| News and Opportunities for the Cultural Nonprofits and Creative Businesses of Fairfield County, CT May 18, 2019 |
| | The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a nonprofit membership service organization that supports its members through unified marketing, capacity building, professional development, 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. Find out more and sign up here. |
| | | | TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR 2019 ACE AWARDS BREAKFAST WITH DANA TYLER AS KEYNOTE |
| | The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County's Fourth ACE Awards Breakfast will be held Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 – 9:00 am at the Shore and Country Club in Norwalk, featuring Dana Tyler, Emmy-award winning CBS2 NYC News Anchor, as this year’s keynote speaker. RSVP here.
“We’re delighted to have Dana join us this year to deliver the keynote address at the 2019 ACE Awards and honor these arts and cultural champions from across our region who have enhanced our community through their passion for the arts, dedication to education, and sharing their many talents,” said CAFC Executive Director Angela Whitford. Click here for more information.
The 2019 ACE Awards recipients:
Artist - Jane Davila, printmaker, fiber and mixed media artist, textile designer, editor, author, and teacher, who also manages the NEST Arts Factory in Bridgeport. Citizen - Nick Visconti, philanthropist, who resurrected Westport's Drew Friedman Community Arts Center that supports the arts through scholarships and sponsorships. Corporate - Cohen & Wolf, which, in addition to providing a wide array of legal services, has been a longtime strong supporter of Fairfield County arts and culture. Educator - Gina Scarpa, Director of Education at Center Stage, Shelton, and founder of the its Education Center, serving over 115 students each semester. Nonprofit - Intempo, whose founder and executive director Angelica Durrell, is an Ecuadorian-born violinist, educator and social entrepreneur. |
| | Jane Davila Nick Visconti Cohen and Wolf Gina Scarpa INTEMPO |
| | WPKN CONVERSATION WITH CYBELE MAYLONE:
NOW AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD |
| If you missed last Monday's Spotlight on Arts & Culture conversation on WPKN with Cybele Maylone, the dynamic new, young leader of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, you can catch it now on Soundcloud at http://bit.ly/SpotlightCybele. Get to know Cybele, her fascinating background, some of her core beliefs, and find out where The Aldrich might be heading under her new leadership. |
| | REGI GRANT OFFICE HOURS: WED. MAY 22 |
| APPLY for a Regional Initiative Grant! In addition to the information sessions we have offered in Fairfield and Stamford, CAFC is now offering 15-minute individual one-on-one call-in sessions to assist potential applicants hone their proposals and budgets. These grants ($1,000-$4,000) are perfect for small, collaborative, local-community-based projects and are funded by CT Office of the Arts but administered in our region by CAFC. To sign up for your 15-minute session, click here.
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| SAVOR CITY RETURNS: SAT. JUNE 8 |
| | | SavorCity is a monthly tour of Bridgeport restaurants, food, art and music, showcasing the cultural delights and hidden gems of Connecticut’s most diverse city. Organized by Rick Reyes Productions, Capital for Change, The NEST Arts Factory, and the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, SavorCity organizes visits to neighborhood restaurants where guests can experience the authentic local cuisine of Bridgeport’s many, diverse neighbor-hoods. SavorCity returns with lunch at El Pueblito, 121 Wall Street, a family owned and operated Colombian restaurant, serving exquisite homemade Colombian and Latin-American food. Our artist is Julia-Rose; our musicians are xyzzy. For other details and to register, click here. Support provided by Hatch 130, a digitally-minded advertising agency located in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
This edition of SavorCity is being held in conjunction with Jane's Walk Bridgeport, an exploration of downtown Bridgeport, organized by Bridgeport DSSD in collaboration with the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, BPT Creates, Bikeport Co-Op, Bridgeport Generation Now and the City of Bridgeport, as part of the international Jane's Walk, an annual festival of citizen-led walking, conversation and bike rides, inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs. Jane's Walk Bridgeport 2019, starts out at Bridgeport Creates, 1001 Main Street, #14, with an introduction to Jane Jacobs, a program of short films, a panel discussion and lunch at El Pueblito at 12:15pm. Walks commence at 2pm from McLevy Green, ending with drinks at HarlanHaus. |
| | | ❦ – Latest List by Town of Organization and Creative Business Members: here
❦ – Latest List by Town of Artist Members: here
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| | | | | ROUND-UP OF MEMBERS' NEWS |
