Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC)
November 18, 2010
Special Meeting Minutes
The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC) held a meeting on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT.
Members Present: Martin Blanco, Jennifer Johnston, Rob Kaiser, Donna Mangiafico, Robert Rabinowitz, Donna Monteleone Randle, Jennifer Rogers, and Linda Watson
Members Absent: Emily Howard
Auxiliary Members Present: None
Guest: Kate Katcher
Jennifer Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
Minutes: The minutes of the October 14, 2010 meeting were approved as written.
Officer Reports:
Jennifer Johnston welcomed new NCAC Member Robert Rabinowitz to the commission.
Jennifer shared information about the Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance cultural arts destinations and creative clusters. The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission will host a creative cluster (round-table networking) on June 17, 2011.
Jennifer Rogers shared information about a proposed Edmond Town Hall fundraiser. Hayden Bates met with Jennifer and Tom Mahoney to discuss his idea of producing indie-rock concerts to raise money to make improvements/upgrades to the Edmond Town Hall Theatre. Jennifer asked if the NCAC would offer support. Members of the NCAC agreed that event promotion assistance is available. NCAC financial grants/scholarships is in the research and development stage at the present time. However, the NCAC is open to reviewing proposals.
Donna Mangiafico discussed the 2011 meeting calendar. Members asked to move meetings back to the fourth Thursday of the month (except November – third Thursday due to Thanksgiving holiday). The proposed 2011 meeting calendar was approved.
NCAC Meetings will take place in Meeting Room 1 – Newtown Municipal Center – 7:00 PM
January 27, 2011
February 24, 2011
March 24, 2011
April 28, 2011
May 26, 2011
June 23, 2011
July 28, 2011
August 25, 2011
September 22, 2011
October 27, 2011
November 17, 2011 (Third Thursday)
December 22, 2011
Treasurer Report:
Linda Watson reviewed the NCAC Financial Statement.
Programs and Events:
Flagpole Radio Café:
Martin Blanco announced that Flagpole Radio Café fundraising is on schedule and ongoing. Martin reported that the most recent Flagpole Radio Café production on November 6, 2010 netted $2,454. The upcoming show on December 4th will feature guest artist Roger Ball and The Roger Ball Quintet. It was agreed that the NCAC member volunteering to run the Box Office would be responsible for bringing a bank of $100 in $1, $100 in $5, and $100 in $10. The volunteer NCAC member will commit to the Box Office duties at the NCAC Meeting prior to the Flagpole Radio Café Show. Donna Mangiafico offered to bring the $300 bank and run the Box Office for the December 4, 2010 show.
We’ve Got Talent:
Jen Rogers reported that the T-shirt sales netted $174.25. She wrote and submitted to Jennifer Johnston procedures for ordering/selling T-shirts. Donna Monteleone Randle discussed future shows. Several people interested in participating in this type of program again have approached Donna. For future shows, she recommended working on advertising well in advance. She also discussed reducing the number of acts. Martin Blanco suggested that members of the NCAC be committed to advertising and ticket sales. Robert Rabinowitz stated that reducing the number of acts might also reduce the number of attendees and ticket and advertising sales.
Newtown Art Festival/Country Fair:
Donna Mangiafico discussed the Newtown Art Festival/Country Fair. Donna has been working to recruit volunteers to help plan and manage this event. The proposed date of the event is the third weekend in September 2012. The name of the event and details will be determined by the, soon to be formed, committee. Donna will provide a list of arts organizations to be invited to participate in planning to NCAC members for assistance with contacting them. The first meeting will be Thursday, January 13, 2011 – place/time TBD.
NCAC Website:
Jennifer Rogers requested that the events calendar default to the agenda view by event to make it easier to read. Rob Kaiser offered to continue to update the website.
Public Participation:
Kate Katcher announced that the Stray Kats Theatre Company received its 501(c)(3). Kate also announced that the inaugural season would include six performances beginning on December 10th in the Alexandria Room at 7:30 PM. Kate asked if the NCAC would consider being a sponsor.
Other Business:
Jennifer Johnston asked for a couple of volunteers from the NCAC to begin work establishing a process for cultural arts organizations to apply for financial support through grants/scholarships. Robert Rabinowitz offered to help with a grant-writing process.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.
The next NCAC meeting is scheduled in Meeting Room 3 on Thursday, December 9, 2010, 7:00 PM at the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Mangiafico
Secretary
Newtownartscommission.org
Our Mission: To create a greater awareness of the arts in our community through educating, enhancing, and promoting diverse cultural opportunities for Newtown.
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