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Middletown arts committee selects Kate Tenayke and Ecclesia Ballet for 2024 Arts Advocacy Awards
Summary
At an executive-session meeting, the Middletown Arts Commission executive committee voted unanimously to present the 2024 Arts Advocacy Award to individual artist Kate Tenayke and to the organization Ecclesia Ballet, and agreed to replace a mayoral proclamation with a physical trophy to simplify logistics.
Chair Anthony called the executive session of the Middletown Arts Commission (MCA) to order and the committee unanimously approved a motion to award the 2024 Arts Advocacy Award to Kate Tenayke and to Ecclesia Ballet.
The decision followed Keisha’s presentation of a spreadsheet of 14 nominations and her recommendation to move from a mayoral proclamation to a tangible trophy to reduce lead times and administrative burden. "When you do a proclamation...you have to have this information a month in advance," Keisha said, arguing a physical trophy would allow the commission to act more quickly.
Commissioners discussed how to reflect community support when an individual and an organization are both recognized. "Kate was the catalyst and the organizer, but the contributing artists need to be recognized," David said, and the committee agreed to name Tenayke on the trophy while acknowledging the wider community and Mosaic(s) on Main in remarks.
The committee voted on a motion offered by Chair Anthony (moved from the floor) to award Kate Tenayke (individual) and Ecclesia Ballet (organization) for 2024; Siri seconded. The committee recorded the vote as unanimous and instructed staff to note the winners in the meeting minutes and proceed with logistical plans for an award presentation timed to the next regular meeting window (the commission’s regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23).
Keisha said she would record the names in the minutes and work with staff on how the award would be inscribed and presented. Commissioners discussed acknowledging the broader group of artists who supported Tenayke’s work in the award remarks.
The committee’s move from proclamation to trophy was presented as a practical measure to reduce dependence on mayoral-office lead time and to allow the MCA to stage a stand-alone award ceremony. The committee closed the item and moved on to grant application scheduling later in the meeting.