| | Music on the Hill, now in its 8th successful year of bringing uplifting and high-quality musical performance and education to the Wilton community and wider region, has announced the formation of a new after-school program for children, grades 2-8. The Community Children’s Chorus will have its first performance on Sun., Nov. 3. This program is the latest addition to Music on the Hill’s offerings and continues its defined mission of “Music + Community: Music Performance and Education for All.” No auditions are required, but interested parents should email Ellen Dickinson, co-founder and co-artistic director at ellen@musiconthehillCT.org. |
| | The NEST Arts Factory got a big boost this week from Fairfield County's Community Foundation in its GoFundMe campaign to raise a final $50,000 to enable its artists to relocate to a new building in the South End of Bridgeport. This move will allow the NEST community to expand from 29 to 41 studios and give them the stability of a long term lease at a reasonable cost - a lease that will give the community the security to grow, create, and thrive, without fear of being ejected from yet another neighborhood. FCCF's gift of $5,000 helped take the NEST's campaign to one-third of its goal. FCCF stated that it "hopes this gift further incentivizes new individual and institutional donors to contribute to this important campaign between now and May 31st, 2019." The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is the fiscal agent for the NEST's campaign and tax-deductible gifts can be made by mailing a check to CAFC, "attn. Save The NEST," 301 West Ave, Norwalk CT 06850, or by visiting GoFundMe. |
| | | The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society has announced the purchase of The Italian Quarter by Silvermine artist D. Putnam Brinley, through the generosity of Ed Vollmer, Betty Branch and Susan Gunn Bromley. Colorful and lively, the large oil was painted in 1926 and depicts life in a section of New Canaan between Locust and Forest Streets (now largely the Locust Avenue parking lot) that was populated by residents of Italian descent. It shows the community of men, women, children (and even a few dogs), musicians and dancers, as well as roofers, stoneworkers, builders, artisans and craftsmen. Brinley was one of the original members of the Silvermine Group of Artists that evolved into the Silvermine Guild of Artists. The painting will be on view in the Bishop Gallery (upstairs in the Town House at 13 Oenoke Ridge) through September 2019 after which it will be permanently installed downstairs in the Parlor. Pictured L to R: Ed Vollmer, Betty Branch and Susan Gunn Bromley. Click image for larger, complete picture. More... |
| | The Ridgefield Arts Council has joined other towns in the region in implementing the OTOCAST app, an audio-visual guide platform that helps you discover what's around you. Each listing shows up as a pin on a map which when tapped calls up text, images and audio. The goal as in other towns is to create a one-stop mobile listing for all arts and cultural places in town. You can download the app from iTunes or Google Play. It was pioneered in our area by the Norwalk Arts Commission (see the webpage) and is also available in Westport. Others are currently being developed in Greenwich, Stamford, Wilton and Milford. At right, a compressed screen image of the entry in the Ridgefield Otocast of the Keeler Tavern Museum. |
| | The Suzuki Music Schools, theWestport Library and The Bijou Theatre are co-sponsors of the annual Connecticut Guitar Festival, and announced this week that the Festival has a new Artistic Director for its 3rd year: internationally renowned guitarist Mak Grgic. The festival will take place the weekend of Feb. 7-9, 2020, with educational programs taking place over the week leading up to it, with the theme of Connecting Connecticut. The festival was conceived as a way to bridge all music genres across Fairfield County, through one instrument: the guitar. The festival features educational events and concerts, as well as an exposition, across the musical spectrum, from rock to jazz, classical to country. Organizations and businesses interested in participating in the 2020 Connecticut Guitar Festival are encouraged to contact lory.a@suzukischools.org. For more information, visit www.connecticutguitarfestival.com |
| | Westport Country Playhouse has received 17 Connecticut Critics Circle nominations, which were announced earlier this month. Five nominations were for the current season production of In the Heights (at right): Outstanding Musical, Director (Marcos Santana), Choreography (Marcos Santana), Actor in a Musical (Rodolfo Soto), and Set Design (Adam Koch). Six were for Man of La Mancha, including Outstanding Musical, Director (Mark Lamos), Actor in a Musical (Philip Hernandez) and Actress in a Musical (Gisela Adisa). Four were for A Flea in Her Ear, including Outstanding Play and Outstanding Director (Mark Lamos). Flyin’ West and Thousand Pines each received one nomination. Honoring the best in professional theater in Connecticut, the awards ceremony will be held Mon., June 3 at 7pm at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. For a full list of nominees, click here. |
