Department Of Cultural Affairs

Barbara Lamb, Director 165 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510 (203) 946-8378 E-mail: kfutrell@newhavenct.net Events Press Releases Community Programs Public Art Film, Television and Photography New Haven Sister Cities Partners Resources

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The mission of the Department of Cultural Affairs is to improve the quality of life in New Haven and to support the economic development of the City by assisting, promoting and encouraging artists, arts and cultural organizations and events in New Haven. It also serves as the steward for the municipal collection of public art.

The Department of Cultural Affairs:

• Supports a wealth of neighborhood activities through the Mayor's Community Arts Grants Program
• Enhances municipal buildings and schools with public works of art through its Percent for Art Program
• Annually presents:
  • July 4th Fireworks at Long Wharf Park
  • Holiday Tree Lighting on the Green

Additionally, the Department of Cultural Affairs provides support to the film industry by assisting filmmakers in identifying possible locations within the city, negotiating and coordinating city services and other location needs and costs.

Events

IKEA New Haven July 4th Fireworks: Free, annual celebration of Independence Day with food and fireworks overlooking the water at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park at Long Wharf Park.

The 2009 event is scheduled for Saturday, July 4 (rain date: Sunday, July 5) at 5pm. Food vendors will be on site. Music is provided by 94.3FM WYBC. 9pm fireworks display. Free parking is available along Sargent Drive at IKEA, Regional Water Authority, Gateway Community College and the New Haven Register. Take I-95S Exit #46 or I-95N Exit #45.

Tree Lighting Celebration: The city's annual tradition held on the historic New Haven Green is free for the entire family. The 2009 event will be held Thursday, December 3 from 4-8pm. Click here for more information.

Interested in volunteering for the Tree Lighting? Three hour shifts are available between 3-9pm. Positions include: assisting with the Winter Wonderland, the Letters to Santa tables, the Alpine Safari and Hayride Singers. Download Volunteer Form.

For more information please contact Kim Futrell at 946-7172 or kfutrell@newhavenct.net.

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Upcoming Community Events

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Press Releases

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11/17/2009 - NEW HAVEN CELEBRATES THE SEASON WITH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING : New Haven, Conn. - The City of New Haven will present its annual holiday tree lighting ceremony on the ...
Click to read more.

11/6/2009 - CITY OF NEW HAVEN TO DEDICATE SCULPTURE IN LEWIS STREET PARK: -The City of New Haven will dedicate “Moai” a contemporary sculpture by Vermont artist Christopher Solbert, ...
Click to read more.

9/11/2009 - CITY OF NEW HAVEN ANNOUNCES MAYOR’S COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS: The City of New Haven Department of Cultural Affairs is pleased to announce the 2009-2010 recipients ...
Click to read more.

Community Programs

Mayor's Community Arts Grant: The Mayor’s Community Arts Grants Program has been designed to support the community by providing financial, marketing and technical assistance for arts and cultural related programs, projects and events which occur in New Haven neighborhoods. The goals of the program are to encourage the development of individual and emerging artists; to strengthen neighborhood cohesiveness; enhance neighborhood programs and collaborations especially those aimed at youth; increase the economic viability of our neighborhoods, improve the quality of life for our citizens; and promote and celebrate cultural awareness and diversity.

Individuals who are presenting, teaching or practicing artists and non-profit arts organizations working with neighborhood-based community and/or youth or senior groups in the City of New Haven. Eligible activities include: festivals, parades, exhibitions, murals/public art, children's activities, inter-generational programs, arts education, film, public performances, neighborhood collaborations and apprenticeships.

For more information about the grant program please contact Kim Futrell, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 203.946.7172.

2009/2010
The 2009/2010 Grant Cycle has closed. Guidelines and application forms are available for reference only.

Letter of Intent - Due May 1, 2009
Guidelines
Application - Due June 3, 2009

2009 Award Recipients

Public Art

New Haven has a large and impressive collection of both indoor and outdoor Public Art owned by the City, Yale University and private collectors. The collection includes the various WPA commissioned pieces, the Amistad Murals, Lighthouse Point Carousel, Murals, memorials, paintings, sculptures and decorative fountains.

