Carousel Museum representative outlines exhibits, revives ACE Awards and seeks commission collaboration

Vicky Biondi, speaking on behalf of the Carousel Museum, asked the Bristol Arts & Culture Commission to support a series of upcoming exhibits and to help resurrect the ACE Awards, which the museum plans to present at a November gala dubbed the Stargazer Gala. "The ACE Awards ... we normally would open nominations publicly from July through September," Biondi said, adding that the museum board plans a VIP reception Friday night and will open the exhibit to the public free of charge the first weekend.

Biondi said the current museum board wants to re-emphasize carousel art as a community cultural asset, noting the museum’s proximity to the magnet school and the potential for school and festival partnerships. She offered to share programming details and requested commission representation on planning committees so the commission can help choose honorees and coordinate festival involvement.

Commissioners responded with questions about timing and logistics; one commissioner suggested including ACE Award announcements as part of the Month Festival. Biondi and others discussed using a festival booth to promote arts programming and suggested collaborating with local collectors and storefronts on an art trail to broaden public engagement.

The public-participation segment concluded with Biondi offering contact information and thanking the commission for their time. The commission did not take a formal vote on the ACE Awards at this meeting but directed staff and interested commissioners to follow up with Biondi and the museum on scheduling and roles.