Posted on

A look back on the 2017 season.

Thank you for a great 2017 season!

Friends of Congress Square Park is dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and use of this important public space at the heart of Portland’s Arts District. We fulfill our mission through community-led creative placemaking, striving to meet our neighbor’s needs, aspirations and vision for the park.

In 2017, our In the Square season saw over 96 free public evening and weekend events hosted from May through October featuring live music, films, dance, theatre, yoga, circus, art interactions, and more. Plus, our weekly daytime activities happened again in 2017, featuring Tai Chi Chih/Qigong, Knitting, Crafternoons, and Games & Fun. Checkmates! chess brightened Saturday mornings, too.

We’re grateful to our many collaborators, including series partners like Portland Summer Films, West End Neighborhood Association, Portland Swing Project, and Portland Intown Contra Dance, and the many organizations and performers who brought their skills and diverse offerings to the Square. We have great appreciation for PM Salsa with Primo Cubano, Robin’s Zodiac Yoga, Portland Ovations, Pickwick Independent Press, Theater Ensemble of Color, Fenix Theatre Co., Make Music Portland, Waking Windows, Maine Academy of Music, Cast Aside Productions, Sparks Artist Collective, and the many, many others who brought us together with their art last season.

In addition to our programming, our colorful amenities and free Wi-Fi attracted visitors during other times of the day to read, eat, create, meet with friends, or relax in an urban oasis. Since its inception, FoCSP’s creative placemaking has drawn well over 80,000 estimated visitors to the park.

Our park stewards and volunteers generously gave their time and effort to ensure that the park stayed beautiful, safe, and lively throughout the whole season. More than 3,646 hours of volunteer time was invested last season.

Your generous contributions enabled us to present these free arts events & activities, as well as offer free WiFi, provide colorful public amenities, improve the plantings, and create a welcoming and beloved gathering place.

Funding for our 2017 season was also provided in part by critical investments by Diversified Communications, the Horizon Foundation, The Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, the Fisher Charitable Foundation, the Davis Family Foundation, the Maine Arts Commission, Old Bug Light Foundation, Davis Family Foundation, Elimina B. Sewall Foundation.

We couldn’t have had such a successful season without generous commitment from our performers and partners, stewards,  funders and sponsors, donors, audience members, and YOU – in all the ways you gave. We are so very appreciative to all of you!

See you in our 2018 season, which starts in May!

 

 

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

Posted on

Share your thoughts on the 2017 season!

From May through October 2017, FoCSP presented 196 free arts events & activities in collaboration with local artists and arts and educational organizations, drawing an estimated 14,500 people! Our diverse programming included a wide range of live music, such as salsa, swing, contemporary chamber, bluegrass, folk, Klezmer, hip hop, and African drumming, as well as theater, contra dances, Tai Chi Chih classes, classic films, an international calligraphy event, zodiac yoga, literary readings, a printmaking fair, knitting and coloring groups, chess and other games, a pumpkin carving event, and more.

So… how did we do?

We want to plan our 2018 event season with YOU in mind. What events and activities did you like the most?  What would you like to see more of? Less of? How did you hear about events?

Complete the quick, 3 minute survey below now to share your thoughts!

Thank you for sharing your voice and ensuring Congress Square Park continues to meet the needs of our community!

2017 End of Season Survey

What events and activities did YOU enjoy most? What worked and what didn't this past season? Thank you for helping to create an engaging public space!

    Check all that apply.

    check all that apply.

    Check all that apply
  • If "other", please tell us the types of events you'd enjoy seeing in the park.

  • Your opinion matters to us! Please let us know if you have any other feedback on the FoCSP sponsored events and activities.

  • Want to get involved?

    Are you interested in volunteering at an event or helping to organize events or activities? Give us your email and phone number and we'll be in touch!
Posted on

Welcome our new Executive Director!

 

Dela Taylor Murphy teaching dance (pc: RobynNicolePhoto.com)

 

Our Board of Directors is happy to announce that Dela Taylor Murphy has been hired as the new Executive Director of Friends of Congress Square Park. Dela joined the organization mid-July.

Murphy’s work has been focused on cultivating leadership and developing organizations in service of community engagement and high quality of life. She sits on the board of several arts and community focused nonprofits, including serving as Board President for Portland Intown Contra Dance, Board Secretary for Mayo Street Arts, and as an at-large member of the DownEast Friends of the Folk Arts. She is a founding Partner with Nuf Sed, a Portland-based consulting firm.

