 For everyone, I am James Milan. Welcome to this special edition of Talk of the Town. It's special why because we get to do an ACA update, ACA, Arlington Center for the Arts. One of the major institutions in town and a partner of ours who we get to check in with regularly throughout the year. We're delighted to do so. We are very appreciative of being able to get out of our own digs and come and see what's going on at ACA. I am joined by Tom Formicola, the Executive Director of the ACA and the Operations Manager, Pam Shandley. How are you both? Very well. Good to be here. Thanks for having us. I hope so. It has been a little while actually. Good to have you here. We are delighted. So this is the first of, we hope, many to come visits to your space. And we will talk about what we can see around us shortly. But these updates follow the same kind of, it's not a formula, but we have our model. We want to know if there's anything you want to share from things that have happened before. Since we last spoke, I would welcome you to do so. I hadn't prepared you for that. So if not, we can just move right into what people can anticipate moving forward. How could I not mention 12 long weeks of camp, 12 long, wonderful weeks of camp. Yes, of course. You forgot that. Essentials. We had a great year. We served almost 1,300 campers this year, which is like, those are record numbers for us I think. And we had a great group of teachers and a fabulous group of counselors, many of them teens from the local high school. And we trained some interns who are going to come up back to us hopefully and be interns in future camp programs. And just great interactions with kids and their families and just so proud of that work and all that we did to make that happen and to provide opportunities for kids to create and to share. Yeah, I have to say I was back and forth by this building on a number of occasions throughout the summer. And man, there were kids everywhere. Yeah, there were kids everywhere. All right, so that's an excellent summation of the most, well not the most important, but an impactful last recent thing you did. And we hosted a jug band festival at the Arlington Beer Garden on September 30th. That was a great big success despite the gray weather. It didn't rain. We were biting our bottom lips and holding our breath and crossing our fingers. But it didn't rain. And like there were between by all accounts, 300 and 400 people with us that day that came to here, three great bands and Pam led a DIY instrument making workshop. And then the kids that made those instruments got to to play them as part of a jam session with professional musicians and shakers. Yeah, I mean, I only caught the last hour and a half of it, but it was packed. Yeah, it was great. You know, the beer gardens are popular thing, but combining those two was just absolute magic. Yeah. The music was really good. Friends of not only grill and American beverage and the Arlington Historical Society for making that possible was a great partnership. We loved working with them. All right, let's talk about what what is coming up or what is going on right now. Feel free to jump in. I will say we are in the midst of our fall term. We started in mid September and it's going great guns and we our enrollment is building term after term. It's it's so great to see. We have every term. It seems like we have more students than the term before and we've been running more classes and you know, it's fabulous. This term will run through about the middle of December and there are opportunities for folks to participate in multi session classes as well as, you know, one day workshops. There are a couple of two session classes as well. And you know, people sometimes think, oh, I missed the registration deadline. All the classes start in September. Not true. The class is always starting and we have a bunch of I brought a cheat sheet with me because I don't want to forget anything. Of course you need a cheat sheet with all the stuff we talk about. Lots of stuff happening through November. We have a natural dying that's going to dive into like history as well as practice. We have a linoleum printmaking class that I just realized this morning. I guess I guess I didn't read my catalog closely enough. I'm super excited about the memoir writing class that we have that's coming up. It takes its inspiration from food and identity. And so folks that are really interested in food and that's a rich story to tell. Yeah. So I'm really hoping the registration for that is is robust. We have a favorite music appreciation class that's starting up in November. And we're looking at Russian composers this term. Dottie Burstein is the teacher. She's always fabulous. Her students love her and we see her, you know, year after year. And then there's embroidery. We have drawing dragons for the kids. I got to say, it's, you know, just even as you guys have described a few, a sampling of the offerings that that are available, just the breadth of the expansiveness by which you see center for the arts. Man, there's just that that gives you plenty of space in which to work. And boy, you guys are plumbing a lot of those different corners. I got to say. And we're gifted that we have so many talented teachers as well. Yeah. So let me ask you about the classes. Is is the enrollment for those kind of every everyone from eight to 