.

The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) will provide just over $1M in general operating support grants in FY24. All eligible applicants will receive funding.

LEARN MORE

CT OFFICE OF TOURISM LISTENING TOUR


Over the course of two weeks, The Office of Tourism held six one-hour sessions open to all members of the industry. With hundreds of attendees joining from across the state, they heard insights and walked away with multiple ideas on how to maintain the momentum for Connecticut’s tourism industry over the last year. The top line takeaway is that the tourism industry is meeting or exceeding 2019 numbers, but this boom is not being felt by theaters. The Office of Tourism will respond with greater promotion and support of Connecticut’s innovative arts, culture, and theater scene; a new matching grant program; new messaging topics and new consumer offerings promoting extended visits; and relaunching the old Governor’s Tourism Conference to celebrate and invigorate the industry.

LEARN MORE

POPULATION SHIFTS & LONG-TERM ATTENDANCE TO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS


In a "Know Your Own Bone" article, Colleen Dilenschneider reports that expanding audiences isn’t only a diversity and inclusion action item – it’s a business imperative. Here’s the updated research on how urgently exhibit and performance-based entities need to expand audiences to sustain long-term attendance - shown individually for eleven cultural organization types. This article is a post-pandemic update concerning negative substitution ratios – or the rate at which organizations are engaging new audiences compared to the rate at which these same organizations are losing their historic visitors.

READ MORE

FINAL REPORTS FOR CT CULTURAL FUND OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS NOW OPEN


Log into The CT Humanities grant portal to view and complete your final report. Second installments will be processed once submitted reports have been reviewed and approved.

READ MORE

FUNDING

NEH Media Projects

DEADLINE: AUG 9


NEH Fellowship Programs

DEADLINE: AUG 9


NEH Public Humanities Projects

DEADLINE: AUG 9


Supporting Arts Grant Program

DEADLINE: AUG 13


CT Humanities Sponsorships

DEADLINE: SEP 1


National Medal for Museum & Library Services

DEADLINE: SEP 1


Humanities Connections

DEADLINE: SEP 7


Dialogues on the Experience of War

DEADLINE: SEP 7


NEH Documenting Endangered Languages Senior Research Grants

DEADLINE: SEP 15


National Leadership Grants for Libraries

DEADLINE: SEP 20


Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

DEADLINE: SEP 20


Historic Restoration Fund Grants

DEADLINE: OCT 2024


Collaborative Research Grants

DEADLINE: NOV 11


Historic Restoration Fund Grants (HRF)

DEADLINE: ROLLING


Philanthropic Art Program

DEADLINE: ROLLING


NEFA National Theater Project Presenter Travel Grant

DEADLINE: ROLLING


Connecticut Office of the Arts Strategic Partnerships Grant

DEADLINE: ROLLING


NEFA National Dance Project Presentation Grant

DEADLINE: ROLLING

Senior Coordinator for the CAS Arts Institute

Fairfield University | Fairfield


Director of Finance

Goodspeed Musicals | East Haddam


Production Manager

Goodspeed Musicals | East Haddam


Marketing & Communications Associate

The Amistad Center for Art & Culture


Head of Publications

Yale Center for British Art | New Haven


Marketing & Communications Associate

The Amistad Center for Art & Culture | Hartford


Senior Director of Programs

Neighborhood Music School | New Haven


Lead Museum Educator

CARTie | Stamford


Museum Educator

CARTie | Stamford


Senior Director of Programs

Neighborhood Music School | New Haven


Managing Director

Shakespeare on the Sound | Norwalk


Community Engagement Coordinator

Sterling House Community Center | Stratford


Assistant Director

Museum of Darien | Darien


Box Office Supervisor

Westport Country Playhouse | Westport


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 
 

SPREAD THE WORD!

Did you know that, in addition to this monthly Organization Newsletter, we have a monthly Artist Newsletter and a weekly e-Buzz event listing? Subscribe to any or all of our publications and share a sample with a friend or peer. Please help us expand our reach by sharing and subscribing here:

SUBSCRIBE HERE

BECOME A MEMBER

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a nonprofit membership service organization that supports its members in many ways. When you become a member of CAFC, you are immediately plugging into a network and a host of services and benefits including marketing, capacity building, professional development, networking, and advocacy services. Our region includes Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

BECOME A MEMBER

THANK YOU

SPONSORS & MEDIA PARTNERS

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a 501(c)(3) cultural nonprofit membership organization. We are grateful to our members and our donors whose support enables us to do our work. In particular, we are grateful for support from:

DONATE

FOLLOW US:

facebook
twitter
instagram
youtube
linkedin
Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, Gate Lodge at Mathews Park, 301 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850, United States

You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

Powered by:
GetResponse

    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of ORGANIZATION NEWSLETTER: JULY 24, 2015 (Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, Gate Lodge at Mathews Park, 301 West Avenue, 06850 Norwalk, United States) and sent via GetResponse on 2023-08-04. Report abuse