City of Worcester Announces Poet Laureate, Youth Poet Laureate

WORCESTER, MA – City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., Mayor Joseph M. Petty, the Worcester City Council and the Office of Cultural Development have announced the appointments of the City of Worcester Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate.

The Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate will serve as official ambassadors of the City’s historic and vibrant cultures of poetry and literature, using their positions to promote local writers and the transformative qualities of poetry and the written word.

Distinguished poet, community activist, and long-time educator Juan Matos has been selected as Worcester’s next Poet Laureate, to serve from January 2020 until December 2022. Amina Mohammed, a senior at Holy Name High School, will become the first Youth Poet Laureate in Worcester as well as the first in the state of Massachusetts. Mohammad will serve from January 2020 through December 2021.

Matos and Mohammad will be presented with ceremonial medals created by local metal artist Pam Farren and will deliver their first official readings at the City’s Inaugural Exercises and Celebration on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. at Mechanics Hall.

“I am honored to be able to serve as Worcester’s Mayor for another term. To share the moment with not one, but two people who will actively contribute to and commemorate the Worcester community makes it even more special,” said Mayor Petty.

“Congratulations to both Juan and Amina, who stood out from a very talented field of applicants,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “We are especially thrilled to have the City provide a unique opportunity for a young person to express themselves as our Youth Poet Laureate. We look forward to Amina’s voice, presence, and vision, serving as a source of inspiration for her peers to pursue creative endeavors and share their own perspectives.”

Juan Matos says poetry has always been an essential part of his life and sharing poetry is among his greatest joys. “Sharing builds bridges among generations,” he wrote after learning of his selection. “Such an important program is about more than achieving recognition; it is about celebrating poetry in the light of itself.”

Matos earned a Master’s Degree in bilingual education at Worcester State University and went on to teach Spanish Literature and ESL for 32 years, the last 22 of which in Worcester Public Schools. During this time he wrote and published 12 poetry books and anthologies, took part in local and international literary festivals, and founded several literary groups and workshops. Matos has a long record of actively advocating for poetry and the arts, and in 2019 alone was awarded a Key to the City of Worcester, the Worcester Latino Dollar for Scholars Vision Award, an Honorable Citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and the Father Miguel Bafaro Legacy Award. Other honors he has received include the Casa Cultural Dominicana de Worcester Leadership Award, a Recognition for Work in the Arts and Literature from the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and his home city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic recognized Matos as a Distinguished Son for Contributions to Literature.

Of Matos’ appointment, Cultural Development Officer Erin Williams noted that he has, “contributed significantly to the Worcester community and simultaneously gained notoriety outside the city. We’re delighted to be working with a visionary poet who embraces language and has dedicated his life to creative expression for all.”

Youth Poet Laureate Amina Mohammad grew up in Worcester’s Main South neighborhood, the daughter of an immigrant family. Her parents worked long hours to provide her and her siblings with considerable support from neighbors. “They truly showed us what community was all about,” Mohammad wrote in a personal statement. “Growing up in areas like Main South and Vernon Hill created a window for false perceptions formed about […] kids just like me. It was a constant reminder that we might never amount to anything, that kids like us are just going to end up like the rest, and that we might never break the cycle that we became products of,” said the young woman, the first Youth Poet Laureate in Massachusetts.

In addition to their shared objectives, which include public readings and creating original works, Matos’ three decades as an educator will help him serve as a mentor to Mohammad. “Young people are my greatest love,” Matos said. “I am committed to continue the cultural activism that has allowed me to inspire many young people not only in the classroom as a teacher, but as a devoted and committed writer in our city.”

The objectives of the City of Worcester’s Poet Laureate Programs are to:

• Enhance the presence and appreciation of poetry and literary arts in Greater Worcester;
• Celebrate the spirit of the people and special qualities of Worcester, the City of Innovation;
• Raise awareness of the power of literature, poetry, and the spoken word;
• Provide a forum for collaborative art forms;
• Engage and support an emerging generation of poets and spoken word artists;
• Provide access to poetry and literary arts to all sectors of the community; and
• Encourage the reading and writing of both poetry and the written word.
Matos says he is eager to, “bring my experience as a community organizer and activist to promote activities that allow youth and adults to embrace poetry and literature as part of their cultural and spiritual growth. I am planning to improve the presence of authors in schools by creating and incorporating writing workshops.”

In her two year term as Worcester’s Youth Poet Laureate, Mohammad says, “I intend to prove that life is what one makes of it and that those whom society frowns upon tend to be the ones with powerful voices, positively making a change in their communities. I want to show that, no matter what, one can take their struggles and pains and turn them into masterpieces.”

