OCTOBER 1, 2024 — SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
A LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP
Dear Friends,
This year marked a remarkable milestone—our 30th Festival! Our Pearl Anniversary, and what a year it was. For three decades, Arts & Ideas has brought people together to experience the groundbreaking power of the arts, exchange bold ideas, and celebrate the diversity and richness of New Haven.
The 2025 Festival was a vibrant testament to that legacy. Even though today, we face countless irritants and forces that seek to divide us, it is through connection to our communities and each other that we turned frustration and pain into pearls.
This year’s Festival featured more than 150 programs across music, circus, tours, stories, theater, and more. We were proud to partner with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and Yale Schwarzman Center on Huang Ruo’s City of Floating Sounds , a breathtaking experience that transformed the city into a living, listening instrument converging at the Green in a unique tapestry of sound. We welcomed Grammy Nominated jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman back to New Haven with an unforgettable performance. We laughed and reflected with A Broken Umbrella Theatre and their imaginative new work Family Business: (A)Pizza Play, inspired by the real stories of New Haven apizza pioneers. We were delighted to present renowned French chef and author, Jacques Pépin, for an illuminating conversation, and to partner with Sanctuary Kitchen to share food that reflected the spirit of community and cultural exchange. We kicked off our IDEAS summit with a Theatre as Resistance panel featuring Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok as a keynote speaker. And we reveled in the bold, genre-defying spectacle of SQUONK’S Brouhaha
We are so deeply grateful to the people who make this possible—our generous supporters, our devoted staff, and board. Your belief in the Festival and in each other sustained us through a year of both celebration and transition. Even as we navigate a world filled with challenges and change, and as our organization evolves through new forms of shared leadership, one thing remains constant: the power of art and dialogue to bridge divides, inspire empathy, and reveal our shared humanity.
Thank you for standing with us through this milestone year, and for ensuring that the Festival continues to be a beacon of belonging and imagination for generations to come.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Risë Nelson
Risë Nelson Co-Chair of the Board
Bobby DellaCamera Associate Director of Development
Annie Lin Co-Chair of the Board
Melissa Huber Managing Director
ABOUT ARTS & IDEAS
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is a yearround organization that presents an annual celebration of performing arts, lectures, and conversations in New Haven, Connecticut. The Festival convenes leading artists, thought leaders, and innovators from around the world for dynamic public programs to engage, entertain, and inspire a diversity of communities. In 2025, more than 80% of Festival programming was free to the public, including events that feature some of the most influential musical, circus, and theater artists and speakers of our time.
We seek to attract and engage a broad and diverse audience, celebrating and building community and advancing economic development.
As a longtime Connecticut resident, I find that New Haven Arts & Ideas is hands down the best arts event that goes on in Connecticut every year.
— Dan Iacovella, Galvan Foundation
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the unceded lands of the Quinnipiac. While we honor the culture and history of these nations, we also acknowledge that Native people are contemporary artists, writers, scholars, neighbors, and relatives with whom we must be in relationship to live our values fully.
Visit native-land.ca to learn more.
CULTURAL EQUITY COMMITMENT
We acknowledge that the work of racial and cultural equity in the arts is active work. We commit to acknowledging missteps, to reviewing and changing policies, to actively diversifying our board and staff, and to empowering and supporting the leadership of Black and Brown colleagues. We will partner with artists in the global majority to create spaces of truth, joy, and connection.
Learn more at ARTIDEA.ORG/AccountabilityProcess
FESTIVAL 2025: 30TH ANNIVERSARY
“From the resistance of the mollusk, a precious jewel is formed.”
“This year marked the 30th Anniversary of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas—our Pearl Anniversary. Reflecting on three decades of bringing artists, visionaries, and communities together, it’s easy to see the Festival as a pearl. Like a precious jewel, we’ve transformed New Haven into a stage for bold ideas and unforgettable performances. But as I thought more about who we are and what we bring to the world, I realized that we’re not just the pearl—we’re the mollusk. A pearl forms when an irritant disturbs a mollusk, and its defense over time forms a precious jewel.
