Subject: Organization Newsletter Sept 2022

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

September 2022

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

LifeBridge Community Services provides a combination of behavioral health services, youth development, and asset-building resources in order to strengthen families and the community. They provide tools to help individuals and families cope, adapt, and overcome challenges. Their Urban Scholars Program assists youth residing in Bridgeport, ages 11-15 and entering grades 6-10 through an array of academically engaging activities designed to promote learning and prosocial behaviors such as STEAM, robotics, visual arts, and music. WEBSITE

Town Players of New Canaan (TPNC) was formed in 1946, performing at various locations throughout town until the 1980's when they transformed an abandoned powerhouse in Waveny Park into a full-time community theater. The all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit operates the 115-seat Powerhouse Theatre year-round, with the mission to entertain and educate the community in theater arts. Each season consists of 5 main-stage productions, a family holiday show, several Stage II concert readings, and Theatre Arts classes and educational workshops. WEBSITE

The Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut is a community choir comprised of amateur and professional musicians. The Choir strives to promote an appreciation of choral music and educate its members and the general public in the musical arts. They nurture emerging artists, attracting people of diverse backgrounds, both as choral singers and audience members. MCC was founded in 1984 by alumni of the Fairfield University Chamber Singers. The Choir has performed a wide range of repertoire in New England, New York, and many European capitals and they have earned a reputation as one of the leading vocal ensembles of the region. WEBSITE

OUR NEWS

ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 6

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is pleased and honored to announce that we are partnering again with Americans for the Arts for Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), the sixth national study of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. Our local nonprofit arts and culture organizations have been and will continue to be critical to our economic recovery. This new study will give us the data we need to prove the arts and culture continue to mean business in Fairfield County!

SAVE THE DATE! OCTOBER 19TH

Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk

To kick off our participation, Randy Cohen, Vice President for Research at Americans for the Arts will be visiting our region and will be speaking to all our cultural nonprofit members.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with audience surveys, contact Executive Director David Green at david@culturalalliancefc.org

LEARN MORE

REGISTER FOR A CT CULTURAL FUND INFO SESSION

Applications are now live for the FY23 grant program administered by CT Humanities in partnership with the CT Office of the Arts.

Join CTH staff members Scott Wands and Lian Partridge to learn more about the CT Cultural Fund Operating Support grants, to ask any questions you might have about your organization’s eligibility, and to get help with closing out FY22 grants and starting FY23 applications.

These grants are non-competitive GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT grants for organizations that provide cultural-, humanities-, and arts-based projects and activities for the public including museums, historic houses, historical societies, arts organizations, cultural centers, and other organizations that offer activities such as exhibitions, performances, art classes, public programs, or walking tours to the public. They are designed to help the state’s museums, cultural, humanities, and arts organizations maintain and grow their ability to serve their community and the public, connect K-12 teachers and students to strong humanities and arts content, and improve their information technology and digital infrastructure.

In Fall 2022, CT Humanities will distribute $8.5 million in CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant awards, ranging in size from $5,000 to $250,000.

Application deadline: November 4, 2022 at 11:59pm.

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FUNDING BOOSTER PROGRAM: SEPT 7 10:00 AM

Our Funding Booster Program is about to begin again. It's free to members and it's designed to help all grant writers, from beginners to veterans. Increase your access to news about local, state, regional and national arts and culture funding opportunities, attend workshops, drop-in grant clinics, one-on-one sessions with grant writing expert Jessica Morozowich & more!

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JOIN OUR TEAM! PLEASE SHARE

Here's a great opportunity for part time, remote work with the leading arts and culture organization in coastal Fairfield County! We are seeking an ADMINISTRATIVE AND MARKETING ASSISTANT for ten hours per week (remote) with occasional attendance at our Norwalk office.

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DEI CONSULTANTS LIST

To assist members figure out how best to handle their own DEI Training for board and staff, we are compiling a list of consultants that members have already used which we will share with the network. If you have used any consultants in any capacity to help you with DEI training, please send names and contact information to david@culturalalliancefc.org. We are also looking into the possibility of a collaborative project in which members can work collectively with a consultant(s).

YOUR NEWS

The Bruce Museum is proud to announce that three grant proposals representing a combined total of $41,065 dollars were awarded by Connecticut Humanities (CTH). Grant totals include a $20,000 CT Summer at the Museum grant, $16,066 Planning Grant, and a $4,999 Quick Grant.