A five person committee was formed to review dozens of applications to the Poet Laureate programs:

• Alex Charalambides: Worcester-based poet, 2011 Worcester Arts Council Fellow, and Executive Director of Mass LEAP;
• Christina Connolly: adult services librarian, Worcester Public Library social services liaison and steward of its literature and poetry collection.
• Sandra Paola Cadena Pardo: scholar and visiting professor of Spanish at Holy Cross, published author of two poetry books, essay books, and the play Cuando Perros Tienen Alas.
• Christopher Reilley: former Poet Laureate of Dedham, MA, two-time Pushcart nominee, founder of Dedham Poet Society and Leicester Writers Guild, published author of three poetry books.
• Heather Treseler: associate professor of English and Presidential Fellow for Art, Education, and Community at Worcester State University, author of essays and poems appearing in numerous periodicals and publications.

* * *

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The Worcester-based Senator is being nationally recognized for her contributions to the arts in communities across Massachusetts.

WORCESTER, MA November 15, 2019 – Massachusetts State Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler has received the 2019 “Outstanding Woman State Legislator Supporting the Arts” Award. This annual award recognizes a female state lawmaker who has made significant contributions in supporting the arts in her state. Senator Chandler received the award at the Women in Government Summit on November 15, 2019 in Washington, D.C.

Senator Chandler was nominated by Mass Cultural Council, and selected from a group of well-qualified female legislators. Nominees must demonstrate a significant contribution in support of the arts, evidence of promoting policies that support the arts, collaborate with cultural and education partners to support the arts, and promote the value and importance of the arts in public life.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award,” Senator Chandler wrote in an email. “I fight for the arts and for cultural development because these programs have a unique way of bringing people together – that means people of all backgrounds, young and old, from all reaches of our Commonwealth, to share in a common experience and a common community.”

Senator Chandler noted that, “This work cannot be done without the tremendous leadership and support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the City of Worcester. In the Heart of the Commonwealth, we know too well that progress can be a struggle. But it is a struggle worth fighting for.”

“Arts, culture, and creativity play a critical role in becoming a great city,” said Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “Senator Chandler has spent her entire career championing arts and culture by working to increase the Mass Cultural Council budget by millions of dollars, investing her time as a patron of our cultural institutions and providing opportunities to establish and support creative initiatives in Worcester and throughout the state.”

Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty also commended Senator Chandler’s sustained efforts. “It can take years of work to do even a small amount of good, and Senator Chandler’s consistent efforts have been and continue to be instrumental in Worcester’s growth as a city of creativity and inclusion.”

“Senator Chandler has been a fearless leader for arts and culture throughout her career. She understands that bringing the arts into everyday life, for everyone, builds healthy places to live. Worcester’s cultural community would not be as vibrant today without her support for arts education, and building resources for individual artists and our dynamic cultural institutions. She understands that art works,” noted Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer, City of Worcester.

In her letter nominating Senator Chandler for this award, Massachusetts Cultural Council Executive Director Anita Walker wrote that, “The arts and culture are not just a set of talking points for Senator Chandler. She is present and participating at countless events in her community, helping to shape the discussion and advance the role of state government in supporting the transformative impact of the arts. Just visit her city of Worcester,” Walker said. “Once drab buildings are now canvases for murals, and the parks and plazas are alive with cultural activity. Worcester has a comprehensive cultural plan that is part and parcel of the city’s master plan. Senator Chandler has been a part of all of this.”

Senator Chandler’s efforts have helped launch the Massachusetts Cultural District Initiative – with Massachusetts now leading the nation in designated cultural districts – and a Universal Participation initiative aimed at increasing accessibility and participation within the arts. In Worcester, Senator Chandler is a corporator of the Worcester Art Museum and the Greater Worcester Foundation, and a member of the Worcester Women’s History Project.

“In the past 12 years the state appropriation for the arts and culture has increased more than 80%,” said Walker. “On top of that, the state has invested more than $120 million dollars in nearly 1,000 capital projects at cultural institutions. This does not happen without the active leadership of passionate legislators. Senator Chandler has provided that leadership at the Statehouse.” Additionally, Walked recognized Senator Chandler’s contribution to ensuring new casino gambling laws contained protections for cultural organizations, which could have otherwise been harmed by new competition.

About Senator Harriette Chandler

Senator Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester) is currently the Massachusetts Senate President Emerita, and previously served as the Senate President from December 2017 to July 2018. She is also the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Bills in Third Reading, the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing, and serves as Co-Chair of the Prevention for Health Caucus and Co-Chair of the Legislature’s Oral Health Caucus.