80? Yeah. In general, actually, it might be like six to 80. So there are are there classes that are specifically like in each term, are there classes specifically intended for kids? You mentioned one. Yes. So for our adult classes, if you're 16, you're old enough to register for an adult class. And that's to make room for like some more serious art students that might be on the younger side. And and we have after school programs that are particularly designated for children and programs that are specifically designated for teenagers so that they're in groups with their peers. And we've been doing a team clubhouse on Friday night for years. That's fabulous and always like a favorite of ours. But also like, you know, we generally find that if there are some teenagers that find their way to that opportunity, that they participate in it term after term after term, which is just a joy to see. Yeah, there really are an awful lot of things that you guys do of all sorts, not just providing education, but this educational piece. I'm not sure if people are well enough aware of just how many courses are offered through the course of a year. And of course, how easy it is to get here and do that. Yeah. And of course, like, you know, we run on two issues and so folks will pay two issues for those programs. But we do a lot of free programs through the year. And it's not it's not on my cheat sheet because I forgot to put it on there. But we're also going to be recruiting any day now if we haven't started already for our Teen Artists on the Issues series, which I've talked to you about absolutely. And every year that theme changes. But that's a free opportunity. We don't want there to be barriers to participation. We want involvement by young people who have something to say and are looking for a creative way to say it. And this year we're doing spoken word poetry. And so it's a 10 week program. It's free by application. And we're looking to collect a diverse group of teens who are really ready and interested in grappling in issues that they really care about and finding expressive ways to creative ways to express them and also to engage with the general public in discussion about those very issues. So we're we're in process with that. My recollection is that that will happen. Is it in the spring? So we've moved it. OK. So that program this year is going to run from late November through early March because we heard from our teenagers and from their families that like the late spring is just so chock full of other things that it's hard to make the commitment that you need to make in order to be able to see that program through. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think that that's a great move on on your guys part in that way because I do think that I love the structure. We've talked about it before this combination of you finding a different artistic medium in which to operate each time and a different set of issues on which to concentrate. But always providing enough support and enough time for the kids to actually get something done and to get to know each other and feel comfortable with each other to be able to like sort of talk about those issues straightforwardly and honestly. And I'm glad that since it wasn't on your cheat sheet and everything that that given that it's going to be starting in November this year. That was the time to be talking about. So I'm glad you mentioned that. All right. Let's what's next. I should mention that our winter term will start in January that the catalog comes out in just a couple of weeks. And it will include our February and April Vacation Arts Camp programs. So by mid-November people should be able to begin to register for programming in the new year. What's next? Are we all done? No, I don't think so. We're going to talk about that next. Do you want to talk about it a little bit? Well, no, you can talk about it, Tom. You're the leader. But it's a future illustrator. Yeah, which is our current exhibit. It just went up on the walls. Yes. It is with us through January. This folks can see this behind me, right? This is actually a film that we've just sort of paused so it doesn't make everybody's eyes. That's right. It works much better as a still. Yes, but it's fabulous. And and the artist is Allison Power. And we're so proud of the show when we're so proud of all the work that's being presented in it. And so I really encourage people to come in. And you know, and I wanted to say to because, you know, it's future illustrated. And, you know, because of the genre a little bit, you know, I think some folks have this idea that it was going to be a big downer, like, you know, right? Given, yes, given the obvious, given everything. And I'm happy to say that it balances. I mean, it doesn't ignore anxieties, but it balances anxieties with hope. I think that that's great. And it reminds me of I'm not sure if you guys had a role in the climate futures, you know, that is all over town. But again, that was kids looking at the future in a certain way. And I my expectation was that that was going to be quite doom laden in many ways. And it was really balanced between things that we do need to be worried about and do something now and other things that's, you know, that clearly recognized that there's optimism is warranted. Yeah, we didn't have anything to do with that. I can't take credit for