Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • January 14, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 7 The new venture will allow the council — especially if other corpora- tions ask for similar services — to have significant influence on arts funding beyond its own dollars. Workplace funds Malloy says the council's arts advocacy and promotional role is an important one, too, especially when it goes directly into the workplace during its annual campaign. Workplace giving was instituted nearly 20 years ago to help offset the declining corporate contributions at the time. In the last six years, workplace giving remained stable, making up 24 percent of the council's budget while corporate giving declined from 40 percent to 33 percent of the budget. (The remainder of the budget comes from a mix of sources, includ- ing foundation support, govern- ment, fundraising events and indi- vidual donations.) "When we go into the work- place it's not just to raise money from employees but to expose these individuals who work and live in the city to arts groups they would might not otherwise be familiar," Malloy said. "Our job is also to expose the wealth of arts to those who live and work here." But no matter how much — or how little — is raised, Malloy says she real- izes the importance of "unrestricted" grants to arts organizations. This money is usually directed at such basic operational expenses as paying the electricity, telephone, gas and insur- ance bills. It's one of the least sexiest categories for philanthropic giving — though one of the most important. One of the positive signs that Mal- loy sees is "that Hartford is on the uptick." She points to the presence of UConn, Stanley Black & Decker's downtown tech center, the re-open- ing of the Goodwin Hotel, the i-Quilt, new restaurants, increased hous- ing "and, overall, more people on the streets." "I feel good about 2019 in a sense that the city is moving forward," says Malloy. "We'll see what the new governor does in regard to cul- ture, along with the new com- missioner for the Department of Economic and Community Development." When asked what keeps her up at night she answered in two words: "Raising money. That's what we live and breathe to do here: Support the arts." PDS has been meeting the needs of the construction industry since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfi eld, CT 06002 | (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS SPOTLIGHT ON: M PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD The new DPW facility for the Town of Wallingford is a 10,740 square foot pre-engineered metal building. The project included 10 truck bays with overhead doors, 4' high concrete kicker wall, clear span, offi ce space, lockers, restrooms, training room, mechanical room, tool storage/testing space, wash down bay with a gear wash area and a mezzanine. Total Project Size: 10,740 SF Wallingford Truck Storage Facility | Wallingford, CT HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | 860.236.9998 ADVERTISING@HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM DRIVING YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH OUR GROWING DIGITAL TRAFFIC Limited E-news and website advertising opportunities available. Don't miss your chance, advertise today! Advertising@hartfordbusiness.com Hartford Stage names first female artistic director H artford Stage has tapped an award-winning director as its new artistic leader. The Church Street-based perform- ing-arts theater named Melia Bensus- sen its sixth artistic director effec- tive in June. She will succeed Darko Tresnjak, who served the role for eight years. Bensussen has been direct- ing numerous productions since 1984 at venues that include: New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre, Huntington Theatre Co., Sleeping Weazel, Shake- speare & Co., Actors' Shakespeare Project, La Jolla Playhouse, Balti- more Center Stage and the New York Shakespeare Festival, among others. Bensussen has won several awards during her career, including the Obie Award in 1999 for her production of "The Turn of the Screw." She currently serves on commis- sions and productions at Boston's Huntington Theatre Co. and ArtsEmer- son. She is also working with several notable playwrights including Kirsten Greenidge, Melina Lopez, Jeffrey Hatcher, Masha Obolensky and others. Bensussen chairs the arts advi- sory board for the Princess Grace Foundation and the performing-arts department at Emerson College. Bensussen is also on the Stage Direc- tors and Choreographers Society's executive board. Raised in Mexico City, she is fluent in Spanish and has translated and adapted several texts for productions. Meantime, Hartford Stage is also in search of a managing director. Outgoing Managing Director Michael Stotts, the theater's lead executive since 2006, in October an- nounced he would step down Jan. 25, after accepting a similar position in his home state of New Jersey. Melia Bensussen, Artistic Director, Hartford Stage "When we go into the workplace it's not just to raise money from employees but to expose these individuals who work and live in the city to arts groups they would might not otherwise be familiar." Cathy Malloy , CEO, Greater Hartford Arts Council

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