Senator Chandler began her political career when she was elected to the Worcester School Committee in 1991. She served on the Worcester School Committee from 1991- 1994, three terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1995-2001, and became the first Worcester woman elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 2000. Now in her 9th two-year term in the Senate, she has moved up through leadership positions in the Senate, starting out as Assistant Majority Whip, then Majority Whip, Assistant Majority Leader, Majority Leader, and Senate President.

Outside of the State House, Senator Chandler serves as a Co-Chair of the Reforming States Group Steering Committee of Milbank Memorial Fund. She is also the President of the 2017-2018 Executive Board of the Women’s Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a State Director of Women In Government, and corporator of the YWCA, Worcester Art Museum, and Greater Worcester Foundation. She is a member of the United Way of Central Massachusetts, Worcester Women’s History Project, Worcester Democratic City Committee and the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee.

Senator Chandler earned degrees from Wellesley College (B.A.), Simmons College Graduate School of Management (M.B.A.), and Clark University (Ph.D.). She holds honorary degrees from Worcester State College, Honorary Doctorate of Public Administration ’88 and Clark University, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’16. She is married to Worcester attorney Burton Chandler and has three grown children and four grandchildren.

About Women In Government

Women In Government Foundation, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of women state legislators. Led by a national Board of Directors consisting of 13 state legislators, WIG provides leadership opportunities, networking, expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues to all women state legislators. Women In Government leads the nation with a bold, courageous and passionate vision that empowers and mobilizes all women legislators to effect sound policy in areas such as healthcare, technology, education, energy, workforce development, the environment, transportation, criminal justice, and the arts. To learn more about Women In Government, go to: https://www.womeningovernment.org.

About the Worcester Cultural Coalition

The Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) is a public-private partnership established in 1999 between the City of Worcester and 12 cultural organizations. Today, membership stands at 78 organizations, accounting for more than 2.7 million visitors to Worcester annually. Its mission is to draw on Worcester’s rich and diverse cultural assets to foster economic revitalization, support active, creative engagement for all, and to promote a strong cultural identity for Greater Worcester. The WCC supports and encourages action that meets these creative goals of the Worcester Cultural Plan promoting cultural equity and creative community engagement. Learn more at www.worcesterculturalcoalition.org

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Community Input Needed for Outdoor Concert Series

With enough community support, Worcester will host a new 10-day outdoor concert series in the summer of 2020

UPDATE – November 21, 2019 – the Worcester Cultural Coalition has made it to the final round of the Levitt AMP grant application. Thank you to everyone who voted, shared, and encouraged others to do the same! The Levitt Foundation will announce the 15 recipients of the $25,000 matching grant on December 20, 2019. View the top 25 cities at LevittAMP.org.

WORCESTER, MA November 1, 2019 – The Worcester Cultural Coalition, in partnership with the City of Worcester and Green Island Resident Group, Inc., have advanced to the voting round of the Levitt AMP [Your City] grant application process. Should Worcester be awarded one of 15 available grants, the funds will be used to create a 10-week free, live music concert series during the summer of 2020 at Crompton Park.

Supporters are asked to register and vote at levittamp.org/vote  before November 20 at 8 p.m. Once voting closes, the Levitt Foundation will review the Top 25 finalists’ proposals and announce the 15 Levitt AMP 2020 winners on December 20.

The Levitt AMP Worcester Music Series would take place at Crompton Park with weekly concert programming tentatively scheduled for 10 Wednesday evenings beginning June 24, 2020. In addition to live music, the event would feature food vendors, community performances, interactive amenities and more.

“One of the criteria for the Levitt AMP grant is to host a program in an underserved section of your city,” said Yaffa Fain, program assistant of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division. Fain recently completed curation and management of the popular Out To Lunch Festival & Farmers Market series on the Worcester Common during the summer of 2019. “There’s a lot that goes into coordinating performers, vendors, and the public, and it’s great to give people a reason to stop and enjoy what’s going on around them. We’re looking forward to hosting Out To Lunch in 2020, and we’re also excited to hopefully bring a new major summer concert series to Worcester and activate another space in the city,” she said.

A successful campaign for Worcester requires community participation to secure Worcester’s place as one of 25 national finalists. Community support, as measured by the number of online votes received, will be one of the key factors considered when the Levitt Foundation determines the 2020 Levitt AMP Grant Award winners. “We’ll only be able to do this with enough votes,” Fain cautioned.