Dela’s background includes directing programs designed to develop leadership capacity and drive economic development for the state of Maine, collaborating on projects that have furthered Maine’s work in food security, cultural assets, and capacity for entrepreneurship, and working with both for- and non-profit organizations in management or consulting roles, leading communications efforts, coaching and facilitating, managing human resources, and enhancing organizational capacity.

She is trained in coaching through the Coaches Training Institute, studied Leadership and Organizational Studies through the University of Southern Maine, and studied experiential training and social change processes through various organizations including the Presencing Institute and Training for Change.

“Over the last several years, Friends of Congress Square Park has built a hub alive with neighborly connection, civic engagement, and diverse cultural expressions,” Murphy stated. “Their work has been an inspiration to many – and the park a beacon. As the organization looks toward an exciting future, I intend to focus on FoCSP’s mission, deepening our vital role as an inventive and generous public space through which the arts may be experienced by everyone and the citizens of Portland may meet and express themselves meaningfully.”

Murphy succeeds founding Executive Director Bree LaCasse, who remains on the board. LaCasse recently joined Community Housing of Maine to work for expanded affordable housing across Maine. Bree’s significant contributions to the organization were numerous. In the past 3 years, Bree organized nearly 200 events in 3 seasons, bringing over 30,000 participants to the park. She has played a pivotal role in the redesign process, including significant leadership as an advocate for the project. Additionally, she raised significant funds from foundations and spearheaded major corporate sponsorships and individual gifts, which resulted in strong reserves and a solid financial foundation. Through her leadership, FoCSP has fostered strong partnerships, a dedicated board and volunteer base, and become a well established and respected community non-profit. The board thanks Bree for her formidable contributions and wishes her the best!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

Posted on

2016 Annual Report

As we move into our 4th season, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable people who supported and contributed to making the park such a vibrant and welcoming community gathering place – our volunteers, programming partners, donors, funders and program sponsors. We LOVE our park family! THANK YOU!

Read the full report here!

 

Posted on

Schematic Design Presentation #3

Thank you to the 60+ people who attended the third and final schematic design public meeting with design firm WRT. We’re excited about the progress of the concept and hope you are too! Thank you for all the great feedback both at the meeting and online. The final schematic design, plus cost estimates will be submitted by WRT at the end of April. We hope to move into the next phase of the design – Design Development – later this summer.

You can view the full schematic design presentation here.

Thank you to our host, the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel!

Posted on

Welcome to the Newest Members of our Board of Directors and Advisory Board!

We are thrilled to welcome two new members extraordinaire to our Board of Directors — Alison Hildreth and Charlton Ames. Both Alison and Charlton have been at the heart of our success from the beginning and it’s a pleasure to finally make it official!

Charlton Ames is a former board president of The Maine Olmsted Alliance for Parks and Landscapes, The Portland Museum of Art, and the United Midcoast Charities. He is currently chairman of the board for Sea Run Holdings Inc., a Maine based biotechnology company that commercializes salmon proteins from the blood of farm raised salmon.

Alison Hildreth is an artist with a studio in the Congress Square neighborhood where she manages an artist studio building with 23 spaces. She has worked with students as a non-resident advisor in several different MFA programs and also Continuing Education courses. She currently serves on the Portland Public Art Committee. See her work @alisonhildreth.com.

 

We’re also thrilled to announce the uber talented Nat May and Addy Smith-Reiman have joined our Advisory Board to lend their talents as curators, community builders, and placemakers.

Nat May is an arts and non-profit consultant who served as the Executive Director of SPACE Gallery for over 13 years. He was also a founding member of the Bakery Photo Collective and has served on the board of Creative Portland and the Portland Arts and Culture Alliance. He has served as a founding member of Common Field, a nationwide network of contemporary, experimental and noncommercial visual art spaces, and as a founding board member at the Hewnoaks Artist Colony in Lovell. Nat was recently selected to curate the 2018 biennial exhibition of contemporary art at the Portland Museum of Art.

Addy Smith-Reiman holds a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning and a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. She is a certified planner, accredited organic land care professional, and Master Gardener. For over 15 years Addy has successfully engaged people with projects that celebrate local identity, shared histories and future use. She currently works as an independent consultant for transportation, open space and preservation planning projects, integrating research, design, civic engagement and long-term stewardship planning for successful projects that activate PLACE.

Welcome to the team Charlton, Alison, Nat and Addy!

Posted on

Open Call for 2017 Programming Ideas!

***The submissions period for 2017 is now closed. Thank you to all who applied!***

We’re excited to announce that our open call for In the Square programming submissions is live for the 2017 season!  We will accept submissions until midnight on Tuesday, January 31st. Please complete the form below to apply. 

