You would be hard-pressed to find someone in Milford who isn’t at least peripherally familiar with the annual construction of the buoy tree that resides at Lisman Landing during the holiday season. Made entirely out of lobster traps and decked with buoys designed by Milford community members, the tree – still young in only its fourth year this past December – has become a recognizable Milford landmark and a testament to creativity and collaboration in town.
But you may be less familiar with the organization behind the buoy tree, the people who turn community effort into a literal work of art.
The Milford Arts Council (MAC), now in its fifty-second year, is located at 40 Railroad Avenue in downtown Milford. This location boasts a warm and inviting lobby, in which sits a bright red ticket booth that used to reside in the (now demolished) Milford movie theater. Just past the lobby is the main performance and event space, the walls of which have been transformed into a gallery to showcase community and member artwork. Downstairs is the Speakeasy, an intimate gathering place where patrons can purchase food and beverages during events. Every now and then, a Metronorth train will speed past, reminding you of the history of the building – a civil-war-era train station restored nearly 30 years ago. Ray Oliver, warmly remembered as “Milford’s architect” by many locals, designed the renovated station specifically for the MAC.
Traveling across town to Walnut Beach, one will find the MAC’s second space, the Firehouse Gallery – a 1920 firehouse repurposed as an arts and culture center in 2000. Now, the space is home to a number of rotating exhibits, classes, and workshops, as well as an apartment for a regular artist-in-residence. With a bold and colorful muraled façade crafted by John Paul O’Grodnick and Miguel Estrada, the Firehouse Gallery is impossible to miss.
And yet, for many residents, the MAC remains a background player in the numerous events and programs for which their work is arguably center stage.
“Right before the pandemic, we were known,” says Executive Director Paige Miglio. “We were getting audiences from as far as Stamford and even New York City: people would take the train to Milford for dinner and a show…we’ve been working on building up that awareness again, regrouping that footing within the community.”
And regroup they have: the MAC boasts nearly six months of wall-to-wall theatrical performances, shared between their own community theater, Eastbound Theatre, and Pantochino Productions, to whom they rent the space. The other half of the year is jam-packed with arts programming including their “Laugh Tracks” comedy series, open mics, benefit concerts (Pass the Guitar), dance and movement classes, tango lessons, business seminars, musician showcases, and private events.
All of this in addition to programming at the Firehouse Gallery, the annual Walnut Beach Sand Sculpture Competition (now in its 48th year), and of course, the famed buoy tree.
“Finding people who want to curate and create something unique and different – we’re here to support that,” Paige explains. “That’s partnership and that’s lifting with accessibility and support in mind.”
Indeed, the MAC is dedicated to offering programs that are fundamentally accessible to the community, both physically and financially. While they rent their space to Pantochino, the majority of programming is run through their committees and made possible by donations, sponsorships, and community memberships that range anywhere from $35 to $1,000 annually.
As for the buoy tree, Paige celebrates how uniquely “Milford” the project is: “I love our gnarly little tree that’s authentic and genuine. And it’s different every single year.”
The MAC continues to support Milford through their arts programming, and encourages community members to take advantage of the opportunities in their backyard. See our Events page for a small sampling MAC-sponsored programs or visit milfordarts.org for more information.
"Finding people who want to curate and create something unique and different – we’re here to support that."