| | | | SPEAK OUT ABOUT HOW THE ARTS ARE FUNDED
● Allocate 25% of lodging tax revenue into the Tourism Fund (the current allocation is 10%). ● Define in legislation the industry-supported ratio of investment within the fund of 60% to tourism and 40% to arts & culture. Talking Points● Increasing the amount of lodging tax revenue collected that is re-invested into arts, culture and tourism will increase jobs, spur economic growth, and increase tax revenue to the state. ● Defining a 60/40 allocation within the Tourism Fund reflects and maintains current investment ratios. ● Defining a 60/40 allocation ensures predictable funding to both arts & culture and to tourism, as the Tourism Fund amount will change over time. ● There is a $7 to $1 return on investment (ROI) for arts and culture investment and $3 to $1 for tourism investment. ● Language supporting the allocations can be added to an existing bill or to a budget implementer bill. Some advocacy tools you can use in making your points include: Please SHARE this email with board members, staff, volunteers, and others who you can ask to make a phone call, send an email, or reach out to representatives to stress the importance and value of including this language in a bill this legislative session. |
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| STATE BY STATE ARTS EDUCATION DATA COLLECTION & REPORTING
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| | | OPEN HOUSE DAY IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY JUNE 8
The 15th Anniversary CT Open House Day is Saturday June 8 - when museums, galleries and organizations in towns and cities across Connecticut open their doors with discounted or free admission, giveaways, special offers, hands-on activities for the kids and more. Here are the offers by organizations in our region: Fairfield: Fairfield University Art Museum & Walsh Gallery at Quick Center - Free admission and notecardGreenwich: Bruce Museum - Free AdmissionGreenwich Historical Society - Free admission 12-4pm. Art activities for children in homage to American Impressionists. 10% discount in museum storeNorwalk:Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum - reduced rate ($5 tours, 12-4pmNorwalk Historical SocietyMuseum - free admission 12-4Walk Bridge Welcome Center - 10am-2pm free giveaways, talks and VR demonstration.Ridgefield: Keeler Tavern Museum& History Center: Free admission, 12-4.Suzanne Benton Studio & Art Showcase: Open artist studio, 2-6pm, with piano and artist’s talk, Shelton: Shelton History Center: Free admission, 12-4pm (exhibit celebrating Shelton Historical Society’s 50th anniversary) Southport:Pequot Library, 10am-4pm free programs (storytime for children, history tour and a Genealogy Roundtable.Stratford: Boothe Memorial Park & Museum 12-4pm with free lemonade and cookies.National Helicopter Museum f ree admission from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.Sterling House Community Center 9am-3pm: free tours and a tote bag |
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| | MAKE MUSIC DAY CELEBRATED IN EIGHT TOWNS IN OUR REGION
Make Music Day is celebrated around the world on the summer solstice. Every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — pours onto streets, parks, plazas, and porches to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. The Connecticut Office of the Arts helped organize and sponsor Make Music Day in Connecticut for the first time last year. COA continues its sponsorship of the event this year and in our region eight towns have responded: Bridgeport, Fairfield, Greenwich, Milford, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, and Stratford. Each have their own page on the Make Music Day website and each has registration pages where musicians and venues can sign up to participate. All events are free of charge and there will be a very wide range of activities. In Ridgefield, for example, Steinway of Greenwich will be donating a piano that will be placed on Main Street for anyone to stop by and play. Special guest artist Jon Batiste, who is performing that evening at the Ridgefield Playhouse, will stop by during the day for an impromptu “Make Music Day” performance. In Bridgeport, in addition to performances throughout the day, there will be a line-up of bands performing at the Bijou Theatre, one the oldest movie theatres in the country, with WPKN 89.5 FM broadcasting the performance live, along with daylong Make Music Day broadcasts featuring live music performances and interviews. Also on Monday June 10, all the organizers will be speaking on the Cultural Alliance's Spotlight on Arts & Culture live radio show on WPKN.
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| | | | AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS ARTSU WEBINARS
ArtsU is an online education forum provided by Americs for the Arts for its members to gain new skills, knowledge, and connections to further their personal and organizational goals.