Today, we face countless irritants, forces that seek to divide us. But we resist. We resist by gathering each year for a Festival that fosters creativity, celebrates joy, and explores new possibilities. Through connection, we turn frustration and pain into pearls. Thank you for joining us as we celebrated 30 years of resilience, creativity, and community—let’s continue to make some pearls together!”
— REV. KEVIN EWING Former Interim Executive Director
BIG READ
Our 2025 Big Read at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas celebrated Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury with indepth book discussions, writing workshops, stories of science fiction, and film screenings. More than 100 people engaged with Arts & Ideas and partnering organizations, anchored by lead partner the New Haven Free Public Library. Over 1,100 copies of Fahrenheit 451 were distributed for FREE during this program, which not only expanded our reach across New Haven County, but also resulted in new partnerships.
FILM
Our 2025 Film Series celebrated the art of storytelling through cinema, highlighting the ways film connects people across cultures and experiences. We were excited to partner with Sister Cities this year, which featured powerful international and local works, including Hi, Mom , The Chambermaid, Don’t Burn, La Yuma, The Hand of God, and Exhibiting Forgiveness by New Haven artist Titus Kaphar. Through shared viewing and discussion, the Film Series created space for deeper reflection on the human experience and the role of storytelling in understanding one another.
I’ve always enjoyed the variety of entertainment during arts and ideas month.
— Janice B. Festival Attendee 2025
NEIGHBORHOODS
For the 12th consecutive year, we co-created vibrant neighborhood celebrations across New Haven. Each event was tailored to celebrate the unique character of its community through music, dance, art, and food. We were delighted to add WEB (Whalley/Edgewood/Beaver Hills) to the line up this year. Special thanks to neighborhood collaborators in Fair Haven, Newhallville, The Hill, West Hills/ West Rock, and Dixwell.
MUSIC
The Alexander Clark stage on the New Haven Green kicked off with Huang Ruo’s City of Floating Sounds, a collaboration with New Haven Symphony Orchestra and Yale Schwarzman Center. A Juneteenth celebration produced by Artsucation and the Official Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven. Additional performances included the Québécois group, Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, Black violin duo Sons of Mystro, indie Asian band Hang Him to the Scales, West African drummer Seny Tatchol Camara, and more!
Outdoor concerts were complemented by indoor concerts including venues sucha as Sprague Hall in collaboration with Yale Choral Artists, the University Theatre, presenting the sold-out Joshua Redman (Quartet) where he captivated listeners with improvisations that balanced technical precision and emotional depth, as well as Latin Grammywinning vocalist and violinist Mireya Ramos’ GUERRARA, in which she pay homage to the women who inspired her. These concerts revealed the connective force of sound, reminding audiences of music’s ability to heal, uplift, and unite across experiences and generations.
NEWHALLVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD | PHOTO: GIOVANNI ROPER
FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AT CITY OF FLOATING SOUNDS | PHOTO: JOEL CALLAWAY
THEATER
This year’s theater programming explored stories rooted in community, and identity. We were proud to present Family Business: (A)Pizza Play, building on the stories from 2024’s production of A Slice of What’s to Come. A Broken Umbrella Theatre drew inspiration from New Haven’s apizza pioneers, tracing the legacy of family, migration, and tradition through humor and heart.
HartBeat Ensemble’s Woodhull/Beecher offered a compelling staged reading of a new play by Leslie Gabel-Brett, examining social reform, gender, and activism through the lens of two 19th-century visionaries.
The festival is so awesome for me and my friend. We’ve been going to their concerts when possible, and it is so phenomenal.
— James T. Festival Attendee 2025
CIRCUS
Our circus program brought movement, rhythm, and storytelling together in a dazzling celebration of creativity and culture. Minty Fresh Circus thrilled audiences with an all Black cast and creative team, weaving acrobatics, dance, and
live music into a powerful exploration of healing, heritage, and collective strength.
