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Commissioners propose making Music Ambassador a performance platform; staff nominates local musician
Summary
Members moved to make the Music Ambassador award a substantive platform for local musicians, discussing honoraria, a possible slot at the fireworks festival, promotion via on-hold phone music and local radio, and an inaugural nomination of Brian Titus.
Members of the Middletown Arts Commission proposed turning the Music Ambassador honor into an active performance platform that gives a local musician visible opportunities and promotion rather than a symbolic award.
Staff described the current award as hollow and urged concrete duties: "The Music Ambassador is to be someone from Middletown," a staff member said while proposing the role include live sets and event appearances so the honoree can showcase original music. The staff member added that the current practice of giving a recorded track to play on hold and nothing more leaves the role underused: "There's really... nothing. It's hollow," they said.
Why it matters: commissioners emphasized that giving the ambassador a public stage will provide local artists meaningful exposure and help demonstrate the arts' economic and cultural value to the community. Suggestions included reserving the fireworks festival performance slot for the ambassador, working with the mayor's office and council to secure regular event placements, and offering an honorarium to compensate time and travel.
A staff nomination and next steps: the staff member recommended local performer Brian Titus as a candidate for the inaugural ambassador, citing his regional experience and local profile. Commissioners agreed to develop program details and bring a formal proposal back at the next meeting for action.
Closing: no final appointment was made at this meeting; commissioners directed staff to prepare a concrete proposal, including logistics and a proposed honorarium, for a future vote.