Future plans include a formal catalogue of the collection and a printed brochure.

Percent for Art Program: The municipal ordinance that created the Percent for Art Program was enacted in 1981, and established that up to 1% of the municipality's total cost of a construction or renovation project be allocated for the purchase or commission of a work of art to be placed within that facility. The Percent for Art Program since its inception, has completed twenty-seven of its thirty-five commissioned works of art for many of the City's public schools, fire stations, parks, libraries, and other public buildings and spaces.

New Haven was the first city in the State of Connecticut to enact such legislation; only two other cities in Connecticut have since established Percent for Art Programs. Stamford's Percent for Art Program was legislated in the early 1980s, but is no longer in operation. New Britain's Percent for Art Program was only recently legislated and is not yet in operation (their Program is based in part on New Haven's Percent for Art Program). Over 26 states and 90 counties and municipalities in the United States currently have Percent for Art legislation.

View completed Percent for Art Commissions

For additional information, contact Barbara J. Lamb, Director, at 203.946.8378.

 

Film, Television and Photo Shoots Permitting Process

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) coordinates the permitting process for motion picture, television, and still photographic projects in the City of New Haven. Interested parties should contact the Office with any plans for filming within the city.

DCA works to coordinate a smooth production by serving as an interface between production companies and various city departments and agencies, and minimize the impact of these activities on our residents and businesses.

Please refer to the Guide to Filming in New Haven which contains a film application form and details the parameters in which filming is allowed. It also includes information regarding the necessary approvals and services of various city departments.

The New Haven Film Application is free and is designed to provide preliminary information necessary to begin the process and should be completed and submitted to DCA for review. In addition to the application, we require a certificate of liability insurance naming the City of New Haven as additional insured for a minimum amount of $1,000,000.

DCA works very closely with city residents and area business, as well as other government agencies and offices to facilitate filmakers needs when appropriate. Other city agencies or departments may require fees, deposits, or bonds, to cover the costs of personnel, services, permits or any needed remediation, upon the conclusion of the activity.

Primary point of contact is Barbara Lamb, Office of Cultural Affairs, City of New Haven, 165 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510; Phone: (203) 946-8378; Fax: (203) 946-7808; E-Mail: blamb@newhavenct.net.

Filming at Yale University: For information about the filming process at Yale University, please visit www.locations.yale.edu

New Haven Sister Cities

The mission of New Haven Sister Cities is to promote an awareness of the cultures and customs of those foreign cities designated by New Haven as a sister city. New Haven has established sister-city relationships with the cities of Afula-Gilboa, Israel; Amalfi, Italy; Avignon, France; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Hue, Vietnam and Leon, Nicaragua. For more information or to get involved visit www.nhsistercities.org/ or contact Barbara Lamb at blamb@newhavenct.net

 

Resources

Walking Tours of New Haven. Take a self-guided walking tour of New Haven designed by members of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce (GNHCC) Leadership Center 2007 Arts & Culture Team. Tours include the Theater and Museum District, the Beinecke Area, Audubon Street and around the Green. Each of the four tours takes approximately ½ hour - 1 ½ hours to complete and can be either printed or downloaded directly to a iPod or mp3 player.

Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism (http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/site/default.asp). Preserves and promotes Connecticut's cultural and tourism assets in order to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of the State.

Partners

Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Cynthia Clair, Executive Director (www.newhavenarts.org/)

Market New Haven, Anne Worcester, Chief Marketing Officer (www.infonewhaven.com)

Town Green Special Services District & Info New Haven, Rena Masten Leddy, Executive Director (www.infonewhaven.com)

Info New Haven, Rena Masten Leddy, Town Green Special Services District (www.infonewhaven.com)

Greater New Haven Convention and Visitor Bureau, Virginia Kozlowski, President & CEO (www.newhavencvb.org)

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, Tony Rescigno, Executive Director (www.gnhcc.com)

New Haven Economic Development Corporation, Michelle Whelley, Executive Director (www.edcnewhaven.com)

New Haven Sister Cities, Barbara Lamb, President (www.nhsistercities.org/)