 |
Phyllis Cortese
Executive Director
Charles Ives Center for the Arts |
| Address: |
University Boulevard
Danbury, CT |
| Phone: |
(203) 837-9226 |
| Website: |
Ives Concert Park |
Agendas & Minutes:
Listing files in 'Charles Ives Center for the Arts'
Description
The spotlight shines on The Ives Concert Park as a unique arts experience within a natural environment. The outdoor amphitheater with a seating capacity of 5,000, is situated on 40 wooded acres with a pond, breath-taking gardens, and public hiking trails, the Ives Concert Park takes great pride in being located on the Westside campus of Western Connecticut State University.
As a nationally recognized center for the arts, and the areas only major outdoor venue devoted to live entertainment, The Ives features celebrity performances as well as Fine Arts and Family Festivals. The Concert Park is named in honor of Danbury native Charles Edward Ives (1874 – 1954), one of America’s greatest music composers.
The Concert Park hosts a variety of world-renowned international, national, regional and local artists. The Ives is a tremendous resource for our community, initiating economic development for local businesses, as well as establishing corporate stakeholder partnerships that assist in underwriting the costs of performances, thus allowing affordable access to acclaimed artistic performances. With over 30,000 guests attending events each year, the Ives Concert Park boosts tourism and is an asset in attracting consumers, new residents and businesses to the greater Danbury area.
Successes
The Ives values its partnership with the City of Danbury and WCSU who both recognize the value of this exceptional facility and the many benefits it provides. The Ives is proud of its contributions to enhancing the quality of life of our citizens as well as its attraction to students who participate in world-class productions right in our own backyard.
The Ives also supports local social service agencies through its Project Outreach program which brings exposure to the arts to underserved populations, while building future generations of audiences with an appreciation for the arts.
The Ives Concert Park is extremely fortunate to receive generous contributions throughout the year from many sponsors and donors as well as in-kind contributions of goods and services. A special thank you to Union Savings Bank, the Park’s major corporate stakeholder, for their Title Sponsorship commitment of four years, and continued support from many of the Park’s major sponsors, such as Branson, Charter Communications, Goodrich Corporation, Savings Bank of Danbury, Danbury Cultural Commission, Newtown Savings Bank, Jacobs Creek, the City of Danbury and WCSU.
For the 2008 Summer Season the Park was excited to present Melissa Etheridge, Lyle Lovett, The Beach Boys, Moe, Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons, Ani DeFranco, Gov’t Mule, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shalamazoo, Puppetpalooza, Community Ethnic Festivals, and our Annual Family Fair, a multi cultural celebration of the arts featuring The Ives Festival Orchestra and The Connecticut Ballet.
The Ives Authority boasts a motivated, energized team of fiscally responsible community leaders who serve on our Board of Directors. The passion of these individuals accelerates their vigorous commitment to sustaining a growing momentum, and the significant steps it takes to enhance the cultural enrichment in our region!!!