The Milford Arts Council. Contributed photo.
The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of the Arts has awarded the Milford Arts Council one of only 28 project grants for 2020. These grants encourage and support arts-based projects exhibiting artistic excellence aligned with the state arts initiative.
The MAC’s project grant, titled “Meet Me at the Bench,” calls for creatives, artists, and craftsmen to create and install six unique benches reimagined as artistic and community experiences throughout downtown Milford. The MAC is reaching beyond its pool of artists to equitably challenge, engage and hire individuals or groups of engineers, architects, woodworkers, metal-forgers, tile-layers, masons, craftsmen and artisans for the project.
This grant comes as the MAC is headed toward celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021.
“To see art outside, up-close, tangible and accessible to so many people is very powerful,” said Paige Miglio, the MAC’s executive director. “To be granted the ability to produce six such experiences is immeasurable and very important to our organization’s mission to grow and impact our community through our vision. We couldn’t be prouder or more excited to bring this project to fruition, leading us into our 50th year. The MAC has started planning exciting events to celebrate our anniversary and we will begin to roll them out next year, culminating with a gala in September 2021. The bench project is just the beginning.”
A committee of local artists, city representatives, downtown businesses, and service organizations will review submissions and match them to sites. Six locations have been suggested as bench sites.
The committee members include state Sen. James Maroney; Milford alderman Bryan Anderson; Milford Public Library director Christine Angeli; Beth-El Center executive director Jennifer Paradis; Tracy Bonosconi, owner of LOVET Shop and Downtown Milford Business Association chair; Carol Kuryla, Metro Star marketing director; Nell Moll of the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce; Curran Bishop, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church; Bill Bevan, parks commissioner; local artist and muralist Brec Morgan; George Amato, local artist and founding MAC board member; and Miglio.
The deadline for submissions is Feb. 21. Final selection by the committee will be awarded by late March, leaving four months for fabrication. Installations by the city will take place during the summer and early fall of 2020. Projects must be designed to withstand the elements and public use for at least three to five years, with little or no maintenance.
Visit milfordarts.org for details, requests for proposals, project narrative and artistic inspiration. Questions may be sent to executivedirector@milfordarts.org.