If you have an idea for an event or activity in 2017, we want to hear from you! We’re looking to present a diverse mix of programming next year – from music, films and theatre to dances, engaging art interactions, and sing-alongs. They can be one-time only events, weekly activities or something in between. In February, our Programming Committee will review the submissions and select the line-up for FoCSP’s 2017 In The Square series which will run from May through October.  

Submissions will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • Event discipline: Our goal is to present a wide variety of events & activities during our season.
  • Target audience & engagement: We strive to reach varied audiences, increase engagement with the arts, and provide opportunities for discovery, play and expression.
  • Professionalism and ability to expand park users: We appreciate programming partners who can introduce their communities to our community through their own promotional channels.
  • Mix of emerging and established artists: From first time performer to seasoned performer, our goal is to foster and support local artists at all stages of their careers.

Please note: Congress Square Park is a public space, so if you prefer not to be sponsored by FoCSP under our In the Square event series, you are always welcome to apply for an event permit directly from the City of Portland Event Office at TVM@portlandmaine.gov. But, submitting an idea through our open call gives you the potential to be part of our event series and, if selected, to receive a stipend and be part of FoCSP’s event promotions.

Posted on

Additional Public Redesign Meetings Scheduled in January

Did you miss the December 15th redesign meeting? Not to worry!

Portland’s Urban Designer and CS Redesign Project Manager, Caitlin Cameron, will be presenting the WRT/Sarah Sze concept materials to the following city boards/committees in early January for feedback and review. All of the meetings are open to the public.  Join us!

  • Disability Advisory Committee: Wednesday, January 4, 11am (Room 24)
  • Historic Preservation Board: Wednesday, January 4, 6:45pm (Room 209)
  • Parks Commission: Thursday, January 5, 5:00pm (Room 24)
  • Bicycle Pedestrian Committee:  Monday, January 9, 5:30pm (Room 209)
  • Planning Board: Tuesday, January 10, 4:30pm (Council Chambers)
  • Land Bank Commission: Thursday, January 12, 5:00pm (Room 24)

Public feedback on the concept will be collected through January 15th here.  See full WRT/Sarah Sze Presentation here.

cs-vision-statement

cs-concept-image

Posted on

Concept Design Meeting & Request for Feedback

Over 100 people attended the latest public meeting of the Congress Square Redesign and Public Art Commission project held on December 15th at the Westin Hotel.  The design team, WRT and Sarah Sze studio, presented the latest iterations of the CS design and public art concepts and solicited feedback from attendees. You can view the full presentation here, or watch the CTN video of the meeting here.

The goal of the meeting was to determine if the concept is moving in the right direction and if it meets our community’s vision for the space, our needs for improved pedestrian circulation and accessibility, and our desired programs. You can read the full vision statement and program requirements here.

Based on past public visioning sessions, the desired “programs” to be accommodated in the new design are the following:

Desired Characteristics:

  • Pedestrian Priority (less car dominance)
  • Public and Open/Inviting, Accessible (all ages, abilities)
  • Neighborhood/Community space

Activities:

  • Access to Green Space/Natural Elements/Enjoying Outdoors
  • Food/Eating
  • Performances
  • Events (that activate the entire square ‐ First Friday Art Walk, Markets)
  • Play & Education (all ages)
  • Other day-to-day uses

Elements:

  • Seating (varied types/ conditions to accommodate dining, people‐watching, resting, reading, sun/shade)
  • landscaped spaces
  • water or natural play feature

This is YOUR park and we want YOUR feedback. Does the concept achieve our programming needs? Is it more accessible to people of all ages and physical abilities?  Is there improved pedestrian circulation throughout the square? Does the design accommodate our desired characteristics, activities, and elements? Is the space flexible enough?

The Project Team is soliciting comments until January 15th.  Please take a moment to complete the survey below and help us shape the future of Congress Square Park!

Concept Comments

  • Your favorites can include design elements as well as programming elements, such as the colorful amenities, planters, and events.
  • Please focus on design elements - materials, layout, sunken aspect, or lack of certain amenities.
  • The concept is still in early development and can still change. You are welcome to tell us that it needs to go in a completely different direction, or simply that certain aspects need to evolve to meet the community vision.
  • Is it easy to enter the park for people of all ages and physical abilities, i.e. strollers, wheelchairs, etc.
  • Is it easy for pedestrians to navigate the street crossings, traverse the park area, get from the PMA plaza to the park, etc.
    Check those elements you think are addressed well by the design concept.
  • Are there needs the concept does not address, or that are not correctly prioritized?