Worcester’s Crompton Park was selected for several reasons, including proximity to public transit and highways, and renovations currently underway. According to a recent press release from the City of Worcester, Crompton Park is undergoing a $1.4 million renovation, including new accessible pathways, benches and bleachers, safety upgrades, and construction of two NBA-sized basketball courts. “The City of Worcester is investing in making Crompton Park a safe, beautiful, and accessible space. We’re doing our part to make it a fun, creative, and well-used space for everyone,” said Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester.

Sponsored by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of America through free live music, the Worcester Cultural Coalition hopes to qualify as one of the Top 25 finalists competing for a $25,000 2020 Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Award.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition asks supporters to spread the word to family, friends, colleagues and neighbors and to rally the community to sign up and vote for the Levitt AMP Worcester Music series proposal. With the Worcester community’s vote, the Worcester Cultural Coalition is thrilled to offer new, diverse cultural programming to the community.

#ArtsForAll #MakeArtEverywhere #ArtsMatterHere

About the Worcester Cultural Coalition

The Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) is a public-private partnership established in 1999 between the City of Worcester and 12 cultural organizations. Today, membership stands at 78 organizations, accounting for more than 2.7 million visitors to Worcester annually. Its mission is to draw on Worcester’s rich and diverse cultural assets to foster economic revitalization, support active, creative engagement for all, and to promote a strong cultural identity for Greater Worcester. The WCC supports and encourages action that meets these creative goals of the Worcester Cultural Plan promoting cultural equity and creative community engagement. Learn more at www.worcesterculturalcoalition.org

About the Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant:

The Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards is matching grant opportunity created by the Levitt Foundation to serve small to mid-sized towns and cities to create thriving community destinations. Grant recipients will each be awarded $25,000 in matching funds to produce their own Levitt AMP Music Series—a free, outdoor concert series featuring a diverse lineup of professional musicians. Learn more at levittamp.org.

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What: The Worcester PopUp is seeking submissions for the next Worcester Windows Exhibit. “Clothing, Culture, Armor!” will showcase the clothing that defines you and the communities you identify with, whether born or chosen. The clothing and costumes we choose to wear relate directly to the aspects of ourselves we hope to either showcase or protect. What do you value? How does that present in the clothing you wear? We want to hear the stories of your clothing, culture, and armor. Let’s bring people together through the art of personal expression.

How: For consideration please email info@worcesterpopup.org  with “Worcester Windows, Clothing, Culture, Armor” in the subject line. Include a separate JPG for up to 3 pieces along with a brief one paragraph statement describing what they mean to you and your sense of personal/cultural identity. If included, you’ll have the opportunity to expand on your artist statement.

When: Open call period will extend to November 23rd, artwork will be collected after the submission period closes. Exhibition period is December 2019 to January 2020.

Where: Items will be on display on several levels of City Hall, The Worcester PopUp at the JMAC, and in the street side windows of several theater district businesses.

Send Submissions to: info@worcesterpopup.org

For inquiries:

Hank von Hellion

Worcester PopUp at the JMAC

Managing Director

(508)-304-8188

The post Call for Submissions: Worcester Windows “Clothing, Culture, Armor!” appeared first on WCC.

WORCESTER, MA – October 1, 2019 – The Worcester Cultural Coalition, in partnership with the Worcester Business Development Corporation and City of Worcester, have announced the naming rights for downtown Worcester’s first black box theater. Jean McDonough has contributed $2 million for construction and operations, bolstering the launch of theater operations scheduled for spring 2020.  The naming right will include exterior signage on Franklin Street, and will rebrand the arts complex as the Jean McDonough Arts Center.

The theater will offer 5,000+ square feet of flexible performance space, with seating for nearly 300. The black box layout can be customized to suit the needs of individual events, such as theatrical performances, live music, lectures, and special events.

Located at 20 Franklin Street, the theater directly connects to the Worcester PopUp, a creative catalyst and support space which began hosting interactive exhibitions, performances, workshops, and community meetings in April 2018. Its focus is on providing accessible, professional facilities and guidance in the business of art for Worcester’s dynamic spectrum of creatives and entrepreneurs.

Together, these sister spaces with corresponding missions will establish a hub as the Jean McDonough Arts Center: an exciting intersection of community and creativity. Both spaces exist to give residents of all ages and backgrounds the time, space, tools, and training to celebrate and share their cultures while growing their craft. The ultimate goal is to foster community connection and engagement while supporting the growth of the creative economy.

