Office Of Cultural Affairs
Barbara Lamb, Director
165 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 946-8378
E-mail: kfutrell@newhavenct.net
The mission of the Office 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.
The Office 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; maintains the Urban Museum of Architecture, a museum "without walls" and annually presents: Celebrate New Haven 4th at Long Wharf Park; the Mayor's Halloween Parade and the holiday Tree Lighting on the Green.
Additionally, the Office of Cultural Affairs provides support to the Connecticut Film Industry by assisting filmmakers in identifying possible locations within the city, negotiating city services and other location needs and costs.
Celebrate New Haven Fourth: Annual celebration of Independence Day with food and fireworks overlooking the water at Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Park (Long Wharf Park).
Halloween Parade: Annual parade of over 1000 school children through the streets of downtown New Haven lead by Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. and the Superintendent of Schools, Reginald Mayo. This event is organized in conjunction with the Board of Education.
New Haven Tree Lighting Celebration is an annual tradition held on the historic New Haven Green celebrating the beginning of the holiday season. The family oriented event features live performances, children's activities, costumed characters, Santa, special guests and more.
The Tree Lighting event presented in collaboration with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees plays a part of the city's larger holiday celebration featuring late-night Thursday shopping, luminaria on the upper Green, strolling carolers and other festive activities.
Press Releases
5/8/2008 - New Haven Plans Celebration of Upcoming Indiana Jones Movie Release: NEW HAVEN, CT (May 6, 2008) – The City of New Haven is celebrating the upcoming release of Indiana Jones ...
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5/6/2008 - City of New Haven Announces 2008/2009 Mayor’s Community Arts Grant Program: New Haven, Conn.-- Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. and the Office of Cultural Affairs are pleased to announce ...
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4/2/2008 - The City of New Haven Releases Guide to Filming: New Haven – The City of New Haven Office of Cultural Affairs has released “A Guide to Filming in New ...
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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 goal of the program is to encourage the development of individual and emerging artists; and strengthen 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 future application deadlines please contact Kim Futrell, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 203.946.7172.
2008/2009 Guidelines
2008/2009 Application
The Urban Museum of Architecture (UMA): One of New Haven's greatest assets is the outstanding collection of architectural treasture that grace our streets, especially in downtown. New Haven is fortunate to have many buildings that have been designed by many of the world's most highly recognized architects; buildings that are cited as superior examples of a particular architectural styles, buildings that have won international recognition and acclaim.
The Urban Museum of Architecture is a museum without walls a collection of uniquely designed structures, housed in five architectural landmarks that contain historical information about the building in which it is displayed. UMA strives to promote the city's treasures and is currently researching methods of promoting the landmarks such as a series of walking tours, lectures and brochures.
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-one 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.
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.
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, Scott Healy, Executive Director (www.infonewhaven.com)
Info New Haven, Scott Healy, Town Green Special Services District (www.infonewhaven.com)
Greater New Haven Convention and Visitor Bureau,
Virginia Kozlowski, Acting Executive Director & CEO (www.newhavencvb.org)
Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce,
Tony Rescigno, Executive Director (www.gnhcc.com)
Film, Television and Photo Shoot Permitting Process
The Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) oversees 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.
OCA 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 permit 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 Permit is free of charge and is designed to provide preliminary information necessary to begin the process and should be completed and submitted for review. In addition to the permit, we require a certificate of liability insurance naming the City of New Haven as additional insured for a minimum amount of $1,000,000.
We work very closely with our residents and business, as well as other government agencies and offices. 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.
Your 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) 946-2391; E-Mail: blamb@newhavenct.net.
We are pleased that you are considering the City of New Haven as the location for your project, and we look forward to working with you to make it a most successful one.