that. But Cecily Miller, who does great work, was really at the helm. And I don't remember who the artist was, but it was a great project. It was. And we don't need to be talking about somebody else's project by any means. But they do great work, too. They do great work. And, you know, the point is simply that as you're looking towards the future, it's just a great point that you made, which is, yes, we may all be feeling or we may we may be tempted to to ascribe our own feelings of concern and anxiety, project that on to others. But we need to remember, hopefully, younger people are feeling, you know, all so hopeful about things and all of us can use a dose of of the good stuff. Yeah. All right. So that's that is going on now. Anything else that's going on now or are we so I think that you know that we have just published our strategic plan and it's available on the website for folks to go take a look at whenever they'd like. And we're super excited about it. We've spent actually more than a year developing it. And there was a committee made up of both board representatives and staff representatives. And then there was lots of opportunity for board and staff to, you know, interact with that committee throughout the process. And lots of input as well through surveys and interviews and focus group sessions with various community members, including like, you know, people who take advantage of our programs and our, you know, peers that are doing this kind of work in other settings and and partners that we work with throughout the year. So we really took our time and and really had a super thoughtful process that was really gratifying every step of the way. The plan is is is really about sort of shoring ourselves up financially and and building our capacity and deepening our program. So a lot of it is about infrastructure. A lot of it is about like making sure that we are running a sustainable organization that that we can be confident has a place on the future cultural landscape of our town. And while we're doing that, we want to make sure that our relationships are are growing and expanding and that we're listening to the community. And there's a priority for inclusion. And so we really want to be sure that we are reaching out in meaningful ways to communities that are underserved or underrepresented and making sure that they know that they are welcome here and making sure that there are things here that they are interested and want to be engaged in. And the only way to do that is not to guess, but like, you know, develop relationships with those communities and and and mutually. You know, build something. Yeah, I mean, it sounds ambitious as a strategic plan should be in many ways. But definitely important important work, especially this idea of expanding the reach of the ACA to people who may not know, people who may not feel included at the moment, but who you want to include, et cetera. It sounds like a project that will take five years. Dedication. It's a roadmap for five years. Right, right. And there's a lot of work to be done attached to it, of course. But that sounds like the right vision. I'm sure it took like you said, you took your time and you hammered it out, you know, it feels right. And it's, you know, it's ultimately about creating a space that, you know, where it's possible to explore the arts and to make something and to share it with others. And we want everybody to be a part of that. But it's also we're we're continuing that strategic plan. And right in our we're thinking about what we're doing more strategically and how does it fit with our goal and moving forward? I mean, it's super interesting. You know, I actually don't have direct experience with the strategic plan before and I wasn't skeptical, but I had some healthy bit of skepticism about how it would like impact our like day to day operations. And I have to say, like I have been surprised a little bit, but really happy to report that I reference the strategic plan nearly every day. And it, you know, it does focus us. It reminds us like what our priorities are. And it helps me to like it helps me to fundraise. It helps me to communicate about what we were doing and provide a context for what we're doing and why we're doing it. And, you know, that's it's super exciting. I mean, right down to like, you know, building an agenda for a board meeting or a staff meeting, like, you know, we have a lens, a new lens for looking at a lot of things that we've been doing all along, but we're understanding better how they fit into the big picture of what we do. And people, I'm sure your organization is is very similar to ours and many others in this way. If people understand what the priorities are, then it makes it much easier for them to make the decisions that you don't want them having to turn to you or to you every time to make. Yeah. And we all need reminding of the priorities. I mean, there's always going to be competing priorities. Exactly. And so we all need to be reminded about what we've committed ourselves to. Yeah. So, you know, again, as I've said about other things, I'm, you know, I sound like a cheerleader for the ACA, don't I? Well, I kind of am. But I think that that sounds very promising. It really does. It also sounds like a lot of work has been done already because as you describe it in a couple of sentences, there's no way for people to