The Jean McDonough Arts Center will support the broader City goals of economic revitalization, creative engagement for all, and promotion of a strong cultural identity for Worcester. These goals are laid out in the City of Worcester’s recently-adopted Cultural Plan, which will be incorporated into the City’s forthcoming Masterplan. This deliberate, proactive partnership between a city and its cultural organizations is one of only a few such alliances in the nation. In a recent discussion of the Plan, Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus noted that, “it’s not just the City government’s plan, it’s a community plan. We all have a role in it.” Augustus went on to say that, “the Worcester renaissance isn’t real unless it includes everyone. We need to make sure that every person, and their gifts, and their talents, are part of that renaissance.”

Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester, echoed Augustus. “We are creating this venue because the WCC members identified a strong need for theater and performance space. Our focus as a City, and our focus as artists and creators, is to make art of all types: dance, theater, music, poetry, film, accessible to the entire community. We’re building on Worcester’s formidable foundations of arts and cultural institutions which means we’re actively working to embed creative thinking, partnerships, and beauty throughout our City. The Cultural Plan does just that: arts for all. We are so grateful to Jean McDonough and family for their impeccable support for the arts and culture in Worcester.”

“I’ve always had a love for regional theater and couldn’t pass up this opportunity to support Worcester’s arts community and bring the stage to life. This new theater and Worcester PopUp tie right into my vision for a vibrant city,” noted Jean McDonough.

“The generosity of the McDonough family helps us fill a need felt in the community—a flexible performance, event and gallery space,” said Honee Hess, Coalition Chair. “The Jean McDonough Arts Center kicks off the City’s Cultural Plan with a bang.”

Construction of the Worcester PopUp and the black box would not have been possible without the generous contribution of many key community organizations and individuals including: the Barr Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council/MassDevelopment Cultural Facilities Fund, the George I. Alden Trust, the Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation, the Jeanne Y. Curtis Charitable Trust, Mary DeFeudis, the Ruth H. and Warren A. Ellsworth Foundation, the Stoddard Charitable Trust, the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, Berkshire Bank, Francis A. & Jacquelyn H. Harrington Foundation, National Grid, The Fletcher Foundation, Bank of America, Fidelity Bank, UniBank for Savings, bankHometown/Millbury Savings Bank, Bay State Savings Bank, WebsterFive, William J. McKee Charitable Foundation, Bradley C. Higgins Foundation, and the Hoche-Scofield Foundation.

Craig L. Blais, President of the Worcester Business Development Corporation says, “I am honored and thrilled to be placing Jean McDonough’s name on the front of a prominent downtown Worcester property.  On behalf of the WBDC, I am humbled and grateful for this generous contribution.”

Each year, the City of Worcester becomes more of a hub for cultural and creative life in New England. An estimated $125.7 million is spent in museums, shops, theatres, and restaurants by locals and nearly 3 million visitors annually. In Worcester’s downtown alone, recent public and private investments are in the hundreds-of-millions of dollars. When paired with the comparative costs of living and doing business in nearby metropolitan areas, as well as increasing transportation options and the ever-expanding creative economy, Worcester is a City which actively attracts new businesses and a young, diverse, educated workforce.

#ArtsForAll #MakeArtEverywhere #ArtsMatterHere

About the Worcester Cultural Coalition

The Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) is a public-private partnership established in 1999 between the City of Worcester and 12 cultural organizations. Today, membership stands at 78 organizations, accounting for more than 2.7 million visitors to Worcester annually. Its mission is to draw on Worcester’s rich and diverse cultural assets to foster economic revitalization, support active, creative engagement for all, and to promote a strong cultural identity for Greater Worcester. The WCC supports and encourages action that meets these creative goals of the Worcester Cultural Plan promoting cultural equity and creative community engagement.

www.worcesterculturalcoalition.org

About the Worcester PopUp

The Worcester PopUp is an exciting new intersection of community and creativity comprised of 3,500 historic-storefront square feet of flexible exhibition, performance, workshop, creative experimentation, and meeting space, and an additional 9,000+ square feet (seating for up to 289) devoted to what will be the City’s only black-box theater. The PopUp exists to give people of all ages and backgrounds the time, space, tools, and training to celebrate and share their cultures and to create their futures. By doing so, it fosters community connection and engagement that in turn supports the shared goals of economic revitalization, creative engagement for all, cultural equity and promotion of a strong cultural identity for Greater Worcester.