IDEAS SERIES
This year’s Ideas Series brought together artists, scholars, and community leaders for conversations at the intersection of creativity, science, and social change. Theater as Resistance opened the program with a powerful discussion on performance as a tool for justice and transformation, featuring Dexter Singleton, Martyna Majok, and Godfrey Simmons. Later, Majok, a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Tony nominee and past Festival employee, returned for a keynote exploring the role of empathy and lived experience in her work. Other highlights included Making Memories: Neurons, Quantum Computing, and Art, which connected neuroscience and artistic practice through the work of Serena Scapagnini, and Let’s Get It Right New Haven, a collaborative environmental dialogue inviting residents to envision a sustainable future for their city.
I am always amazed by the opportunities for education, interaction, and entertainment that this festival offers. With many of the events free of charge, the accessibility to the events represents true equity at a time when equity is under attack....
— Susan S. Festival Attendee 2025
FOOD & STORIES
This season’s culinary and storytelling programs celebrated connection through food, laughter, and shared experience. At the heart of the series was Savor the Legacy: Jacques Pépin, an intimate evening with the legendary French chef, author, and artist. Audiences heard reflections on his remarkable career, from cooking for French presidents to co-starring with Julia Child, and his belief that food is both art and memory.
We were excited to partner with CITA Park to host our
BACKSTAGE TOUR FOR JOSHUA REDMAN | PHOTO: JOEL CALLAWAY
ARTIST NAMES | PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPHER NAMES
GODFREY SIMMONS JR. & DEXTER SINGELTON | PHOTO: ALEX MITCHELL
storytelling events including That’s Funny: Stories That Make You Laugh and Stir the Style: Wasn’t Expecting That....
Other highlights include the Fair Haven Public Art & Food Tour, Black Table: Afro-Culinary Futurism, Grand Avenue Gastronomy Tour, Beer, Bike & Oyster Tour, and Cupcake Bake & Decorating Class rounded out the program, blending food, art, and story into a true celebration of culture and connection.
I really enjoy the idea of coming together sharing stories, dancing, and, oh yeah, all the delicious foods and being outside enjoying a nice day.
— Dawn H. Festival Attendee 2025
FAMILY & KIDS
This year’s family programming invited children into worlds of imagination, movement, and playful discovery. SQUONK: Brouhaha transformed the Green into an immersive music and visual spectacle where audiences became part of the performance.
Cirque Kikasse: SANTÉ brought acrobatics, trampoline, and food-truck surprises together in a high-energy show that delighted audiences of all ages. This event was co-presented with Yale Schwarzman Center, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance, and The Committee of the Proprietors of the New Haven Green.
TOURS (GUIDED & BIKE)
Year after year, our tours continue to offer fresh ways to explore New Haven’s neighborhoods, history, and imagination. From scenic bike routes to storytelling walks, each experience invited participants to see the city through new eyes. Highlights included The Witness Stones Project, honoring the lives of enslaved individuals, and Post Industrial Revitalization: English Station Power Plant and the Mill River District, exploring how art and innovation are reshaping the city. Other favorites like the Beaver Hills Tudor Tour, Sacred Forest Exhibition Tour, and New Haven’s Closet: 400 Years of Queer History in the Elm City uncovered stories of identity, resilience, and place. Our tours celebrate curiosity and connection, reminding us that New Haven’s streets and stories continue to evolve with every step and every mile.
Whatever the art or idea expressed during the festival, it brings with it the enjoyment of being in community while being engaged in arts and ideas.
—
Sally
K.
Festival Attendee 2025
FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AT THAT’S FUNNY: STORIES THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH | PHOTO: ALEX MITCHELL
FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AT SQUONK: BROUHAHA | PHOTO: LANCE LONG
FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AT CIRQUE KIKASSE: SANTÉ | PHOTO: GIOVANNI ROPER
BIKE TOUR PARTICIPANTS | PHOTO COURTESY OUR OF PARTNER ORGANIZATION
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL
HIGH SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas High School Fellowship Program gave 6 talented New Haven sophomores, juniors, and seniors an unforgettable, fully funded opportunity to dive deep into the world of the arts! Over the course of a semester, these students were immersed in the excitement of performances, lectures, community engagement, and behind-the-scenes production, sharpening their leadership and collaboration skills in real time through the Festival.