 

 

Posted on

How did we do? Take our quick event survey.

From May through October 2016, FoCSP presented 162 free arts events & activities, featuring 415 artists and performers, and drawing an estimated 13,500 people! FoCSP also collaborated with 23 local arts and educational organizations. Our diverse programming included a wide range of live music, such as salsa, swing, reggae, contemporary chamber, blue grass, and African drumming, as well as modern dance, contra dances, Shakespeare theater, kitten therapy, local short films, Tai Chi Chih classes, classic films, an international calligraphy event, zodiac yoga, literary readings, a printmaking fair, knitting and coloring groups, a pumpkin carving contest, and more.

As we plan our 2017 event season, we’re looking for feedback from park visitors on last year’s event season. What events and activities did you like the most?  What would you like to see more of? Less of? How did you hear about events?

Please take 3 minutes to complete our 2016 events & activities survey and help us continue to provide engaging programming for the entire community to enjoy!

    Check all that apply.

    Check all that apply
  • If "other", please tell us the types of events you'd enjoy seeing in the park.

    check all that apply.

  • Your opinion matters to us! Please let us know if you have any other feedback on the FoCSP sponsored events and activities.

  • Are you interested in volunteering at an event or helping to organize events or activities? If so, give us your email and phone number and we'll be in touch!
Posted on

The Gardening Team!

We’ve learned a lot over the past couple of seasons about the gardens at Congress Square Park – what works, what doesn’t – and want to give a round of appreciative recognition to those who have pitched in to install and care for the plantings. The list of dedicated volunteers from spring planting to fall clean-up includes Noni & Charlton Ames, Ashleigh Burskey, Rosanne & Steve Graef, Joan Grant, Christine Hey, Pandora & David LaCasse, Bree Lacasse & Chris Moore, Joan Grant, Pat O’Donnell, Karen Perry and Beth Streeter.

Some of the planting areas have been more successful than others and we’ll be concentrating on those conducive spots more next season. We’ve just put things to bed for the winter, but they’ll reawaken in May!

Over the next several months, we’ll also be working with renowned horticulturalist Patrick Cullina, a member of the CS design team, on the planting lists for the new redesign for Congress Square. Patrick will begin to discuss an initial plant list at the December 15th meeting of the CS Redesign and Public Art project. Join us from 5:30-7:30 at the Westin Hotel’s Longfellow room.

If  any of the gardening tasks of planting, weeding, watering, deadheading and general tidying up appeal to you, plan to join the gardening team in 2017 to help make a botanical splash at Congress Square Park!

Posted on

Redesign Public Open Houses

Help us shape the future design of this important public space at the heart of Portland! The design team WRT and artist Sarah Sze will be in Portland for a three-day Storefront Workshop to develop design concepts for Congress Square.

Please join us at any or all of the following public sessions:

Tuesday, October 4
Open House – Initial findings and approaches – Accessibility, Connectivity, Identity
5:00 – 8:00pm

Wednesday, October 5
(Please note Sarah Sze Studio will only be in attendance on Wed.)
Brown Bag Lunch with Artist Sarah Sze – meet the artist and share your perspective
12:00 – 1:00pm

Open House – Presentation of Design Work from Day 2
5:00 – 8:00pm

Thursday, October 6
Open House – Preliminary Concepts
5:00 – 8:00pm

Where: All sessions will be at Think Tank Coworking (533 Congress Street)

How can you participate: All open houses are free and open to the public – feedback will be taken with interaction sessions. Please spread the word to those you think might be interested!

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors: Think Tank Coworking, The Art Mart, Tandem Coffee + Bakery, OTTO Pizza, and Aurora Provisions!

Posted on

Storefront Design Charrette!

Save The Date!  The design firm WRT and artist Sarah Sze will be holding a 3-day design charrette from October 4th-6th in a storefront in the Congress Square neighborhood. A community open house will be held in the evening on each of the three days. (More details coming soon.)

We hope that you can join us at one or more of the community open houses to add your voice to the mix! This is a wonderful opportunity to provide your ideas to the designers as they begin the process of creating schematic concept designs for Congress Square.  There will be 2 additional public meetings announced later in 2016 and in early 2017 to provide feedback as the designs are further refined.

The goal of the redesign is to create a more accessible and pedestrian friendly urban square that encompasses the public spaces from the park over the the PMA and across High Street. The project team, consisting of the Portland Planning & Urban Development Department, Portland Public Art Committee, and Friends of Congress Square Park, has collected data over the past three years as we’ve implement programming in the space.  This information has all been provided to the designers and we will work closely with them to ensure that community use is at the core of the physical redesign.