This “permanent popup” space offers a place for local artists, organizations, and creatives to create, display, and develop a variety of creative-based events ranging from art shows, open mics, music performances, and more. In its first year of operation it hosted over 125 events.

www.worcesterpopup.org

About Worcester Business Development Corporation

On July 19, 1965, the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC) was founded by a large group of public-minded citizens. The mission of this organization was to collaborate with community officials in the Greater Worcester area to create a comprehensive approach to the economic challenges that face a community. In the spirit of civic responsibility, the WBDC was established to serve as an innovative and leading force in the economic development of the City of Worcester and the region, expanding the tax base through the creation and promotion of employment opportunities, while assisting in the development and growth of business and industry. Grounded in a tradition of economic development accomplishment, the WBDC has played a key role in strengthening the Worcester region’s position as an economic leader in Massachusetts. Through targeted investment and strategic partnering, the WBDC brings skills and resources to challenging and complex projects. The WBDC looks forward to assisting in the planning and development of this exciting project.

###

Media Contact:

Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer

Cultural Development Division, City of Worcester

WilliamsE@WorcesterMA.gov

508.826.1145

Lisa Drexhage, Project Manager

Worcester Business Development Corporation

drexhage@worcesterbdc.com

508-755-5734

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The application deadline for the Poet Laureate & Youth Poet Laureate has been extended to 9am Monday, December 9. Poets may self-nominate, or be nominated by a third party.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr., in collaboration with the Worcester City Council and Cultural Development Division, is pleased to announce the revival of the City of Worcester Poet Laureate Program and the creation of the Youth Poet Laureate Program.

The Poet Laureate will serve a term of three years, from January 2020 through December 2022. The Youth Poet Laureate will serve a two year term, from January 2020 through December 2021.

The City of Worcester Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate will serve as official ambassadors of Worcester’s historic, vibrant poetic and literary culture, using their positions as vehicles to promote the City’s great writers and the transformative qualities of poetry and the written word throughout the community.

“As the birthplace of Pulitzer Prize winning Elizabeth Bishop and National Book Award recipient Stanley Kunitz, Worcester has a proud history of producing great poets,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “We’re excited to bring back our Poet Laureate Program and launch a Youth Poet Laureate Program as we continue to maintain our commitment to the importance of the arts and culture within our city.”

The objectives of the City of Worcester’s Poet Laureate Programs are to:

• Enhance the presence and appreciation of poetry and literary arts in Greater Worcester;
• Celebrate the spirit of the people and special qualities of Worcester, the City of Innovation;
• Raise awareness of the power of literature, poetry, and the spoken word;
• Provide a forum for collaborative art forms;
• Engage and support an emerging generation of poets and spoken word artists;
• Provide access to poetry and literary arts to all sectors of the community; and
• Encourage the reading and writing of both poetry and the written word.

Nomination Process
The City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division will administer the nomination process for the Poet Laureate Programs through a Poet Laureate Task Force. The Task Force will establish a fair and inclusive selection process to ensure the most qualified candidates are appointed. To be considered, candidates must be nominated. The Task Force will seek nominations from an array of literary sources and individuals including, but not limited to: college and university literature and poetry departments; libraries, literary organizations, societies, and centers; poetry book organizations, publishers, and editors; primary, intermediate, and high school faculty and staff; directors of literary and poetry reading series; and non-literary members of the community. Self-nominations are also permitted and encouraged.

The Cultural Development Division will convene the Task Force, with personnel subject to change at the discretion of the City Manager. The Task Force will review nominations and make recommendations to the Cultural Development Division, who will forward to the City Manager’s Office for consideration.

The Worcester Poet Laureate Program is designed to promote appreciation of the diverse spirits and voices of Worcester’s cross-cultural communities. Both Poet Laureates will have significant connection to the Worcester community, and will be willing to foster even deeper roots throughout their term. The Youth Poet Laureate must be between 12 and 19 years of age on January 1, 2020, and demonstrate an interest in the creative arts. The Poet Laureate should demonstrate excellence in their artistic work, and will have received wide recognition with both the poetic/literary field and with their readers.

Selection Criteria
Worcester writers with deep connection to the cultural life of the City will be considered for the Poet Laureate appointment. Youth poets, age 12 to 19 as of January 1, 2020, will be considered for the Youth Poet Laureate role. Additional selection criteria include:

• The literary excellence of the author’s work;
• The impact of the author on other writers, and on the literature of Worcester and its diverse voices;
• The ability and willingness of the author to conduct required public engagement duties; and
• The local, national, and international reputation of the author and his or her work

Scoring

• 80 percent of the total score will be based on quality of artistic work samples, curriculum vitae or resume, as well as other professional accomplishments (press coverage, exhibitions, programs, etc.).
• 20 percent of the total score will be based on quality of the proposed project, such as new work ideas, community presentation, and collaborative ideas.

