Ely Center of Contemporary Art “ECOCA”

Facts at a Glance

  • 2016               Founded by four artists & educators as a community art space operating as tenant of ACES/Educational Center for the Arts, in accordance with Grace Ely’s Will.

  • March 2022       ACES puts the Ely House on the market.

  • June 2022          ECOCA purchases the Ely House building to preserve it as a community space thanks to an $800K loan from Capasso & Co. that ECOCA is now paying down.

Mission    To cultivate and present thought-provoking, relevant, and original art that engages a diverse representation of perspectives that foster cultural equity and instigates dialogue around urgent local, global, and community issues.

Board Members/Title/Affiliation/Town/Year Joined

Helen Kauder/Co-Chair/Retired Arts Administrator/New Haven/2022

Debbie Hesse/Co-Chair/Artist & Independent Curator/Branford/2016

Roger Castonguay/Treasurer/Small Business Owner/Plainville/2020

Amy Kundrat/Director/Yale Ventures Director of Innovation Community/ Bethel/2023

Aaron Pine/Director/Architect/New Haven/2023

 

BY LAWS: Additional Board seats will be reserved and filled with individuals or representatives or designees from the following stakeholder groups:

Historian

Curator

Artist resident from the Region

Stakeholder, New Haven Arts District community

Appointee, Connecticut Watercolor Society or other regional art organization

Appointee, Prison Art Program or other regional art organization

Designee, Architect

President/Appointee Brush and Palette Club

President/Appointee New Haven Paint and Clay Club

Appointee, Regional University Art Department

 

6/30/2022 Finances:      Revenues                                                                                 Expenses

Grants & Contributions: $54,918 (Wells Fargo is 45%)                   Occupancy & Program   $65,292

Program Services            $30,722                                                        Wages                              $19,668

TOTAL REVENUE            $84,640                                                        TOTAL EXPENSES            $ 84,960

Major Programs

Distinguished Curator Open Call Exhibition: 457 artists applied in 2023, up each year since founding

A mix of rotating group and solo exhibitions, with 6 cycles per year

Annual Trumbull St Block Party; Make Music Day in the Garden; Summer Intern Program; ECA exhibition;

Online talks and tours; artist-led workshops; partnerships with 20+ local organizations.

Classroom Space for Ely Legacy organization Brush & Palette Club, Paint & Clay Club Annual Show