understand just the sheer amount of time and listening to each other and working through things that you don't necessarily agree. All that is part of this strategic plan process that is invisible to the rest of us. But, you know, I've been through a couple, as you can probably tell. And again, it's it's it's it's quite an investment of time and energy collectively. And so I'm glad to hear it. So I hope people will take the time to go read that plan. And if they're really excited about it, I'm hoping that they'll take another step, which is we're in board recruitment season right now. And so we're looking actively looking for new board members. And there is some information about board membership on the website. And there's also an application for folks to fill out that just asks them essentially, like, you know, why they're interested and what they like about the ACA and if they've been engaged before. And, you know, that's meant to just sort of open up a conversation about, you know, what board membership might mean for them. And whether we're, you know, a good match, you know, I always say to folks that like filling out that application saying you want to have a conversation isn't like, you know, signing, you know, on the bottom line. It's an opportunity to explore the possibility. And and so I would encourage folks to explore the possibility with us. We're taking applications through November 15th and we hope to elect a slate of new board members, probably three to five folks at our annual meeting, which I think is on December 13th. OK, which is a Wednesday, which is a Wednesday. So it is a step by step process or a multi step process. And this is step one for folks. That's what they should understand. Yeah. That's right. OK, great. I don't want to short change you, Tom, but we've got about 10 minutes left. Or so I want to make sure that young Miss Shanley here gets her full. So I'm going to talk about Arlington Open Studios. This is our 25th year and we have over 75 artists at two different locations Town Hall and here in this building at 20 Academy. So that's sort of the overview and I'm going to drill down into more specifics at Town Hall. We have Tom, you've done a lot of work on this so you can pick up the baton and talk a little bit about music on the steps. Yep. So we're working for the second year with Tino D'Agostino, who's a board member of the ACI, I'm proud to say. And he's bringing his band, Spajazi, to play a set. And there are also going to be some student musicians from the high school playing some sets throughout the day on the steps of Town Hall, whether permitting. Well, and people may know Tino's name because, you know, he's he's involved with a lot of stuff here in town. But he is that he is a prominent member of the music department at the high school. I believe it was director of instrumental music. There you go. He's the director of instrumental music and responsible for a whole lot of good experiences on the students parts and on the audience part. Back to you, Pam. So so you've come into Town Hall, you've heard the music, you entered the building, there's about 35 artists on the ground floor and they range from woodworking, ceramics, jewelry, a lot of fiber artists this year, more than ever, as I recall. And painting. There's a wonderful embroidery artist that we have. All that will be a Town Hall on the ground floor. And then a short walk upstairs or an elevator ride. There'll be another 10 or 12 artists. Black Joy exhibit will be going on three artists for that. And then we'll have a photographer, again, another jeweler, paper sculptor, which is a really wonderful artist quilter. So wide range, but be sure to go upstairs. And then it's a short walk, not even a block, to come up here to 20 Academy, this beautiful building. And we will have Harvard, Alpaca Ranch outside 20 Academy. What? Just a little tent. I'm super excited about the Alpacas. The Alpaca Ranch? They're going to bring Alpacas. Pretty sure they're not. And I'm telling the town that they're not. So we're hoping they're not. But they. You're a big Alpaca. But they're out in Harvard Mass and they have an Alpaca farm and they're going to bring raw wool that they get from their Alpacas. And also some products that they've made hats and mittens and other things because they were very enthusiastic about being outside. So I assume they're going to be wearing their wares, right, demonstrating how well they work. So that's how we'll be greeted at 20 Academy and you come in there and then we'll have another about 30 plus artists on that floor. And the range there is just as diverse as a town hall. We've got metal works or collage. Some of you does these wonderful stones that are all painted like mandalas and some. We have about 15 to 20 new artists for Open Studios. We have a lot of returning artists, which, you know, worms are hard because they like us enough to come back. But and 15 and 20 to 20 new ones as well. Wow. So the sad thing is this year we were we listened to our artists and we limited to the town hall and the community center on the on the ground floor where it gets the most traffic and we and that's where we limited. So we had a few less slots than I would like to. But we had more artists than ever submitting, which was kind of ironic. So you'll have those artists, Open Studio artists on that on the first floor of the