Term and Responsibilities – Scope of Work
Each year, Poet Laureate appointees will be expected to communicate their experience widely to peers and City communities. Over the course of the three-year appointment, renewable after the first year, the City of Worcester Poet Laureate:
• Provides no less than four school visits annually;
• Performs no less than two public readings annually. The readings may be original works created for a specific event, past work appropriate to the occasion and audience, or historic works by past Worcester poets. Events and locations may be across the City in a location designated by the City Manager or the Cultural Development Officer, such as public building dedications, public art installations, or other community events;
• Educate Worcester residents, visitors, civic and elected leaders, young people, adults, seniors, and students of all ages about the value of poetry and creative expression through self-coordinated or community-partnered events and activities, as approved by the Cultural Development Officer;
• Mentor Youth Poet Laureate; and
• Create at least one commemorative poem annually about Worcester.
Over the course of a two-year appointment, the City of Worcester Youth Poet Laureate will:
• Embark on two years of opportunities as an ambassador to literacy, arts, and youth expression, as well as a library book tour;
• Represent the City of Worcester in the public realm as deemed appropriate; and
• Create at least one commemorative poem annually about Worcester.
Honorarium
The Worcester Poet Laureate receives an annual honorarium of $1,000, to be contributed from public and private sources. This award will be based on benchmarks established in a legal contract. The Worcester Youth Poet Laureate receives a $2,500 scholarship, as well as a $500 stipend honorarium, to be contributed from private sources.

Deadline for Nominations
All nominations and applications must be received by 9 a.m. on December 9, 2019, or postmarked by December 9, 2019.

Instruction for Submitting Applications
For consideration, a completed Application Cover Sheet and all required collateral materials must be received or post marked by December 9, 2019. All materials can be found on the City of Worcester website. These items can be emailed to Culture@WorcesterMA.gov, or mailed to:

Cultural Development Officer
Attn: City of Worcester Poet Laureate Program
455 Main Street, Room 409
Worcester, MA 01608

View the Applications Online:

2019 Worcester Poet Laureate Application

2019 Worcester Youth Poet Laureate Application

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An On-Air Interview with WXLO’s Vicki Greene

by Cassie Lane

Cultural Development Intern, Summer 2019

On June 9^th, 2019, 104.5 WXLO-FM radio host Vicki Greene invited creative community members Hank VonHellion, Nikki Erskine, and Yaffa Fain to discuss City-wide art programs and cultural initiatives currently taking place in Worcester.

The City’s growing art and culture boom has brought a revitalization of creativity and inclusivity to the area. Calling upon local artists, businesses, and organizations, the City has implemented a number of programs and events to further support and promote the arts and to build a close, creative community.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition and Worcester PopUp are dedicated catalysts for the creative community, making the arts more accessible for everyone and fostering a renaissance of creative and cultural growth in the City.

The Worcester Windows Project is one specific community program that is helping to foster the arts through showcasing the diverse and rich works of local artists, while partnering with local businesses and organizations to create exhibition spaces.

Yaffa Fain, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division, says “I think that’s one of the really interesting things about what we’re doing now, is we’re not just focusing on arts, we’re thinking creatively, and what does that mean beyond just your day-to-day museum experience? What does that mean in the general community?”

This push for a creative reawakening has sparked the implementation of programs such as Make Music Day – Worcester, Out To Lunch, Movies on the Common, and more, as well as the renovation of older sites like the Worcester Memorial Auditorium into restaurants, movie theaters, and more general creative spaces.

Listen to Vicky Greene’s broadcast to learn more about all the exciting things the Worcester Cultural Coalition and PopUp have been up to!

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The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is seeking community input through its 2019 Funding Priorities Survey. This survey will help the Council determine its funding priorities for the upcoming 2020 grant cycle, which begins September 1^st, 2019.

The survey is an opportunity for the community to provide input on arts and culture in Worcester. The responses directly influence where the Council allocates grant funds. The survey takes about 3-4 minutes to complete.

The survey will be open through August 28^th, 2019 and can be accessed and completed via Google Docs.

Because WAC is responsible for distributing public dollars, the Council solicits and collects public opinion about how to best distribute those funds through its Funding Priorities Survey. Like most Local Cultural Councils, WAC typically receives more grant requests than can be funded, and strong priorities based on community input can help guide its grant-making decisions. All LCCs are required to conduct a community input process, and LCCs receiving more than $20,000 must develop funding priorities.