Through dynamic weekly seminars at CT State Gateway and hands-on experiences across the arts, the Fellows not only honed their communication and critical thinking skills but also gained valuable connections and experiences, setting them up for future internships and career opportunities in the arts & culture sector.
VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AWARD
The 2025 Visionary Leadership Award honored Monique Martin, artist, curator, producer, and advocate for art, culture, and community. The evening brought artists, thought leaders, and Festival supporters together for an engaging conversation moderated by Jennifer Harrison Newman, reflecting on Monique’s creative journey and her commitment to making art accessible to all. Guests enjoyed music, light bites, and conversation at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School, followed by a reception at The Ballroom at LoRicco Tower, in recognition of Martin’s extraordinary contributions to the arts. Through her collaborated work with organizations such as the Apollo Theater, and The MET Museum, she presented her original piece Minty Fresh Circus at the Festival. Proceeds from the event supported The Jean Handley Fund, ensuring that the Festival continues to inspire connection, creativity, and community through visionary leadership.
INSIDER EVENTS
This season, Insiders attended the Woodhull/Beecher Salon, an evening of conversation with playwright Leslie GabelBrett and cast member Debra Walsh, hosted at the home of Candace Barrington and Michael Shea. Guests enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the play and its themes of courage and social reform. Insiders also joined us for the annual backstage tour and happy hour, exploring the artistry and coordination behind each production.
PEARL GALA: HONORING CO-FOUNDERS
The Pearl Gala marked a milestone year for the Festival, honoring co-founders Anne Tyler Calabresi and Roslyn Milstein Meyer for their vision, generosity, and enduring commitment to the arts. The evening featured entertainment including locally based group The Chill Project, performance art devised by Karin Coonrod, and the musical stylings of DJ Dana Game. In honor of the Festival’s 30th anniversary, guests gathered for a night of celebration, music, and a ride on the carousel all while overlooking the New Haven harbor. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, supporters, and attendees, more than $135,000 was raised in support of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas!
GORDON GEBALLE ENVIRONMENTAL SERIES
Arts & Ideas continued its Environmental Series, inspired by Gordon Geballe’s longtime commitment to environmentalism. Highlights included Let’s Get It Right New Haven, a citywide civic reading and climate action summit; More Than Oysters, a walking tour examining Fair Haven’s ecological and cultural history; and CAES: The Nation’s Oldest Agricultural Experiment Station Turns 150.
2025 FESTIVAL FELLOWS | PHOTO: LANCE LONG
JENNIFER HARRISON NEWMAN, MONIQUE MARTIN | PHOTO: JUDY SIROTA ROSENTHAL
WOODHULL/BEECHER INSIDER SALON | PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTS & IDEAS STAFF
ANNE TYLER CALABRESI, ROSLYN MILSTEIN MEYER | PHOTO: JUDY SIROTA ROSENTHAL
IMPACT REPORT: FESTIVAL 2025
PRESS: 50+ articles about the 2025 Festival
WEBSITE: 220,000+ pageviews
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook content views 225.7K
Instagram content views 106.6K
Vimeo virtual content views 31.2K
With the help of our staff and volunteers, we celebrated 30 years of bringing Great Art & Big Ideas to the Greater New Haven area. This milestone will impact our next 30 years of work in the community.
“It [Festival] has been an amazing force for engaging residents of New Haven and Connecticut in new and innovative programs—a community uniter!”
— Janet E. Festival Attendee 2025 6
6 NIGHTS on the Green
$9.5M
DOWNTOWN NEW HAVEN (JUNE 13-28)
50+ VOLUNTEERS engaged this season
$204.52 AVERAGE spend per person
100+ EMPLOYEES (94% based in CT)
40+ C0MMUNITY PARTNERS engaged with us during the 2025 season.