The CT Summer at the Museum Grant program invites Connecticut children to visit participating museums free of charge from July through September. The Bruce Museum will also be working on two brand-new initiatives also funded by CTH - the Connecticut Modern Driving Tour, a self-guided exploration of sites throughout the state related to modern art, architecture, artists, and designers and a project to translate all the labels in the newly renovated permanent science gallery, Natural Cycles Shape Our Land, into Spanish. READ MORE

Greater Bridgeport Symphony Music Director and Conductor Eric Jacobsen will retire in April 2023. He will conduct the first (and last) concert of the 77th season, "Turn, Turn, Turn" beginning September 10th with Jacobsen’s Ninth, honoring the beginning of his ninth season as Music Director. A series of performances will feature potential successors taking a turn at the podium at The Klein in Bridgeport, and a new conductor will be announced in 2023. Conductor prospects include Benjamin Hochman, Chelsea Gallo, Chelsea Tipton II, and Eduardo Leandro. READ MORE

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will join Smithsonian Magazine's 18th Annual Museum Day by opening its doors free of charge to all Museum Day ticket holders on September 17, 2-4 p.m. This initiative allows museums, zoos and cultural centers from all 50 states to emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day. On Museum Day, the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will feature the ongoing exhibition: Making It Last: Sustainable Fashion in Victorian America, curated by Lynne Zacek Bassett, sponsored in part by CT Humanities. DOWNLOAD TICKET

The Mary & Eliza Freeman Center is honored to have been recognized as a Site of Conscience by CT Humanities in Collaboration with the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. They now join a global network of historical sites, museums and memory initiatives. According to CT Humanities, “The sites highlight the legacy, relevance, and persistence of issues which have influenced our state and our nation, and which continue to drive public discourse.” The Center looks forward to continuing to draw attention to Little Liberia and the South End of Bridgeport while engaging communities in exploration of a great and vibrant history. READ MORE

Orchestra Lumos (formerly the Stamford Symphony) announces the headliner for its upcoming annual gala - the musical theater legend Maria Friedman. Maria, whose commitment to education and community outreach will be evident throughout the gala evening, is scheduled to directly workshop with students from three communities: the New Canaan High School Theatre program, Darien High School Theater 308, and the Staples Players from Staples High School in Westport. The celebration is September 24th LEARN MORE

The Ridgefield Theater Barn recently opened registration for their Fall workshops - "Oliver, Jr" for teens and "The Day the Aliens Attacked Ridgefield" for younger performers. In addition, they have announced their entire season of teen and youth workshops through the end of the school year offering parents and kids the opportunity to plan (and register) ahead, and potentially save money with discounted packages if kids are enrolled for an entire season of workshops. RTBK workshops are geared toward kids grades 3 through 12 with an interest in acting, improv, singing, or musical theater. LEARN MORE

OTHER NEWS

IMLS OPENS NOMINATIONS FOR 2023 NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUM & LIBRARY SERVICE

Submissions due November 1

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is now accepting nominations for the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor awarded to libraries and museums for service to their communities. Anyone—an employee, a board member, a volunteer, a member of the public, or a government official—is invited to nominate an institution. The National Medals program recognizes outstanding libraries and museums of all types and sizes that deeply impact their communities.

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NEFA IDEA SWAP

Save the Date: November 2, 2022

Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA

Back in person for its 20th year, the Idea Swap is the annual event for New England-based presenting organizations and touring artists to network and share ideas for touring projects. This is your opportunity to initiate conversations with colleagues, develop programming ideas, and build ongoing relationships with peers and artists. Registration Opens: September 7 and Early Bird Registration and Project Ideas Deadline is October 7

NOMINATE A CT ARTS HERO

Here's a call from CT Office of the Arts (COA): If you know someone who is doing remarkable work in the arts, please nominate them to be a Connecticut Arts Hero.

NOMINATE

COMMUNITY CALL FOR BOARD TREASURER

Do you have a passion for the arts and a head for numbers?Connecticut Arts Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is looking for someone with nonprofit finance experience to join their board of directors as treasurer. The treasurer works closely with the executive director to build and monitor the budget, helps with accounts payables and receivables, and advises the board on financial matters. Connecticut Arts Alliance (the Arts Alliance) is a statewide membership organization that engages the arts community, elected officials, and the public as champions for the arts, activates them to secure the resources the arts community needs to thrive, and organizes them around common goals that build stronger communities.