ArtsU seeks to expand and organize Americans for the Arts' existing professional development and educational resources under one umbrella. Coming up are some key webinars. Interested but not a member see this page with costs and benefits. Memberships start at $30 for individuals and $75 for organizations. Wednesday, May 22, 3pm How can arts advocates be effectively engaged in our political discourse and in our upcoming elections? Learn some tips and best practices to being a great advocate while not running afoul of any rules. Americans for the Arts Senor Policy Fellow, former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg, will lead this discussion using findings he gathered from interviewing arts advocates who are now elected officials. Tuesday, May 28, 3pm Murals can be a source of pride for communities and come with their own opportunities and challenges for public art program administrators. Developing a mural requires skill and knowledge to best engage and represent the members of the surrounding community. In this second of two Ask an Expert virtual conversations about murals, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with experts in the field on mural implementation and community engagement. Participants will gain insight on what it takes to implement a mural, manage community expectations, learn about available resources, and more! |
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| HOW TO WRITE A SPONSORSHIP LETTER
Wild Apricot has some advice on finding a sponsor for an event and for writing the "ask" letter. First, for a primer on getting started with sponsorship, check out this article. Unlike a standard fundraising letter, a sponsorship letter has a slightly longer reach, focusing on building a relationship with a potential donor and approaches them like a partner, including offering an incentive for their support. Along with the obligatory tax receipt, the donor will be offered other benefits for their support, such as priority seating, a speaking slot, or inclusion in event publicity. There are many advantages to charitable giving. Research shows that 70 per cent will spend more on brands that support causes. Some ideas on what you can offer include: advertising space in an event program; a sponsor's logo featured in all communications about the event; public acknowledgement of the donor; promotional materials included in swag bags or available at the event; an opportunity to speak; a booth; being included on the non-profit’s online ‘Supporters’ list; social media shout-outs. Wild Apricot offers some really out-of-the box ideas here., check out this list! Sponsorship Letters should not be the first point of contact you have with a potential sponsor. Rather, they should be used to provide more information once you’ve already had an initial contact with the right person at the organization. In the letter you want to sow the seeds for a long-term relationship. You can use it: as a tool for soliciting support for a specific event or campaign; as a way to forge a mutually beneficial partnership; or to request non-financial contributions. The best sponsorship letters are highly personalized. The article continues with some suggestions on how to unearth potential sponsors in town and some best practices, as well as two free templates for letters you can use. See the whole article here. |
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| | | Professional Development Events Coming Up… |
| | | | GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CURATOR OF EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS
The Greenwich Historical Society seeks a Curator of Exhibitions and Programs, a full-time position beginning July 2019. The ideal candidate has an M.A. or Ph.D. in history or art history and 4+ years full-time curatorial experience organizing and curating exhibitions and collections. She/he is a scholar familiar with the professional practices of an AAM-accredited museum for the care and presentation of collections; has superior writing, communication and organizational skills; is a team player (7 f/t, 12 p/t staff); likes working with volunteers and interns; and is proficient in Microsoft office suite and collections database management software.
Primary Responsibilities: Develops two exhibitions per year in Special Exhibitions Gallery (990 sq. ft.); Oversees independent contractors’ work including designer and, when hired, guest curators; Organizes packing, shipping and insurance for occasional loan exhibitions; Works closely with Exhibitions Committee to vet and evaluate proposals for special exhibitions; Conducts research on the permanent collection (3,000 objects) and is responsible for its preservation, care and planning for its greater impact and accessibility; Rotates collections on exhibit in Permanent Collections Gallery (500 sq. ft.); Provides seasonal interpretive displays in Bush-Holley House and oversees cleaning of period rooms; supports education department with training on its collections; Presents items for acquisition to the director and Collections Committee; Works closely with the development, marketing and education departments by supplying them with information required for funding, publicity and program planning; Presents gallery talks and/or pubic lectures on the museum’s exhibitions and collections. To apply, please email cover letter and resume to sflinn@greenwichhistory.org with “Curator Search” in the subject line by June 15. No phone calls please. |
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| YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA/ YALE REPERTORY THEATRE BUSINESS MANAGER
The Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre (YSD/YRT) seeks a full-time Business Manager. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Human Resources, this senior staff member manages the day-to-day financial and business operations of YSD/YRT to ensure the integrity of financial operations, creates a collaborative working environment for financial and business; develops and implements financial systems and business operations training programs, guides and procedures; develops and implements school-wide financial and business operations initiatives, and methodologies to retain and share information; oversees all financial aspects of staff, faculty, student and artist payrolls; participates in all aspects of budgeting, maintains chart of accounts and oversees reconciliation of receivable/liability accounts; oversees preparation of grant and gift application and final report budgets and financial documents, and serves as petty cash custodian.
Position requires: Strong motivational and influential leadership, supervisory, project management, team-building, facilitation, customer service; accounting and financial analysis oral fluency and written communication skills. Applicants must be a self-starter and highly motivated solution-oriented individual with strong thinking agility and a deep knowledge and sense of self.
Experience working in administrative and/or financial aspects of the performing arts and/or higher education preferred. Salary dependent upon experience; full Yale University benefits package.
Go to www.yale.edu/jobs, requisition number 55035BR (http://bit.ly/YaleBM55035) |
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| | | | FOR JOBS, FOR SALE, FOR RENT, VOLUNTEERS, AND CALLS FOR ARTISTS - CONSULT AND POST IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS |
| | | | | SPREAD THE WORD!
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| | | | | | | The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are very grateful for the support of our individual and organization members, our individual donors and the following organizations. |
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