FILM SERIES WITH SISTER CITIES highlighted international countries including AfulaGilboa, Israel; Amalfi, Italy; Avignon, France; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Hue, Vietnam; Leon, Nicaragua; Changsha, China and Tetlanohcan, Mexico
6 NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVALS were celebrated in partnership with City of New Haven and New Haven’s Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism: Fair Haven, WEB (Whalley/Edgewood/Beaver Hills), Newhallville, The Hill, West Hills/West Rock, and Dixwell.
6 STUDENTS participated in the Arts & Ideas High School Fellowship Program in partnership with CT State Community College at Gateway.
1,100 COPIES of Fahrenheit 451 distributed for FREE during the Big Read. Expanding our reach across New Haven county and creating new partnerships.
37,000 IN-PERSON attendees
Visitors from CONNECTICUT 92%
Visitors from NEW HAVEN 64%
49% OF VISITORS are repeat attendees from previous years
32,700 VIEWS on YouTube (172+ new subscribers)
84% OF SURVEYORS rated their Festival experience as a 7.0 or higher (out of 10) and would highly recommened.
“We
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS
MARQUEE SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNERS
HOSPITALITY PARTNERS
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library CT State Community College Gateway The Connecticut Mirror
Freddy Fixer Parade Humanities Quadrangle at Yale Juneteenth New Haven
New Haven Free Public Library Yale Choral Artists
STAFF MEMBERS (FULL-TIME,SEASONAL,&CONTRACTED)
We extend our deepest gratitude to the staff and board members who were involved in the 2025 Festival season. Your hard work and dedication is what made this year a success, and we are truly grateful for all that you achieved. Thank you!
ARTIST SERVICES & TRANSPORTATION
Chara Blagrove
Hospitality Assistant
Ryan Brown
Company Manager
Maura Bozeman
Transportation & Parking Manager
Deniz Capa
Artist Services Coordinator
Mackenzie Collins
Hospitality Assistant
Luke McDonald
Artist Services Coordinator
Erik Remec
Driver
Surrenity Williams
Hospitality Manager
AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE
Jennifer Barragan Silva
House Manager
Danielle Campbell
House Management Captain
Doron Flake
House Manager
Siommara Guadalupe-Hill
House Manager
Sarafinah Kolaski
Box Office Assistant (Salesperson)
Alora McCarroll
House Management Captain
Eleanor Polak
Box Office Assistant (Salesperson)
Sofia Schroth-Douma
Box Office Lead
Quiana Stanley
Audience Services Manager
COMMUNITY IMPACT & EDUCATION
Jeanika Browne-Springer
High School Fellowship Co-Teacher: Gateway Adjunct Professor
Shamain McAllister
Associate Director of Education & Community Impact
Shannon Miller
Community Impact Coordinator
DEVELOPMENT
Bobby DellaCamera
Associate Director of Development
Azula Luz
Events and Sponsorship Coordinator
Abigail O’Keefe
Development Generalist
EXECUTIVE, FINANCE &
ADMINISTRATION
Annie Coursey
People Generalist
Kevin Ewing
Interim Executive Director
Melissa Huber
Managing Director
Larry “Benito” Jackson
Finance Manager
Shelley Quiala
Senior Artistic & Development Strategist
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Yvette Hicks
Associate Director of Marketing & Communications
Stacy Graham-Hunt
PR/Press Representative
Farwa Shamsi-Khorasani
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
MEDIA
Cliff Baird
Camera Operator/Editor
Quinn Bassett
Camera Operator/Editor