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34th ANNUAL NANCY HANKS LECTURE

Americans for the Arts’ 34th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy will be delivered in person by playwright and author Ayad Akhtar. Akhtar’s work has been published and performed in over two dozen languages and he is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Edith Wharton Citation of Merit for Fiction, and the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has also been nominated twice for a Tony Award and currently serves as board president of PEN America. This free live event will be livestreamed.

HOUSE APPROPRIATORS AGREE ON INCREASED ARTS & HUMANITIES FUNDING

On June 28, the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Committee held full committee markups and recommended funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) at $207 million each, $3.45 million and $6.3 million over President Biden’s request for the NEA and NEH respectively. This $27 million increase in funding from Fiscal Year 2022 followed months of advocacy work including the President’s budget request, “Dear Colleague” letters from both the Senate and House, and a monumental hearing. This was the first time in seven years that a hearing with the NEA and NEH took place.

NATIONAL ARTS & HUMANITIES MONTH

October is National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM) and there are a number of new initiatives, tools, and resources for 2022:

A new equitable engagement guide
Local proclamations how-to guide
#ShowYourArt2022 Instagram challenge theme graphic
NAHM media resources

Save the Date: Americans for the Arts’ October Member Briefing will take place Tuesday, October 11, at 3:00 p.m. ET with a focus on National Arts & Humanities Month. The free virtual briefing will feature an interview with this year's NAHM ambassador and a glimpse into what members are doing to honor the arts and humanities in their communities this fall.

LEARN MORE

LINCOLN PARKAPALOOZA

The Stratfield Village Association (SVA) is set to bring local musicians and neighborhoods together to celebrate and create a sense of community, while raising money for neighborhood improvements on September 10th. Local bands will play on the porches and front lawns of private residents, culminating with a live concert in Lincoln Park featuring 2 main acts; Ellis Island and The Tom Petty Project.

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VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM

The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) has partnered with the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston to develop and implement a Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) service program for the arts sector across Connecticut. The Connecticut Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts will provide legal services, advice, and educational programming to artists, creative entrepreneurs, and arts organizations throughout Connecticut. The Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston currently serves as the VLA for the State of Massachusetts and COA is looking forward to the development of programming that benefits Connecticut artists and the creative sector throughout our state.

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CT VISIT: WHAT'S NEW FOR FALL

Fall will be here before we know it! What does your business have planned for the season? In their continuing effort to #SupportCTBusinesses, CTVisit will share your events and news on CTvisit.com, social media, and through public relations. Share your thoughts—and any photos or videos—with CTVisit.WebEditor@ct.gov.

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TWO NEW REASONS FOR LOW ATTENDANCE

An IMPACTS study has revealed two new, top barriers to attending cultural organizations that have emerged in the last few months. It’s not news that the cultural industry experienced massive disruption in 2020, and it’s not news that the chips have not settled yet. In 2020 and through the early months of 2022, coronavirus-related concerns made the list as a primary barrier for visiting cultural organizations. Safety concerns also rose as a barrier to attendance. More recently, IMPACTS Experience has observed another major shift in the top barriers to visitation - cost of travel and scheduling conflicts.

FUNDING

National Leadership Grants for Libraries

DEADLINE: SEPT 21

CT Humanities Partnership Grants

DEADLINE: OCT 7

New England States Touring (NEST) Grant

DEADLINE: DEC 1

Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program

DEADLINE: ROLLING

JOBS

PT Accountant/Bookkeeper

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum | Ridgefield

PT Admin & Marketing Assistant (Remote)

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County | Norwalk

CT Digital Heritage Program Coordinator

CT Humanities | Middletown

Teacher

Ridgefield Guild of Artists | Ridgefield

Instructors, Expansion Program

Studio Institute | Greenwich & Stamford

Project Manager & Analyst

AMS Planning and Research

Grants & Program Assistant

CT Humanities

CT League of History Organization Jobs List

Indeed Creative Jobs

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

How To Fill Vacant Storefronts Webinar

SEPT 13

Soup to Nuts: Nonprofit Management Fundamentals

SEPT 14

Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy with Ayad Akhtar

SEPT 21

Nonprofit Boards 101: What You Need to Know

SEPT 28

U*Nite - Nonprofit Leaders of Color Networking

SEPT 28

UMASS FALL 2022 CLASSES

ENROLL NOW

SPREAD THE WORD!

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BECOME A MEMBER

The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a nonprofit membership service organization that supports its members through marketing, capacity building, professional development, networking, and advocacy services. This newsletter is sent to all who request it, but we ask that, if you are not a member, you explore membership benefits and consider joining.

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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:

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