community center, then take a short elevator right up or climb the stairs like Tom and I do every day and to the third floor, which is really the home for ACA and we'll be having this gallery exhibit and in it will be our poets. Steve Ratina and Jean Flanagan have a gather a bunch of wonderful poets to read. And that'll be going on in the afternoon in the morning. Margaret Moody, who's one of our studio artists, will be doing puppet shows early morning to early afternoon. And then if you walk down the hall, we have a nature photographer, Rick Ulick, who's also a member of the Mystic River Watershed Association. And he is a wonderful wildlife photographer and captures these animals. He sits in the woods for hours to capture this. So it's it's a beautiful exhibit and he was here last year and he's got new additions to what he did. And then the Mystic will be open and they'll be having sort of an open house. And as you travel down the hallway, you can peek into our ceramic studio and we'll be having demos all day. So just drop in and peek and see what's going on. And I believe that covers all the action. How many artists altogether? About over 75, about 78. Wow. Yeah. And and we had 2,000 people come visit us last year. So we're expecting about the same again this year, maybe even a few more. I have to mention that like this is a great big project and the work starts for this in the spring. And and Pam is does amazing work all like all summer long in the midst of camp. And we would be remiss if we didn't mention our colleague. And I mean, she does an amazing job with all the art. She gathers their images and she puts them into little folders, digital folders, and that can all be viewed on our website. So people can prepare for for coming in, you know, exactly. You can get a pretty little context of what's to come and then kind of make a beeline for the artists that you're right. And then along the way, you might see people like that. Exactly. No, the joy that you might have. Oh, and then of course, Tom worked with to get all the music lined up because you're right up your alley. And then we also have Michael and Kat and Delia who just like support and because there's a million pieces that go on. This is a huge undertaking. We, you know, we do understand that. And it does seem like a really good problem. I mean, nonetheless sad, as you mentioned, that some artists that you'd like to include, you just didn't have space for. But it's a good problem to have, in a sense. And I have to say that people do, you know, this is one of those, you know, I don't know what you call like red letter days on the calendar for for folks and the on their the beginning of the holiday calendar because I got to say in my own household, as I mentioned to you, our weekend plans are our weekend travel plans have been altered to accommodate being able to go to the open studio. So and I would be remiss to say that this year, because of Veterans Day Falls on Saturday, we didn't want to. We didn't want to do it. We want to show respect for the vets. And so we're doing it on Sunday, which is the first time we've ever done it on a Sunday, which happens to work well for our travel plan. So I appreciate that. But I guess they're celebrating it on Friday. But I guess people have Friday off. So it's Friday, Saturday, Sunday, but we're at the end of the weekend. So you can go and have fun, travel, whatever and then come back to open studios, which runs from eleven to five Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. Yeah, no, that's important to remind people. It's definitely a difference. But again, I appreciate the timing for that this year. Anything else you want to add? I think I've covered it. Look for this beautiful brochure. It's got features all of the current artists. And it's again, Annalise made this and it's beautiful. And those people will be able to see those all over town, I would imagine. And be reminded if they need to. We're looking for volunteers to help put these posters up. We're also looking for volunteers the day of open studios. It could be a leader, cheerleader, whatever. But it's a really important because we found that having folks there to show people which door to enter. Sometimes these buildings as beautiful and historic as they are are a wee bit of a maze to go through. So we'd like to have somebody at each door kind of like, yes, you're here. Yeah, and I have to say, you know, if you if if the idea of taking that first step towards board membership is just a little too much for you at the moment, well, there's at least volunteer opportunities that are smaller. You want to come work for us, James? I think I am now that I think about it. So it is always a distinct pleasure to talk with you both. And I appreciate it. Pleasure back at you. We really do. I have been speaking with Pam Shanley, the operations manager. And I'm sorry, the operations director, excuse me. Who knows, right? I know you guys are all caught up in your titles. And Tom Formicola, the executive director of the Arlington Center for the Arts for this ACA update as part of our talk of the town. I'm James Milan. We really appreciate Tom's time and Pam's time. We wish them good luck with all of the activities they have in front of them. And we expect to see you guys out there for one or more for talk of the town. Appreciate you joining us. We'll see you next time.