Our goal is to enhance what is working today and to improve the physical aspects that are not. For example, we will keep the colorful movable furniture! We will strive to create a space that remains welcoming to everyone and flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of uses from reading a book or painting to larger community events like salsa dancing, sing-alongs, or kitten therapy.

But, there are physical elements that we need to address to make the entire square work even better for our community. For example, the park space is very challenging to enter for many of our neighbors with limited mobility, so we want to make it more accessible to everyone.  The trees and greenery are in raised concrete beds so it takes hours of volunteer time to keep them watered. Plus, have you noticed that you can’t sit in the shade of the trees because of their raised location?  The park looks great during the 6 months that our volunteers tend to the gardens and maintain the colorful tables, chairs and benches, but for the other 6 months out of the year, it is a large empty area with nowhere to sit. The intersection is currently confusing and dangerous for both cars and pedestrians. Some of these issues are currently mitigated by the Herculean efforts of our incredible volunteers, but to make the programming sustainable, we need to make their work lighter.

These are some of the design elements that we hope to improve through the redesign, while still keeping the vibrant energy and welcoming atmosphere that you have helped us to create.

In advance of the upcoming redesign, we’d like to hear from you about what you think works well and what could be improved.  Please take a moment to complete our redesign survey. 

Redesign Survey

Thank you for spending time in Congress Square Park! In advance of the redesign process, we want to know what you think works well and what can be improved.
  • Your favorites can include design elements as well as programming elements, such as the colorful amenities, planters, and events.
  • Please focus on design elements - materials, layout, sunken aspect, or lack of certain amenities.
  • Reminder: The redesign will include the entire Square - including the park, intersection and plazas in front of the Hay Building and the Portland Museum of Art. For example, making the Square more pedestrian friendly, or the park area more accessible for people with limited mobility, or better designed green infrastructure so you can sit in the shade of trees.
  • What NEW design elements would you like to see introduced in the redesign Square? What current design or programming elements would you like to see continue in the redesigned Square (such as the colorful furniture)?

 

Posted on

Sarah Sze selected as Congress Square Public Artist!

The Portland Public Art Committee announced the artist Sarah Sze was selected for the Congress Square Public Art Commission. Ms. Sze, originally from Boston and who has family ties in Maine, was chosen especially for her use of color, mixed materials and scale, expertise in both two and three-dimensional artwork, and her ability to create work that combines elements of intimacy and discovery. The selected artist’s work will include developing a concept for permanent public art to be sited in Congress Square in collaboration with WRT, the design team selected last month, who will create a concept for Congress Square as a whole. The artist fee for this project is $75,000 which comes from the Portland Public Art Committee budget.

“The Portland Public Art Committee is looking forward to bringing this outstanding, internationally known artist to Portland. We were impressed with Sarah Sze’s point of view, her ability to analyze the site, her collaborative spirit, and of course her creativity and aesthetic.” said Portland Public Art Committee member Pandora LaCasse.

The artist finalists came to Portland for interviews, a site walk, and presentations at a public forum earlier in August. The four finalists were (in alphabetical order):

Ned Kahn (Sebastopol, CA)
Patrick Marold (Denver, CO)
Matthew Ritchie (New York City, NY)
Sarah Sze (New York City, NY)

The selection process was run by a subcommittee convened for this project, the Congress Square Artist Selection Committee, comprised of representatives from the Portland Public Art Committee, Friends of Congress Square Park, Maine College of Art, Portland Museum of Art, and the local architecture community. The artists were evaluated based on five selection criteria: Relevant experience, Qualifications and record of artistic achievement, Demonstrated ability to coordinate and collaborate with the public and designers, Project understanding, and Artistic merit and aesthetic appropriateness for the project parameters. Public comment was also collected through a survey.

Visit the Congress Square project webpage via the link below for updates and links to information about the artist. Interest in the Congress Square Redesign project has been high because of the unique opportunity to combine urban design and public art to transform Congress Square into a welcoming, accessible public open space in the heart of the city with a focus on arts and performance.

The Congress Square Redesign project is a public/private partnership between the City of Portland, the Portland Public Art Committee, and the Friends of Congress Square Park. The City currently has funds to develop schematic level concepts for the Congress Square intersection and public artwork. The concepts developed by the winning design team and artist will be used to help raise public and private funding to implement the project.

Congress Square Redesign Project