Grace Doyle
Camera Operator/Editor
Tiffany Hopkins
Associate Director of Technology & New Media
Alexandra Kendall
Camera Operator/Editor
PROGRAMMING
Denise Santisteban
Curator of Tours, Ideas & Storytelling
Cliff Schloss
Board Liaison & Artistic Administrator
PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS
Kaylee Arnold
Electrics Crew/Electrician
Juanita Austin
Production Office Manager
Gifton Bagalloo
Operations Crew
Zane Birks
Operations Crew
Kelsey Carbone
Director of Production
Geovanni Colon
Production Assistant
Connor Davis
Audio Crew Member
Kevin DeChello
Technical Director
David Difabio
Indoor Technical Director
Constant Dzah
Audio Crew Member
Erin Ellbogen
Assistant Stage Manager
Gaby Esposito
Stage Manager
Tye Fitzgerald
Sound Designer
Jacob Fox
Audio Crew Member
Lauren Elise Fisher Frischling
Production Stage Manager
Tyler Hieb
Indoor Production Electrician
Stephen Jackson
Operations Crew
Hannah Jones
Stage Manager
Briana Joseph
Operations Crew
Chloe Liu
Assistant Stage Manager
Chris Lubik
Production Electrician
Stanley Mathabane
Audio Crew/Monitor Mix
Elisa Palumbo
Operations Crew
Genevieve Peters
Tour Host
JP Queenan
Production
Audio Engineer
Beyla Ridky
Electrics Crew/Electrician
Ryleigh Rivas
Assistant Operations Manager
Olga Shevelkina
Production Assistant
Andre Skinner
Operations Crew
Jeffrey Steele
Electrics Crew/Electrician
Alonzo Talley
Operations Manager
Jacob Thompson
Stage Crew
TAE Washington
Operations Crew
Carson White
Associate Production Manager
SECURITY & SAFETY
Damen Cuamatzi
Security Guard
Dorinda Flores
Security Guard
Jennifer Jahn
Security Guard
Demetrius Johnson
Security Guard
Antonio McKnight
Security Guard
Mike Rubino
Security Supervisor
Rick Sanchez
Security Guard
Gary Sirico
First Aid Attendant
Mathew Sorensen
Security Guard
Brandon Stewart
Security Guard
Markus Thomas
Security Guard
Kamal Wilson
Security Guard
Keara Wilson
Security Guard
IATSE CREW
David Berg
IATSE Forklift Op
Patrick Blair
IATSE Crew
Trevor Carey
IATSE Crew
Joseph Donohue
IATSE Rigger
Jason Epps
IATSE Rigger
Charlestone Gourdet
IATSE Rigger
William Haynes
IATSE Crew
Robert Hofmiller
IATSE Steward
Mark LeBlanc
IATSE Rigger
Alfonso Lopez
IATSE Forklift Op
Anthony Luciani
IATSE Crew
Trapper Nelson
IATSE Crew
Ryan Neuberger
IATSE Crew
Robert Paternoster Jr.
IATSE Rigger
Benjamin Pitz
IATSE Crew
Ricardo Soto
IATSE Crew
Brian Staehly
IATSE Crew
James Stevens
IATSE Crew
Russell Van Edsinga
IATSE Crew
Robert Wilkinson
IATSE Crew
Christopher Williams Stage Crew
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOUNDERS
Anne Tyler Calabresi
Founding Director
Dr. Roslyn Milstein Meyer
Founding Director
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (2024-2025)
Annie Lin
Co-Chair
Risë Nelson
Co-Chair
Ruby H. Melton Vice Chair
Charles O’Connell Vice Chair
Lisa Stanger Vice Chair
Richard Czekalski, MBA
Treasurer
Elizabeth Sledge
Secretary
BOARD MEMBERS (2024-2025)
Candace Barrington
Patricia F. Brett, Ed.D.
Diane Brown
Mark Caplan
Deborah Dyett Desir, M.D.
Shirley Ellis-West
Carlah Esdaile-Bragg
Gypsy Garcia
Kimberly Goff-Crews
Hon. Clifton Graves Jr.
Pat Hall Jaynes, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Lucy Nalpathanchil
Carolyn Ross-Lee
Alinor Sterling
Richard A. Sussman
Michael E. Twitty
Charles E. Warner, Jr.
Michael Wishnie
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Gordon Geballe, Ph.D.
Daniel J. Miglio
View past and present board members on our website at ARTIDEA.ORG/board