In the 2018-2019 Community Input Survey, participants said they’d like WAC to focus on Music, Children’s Programming, and Performing Arts. The Council gave projects and programs aligned with those priorities more weight when it reviewed and voted on grants. Overall, WAC awarded 46 grants totaling more than $127,000 for arts and cultural programs in Worcester last year, supporting programs and organizations including: “Worcester’s Got (African) Talent” with Crocodile River Music, The “Mindful Me” after-school program at Woodland Academy, a “Teen Arts Program” at Main IDEA, the “Youth Harmony Recording Program” with WICN Radio, the 16^th Annual Asian Festival, Art in the Park 2019, and many more. The 2019 grant allocation also included two $5,000 Artist Fellowships, which were awarded to musician Thomas Lubelczyk and artist Scott Boilard.

This year, WAC is seeking to gain more overall participation in its Funding Priorities Survey, and wider demographics among survey participants. “It’s important for us to ensure the survey respondents reflect Worcester’s diverse community. We hope to achieve that by widely distributing the survey and encouraging anyone who resides or works in Worcester to participate,” said Samantha Fiakofi, Worcester Arts Council Vice Chair.

The Worcester Arts Council is part of a statewide network of 329 Local Cultural Councils supported through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). The Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences. This program assists the Worcester community in the development of local projects and adds to the cultural vitality of the city.

The current Worcester Arts Council members are Meaghan Hardy-Lavoie (Chair), Samantha Fiakofi (Vice Chair), Stephanie Mireku (Secretary), Mitchell Perry (Treasurer), Thomas Conroy, Yasmin Goris, Lisa Malo, Gabriel Rollins, and Amanda Kidd Schall.

About the Worcester Arts Council:

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is a municipal body consisting of nine members appointed by the City Manager. The Council is charged with promoting the cultural affairs of the City of Worcester and allocating funds received by the Council for cultural projects and programs. The mission of the Worcester Arts Council is to promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretative sciences to improve the quality of life for Worcester residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our City. The Worcester Arts Council is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information visit: www.worcesterma.gov/development/cultural-development/worcester-arts-council.

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council:

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more information visit: http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/about/about.asp

The post Worcester Arts Council Seeks Community Input on Funding Priorities for 2020 Grants appeared first on WCC.

City of Worcester Announces Completion of First Comprehensive Cultural Plan 

Plan promotes a shared vision to recognize the power of culture and make communities better places for people to live, learn, work and thrive

  View the full Cultural Plan              View the Executive Summary  

Worcester City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 to adopt item 11B which was a recommendation by the City Manager’s office to adopt to the first ever cultural plan for the City of Worcester. The City, the Worcester Cultural Coalition, and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation will all take the next steps in executing the plan.

The City of Worcester, in partnership with Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the Worcester Cultural Coalition, is pleased to announce the completion of the City of Worcester Cultural Plan, “Becoming Worcester: The Evolution of a Creative City.”

A year in the making, the Cultural Plan is a foundational document for municipal cultural planning and service delivery in Worcester. The plan is primarily funded by the Barr Foundation through its Creative Commonwealth Initiative, the Worcester Cultural Coalition, and is a fulfillment of the City’s cultural compact with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which was designed to “promote a shared vision for cities and towns to recognize the power of culture and make communities better places for people to live, work and thrive.”

“The Worcester Cultural Plan is unique in that it is embedded in the City’s Masterplan,” noted City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. “Arts and culture are catalysts for creative economic development, embedding art into our streetscapes and design, lifting up our rich immigrant experiences and shining a spotlight on all we offer, knowing that great cities embrace arts and culture.”

While the plan lays out 90 strategies over 10 years, 20 strategic priorities were identified as actionable for 2020 by the City, GWCF, and the Worcester Cultural Coalition. Priorities include shaping cohesive branding and imaging for the “Worcester Story”; engaging “9-to-5ers” in the downtown area through increased offerings and activities; and designing and launching an in-artist residence program to incorporate creative design on the front-end of projects in municipal government, business, and neighborhoods.

“This plan will enable Worcester to take full advantage of the opportunities for quality of life and economic development that a robust arts, culture and creative sector can bring,” said Ann T. Lisi, CEO and President of Greater Worcester Community Foundation. “Providing a clear strategy regarding our cultural resources, we hope this plan can be a model for others in the Commonwealth to take action in strengthening the arts and culture presence in their communities.”

The Worcester Cultural Plan involved months of community engagement with citizens, organizations, businesses, and others. Hundreds of individuals participated in forums, discussions, and surveys to develop the plan. Facilitation was provided by a consultant team led by Tom Borrup of Creative Community Builders, specialists in cultural development. An advisory team managed the process and has formed cross-sector working groups to oversee implementation, measure progress, identify resources, and inform modifications.

“Arts and culture brings our city to life, helps us vision and experience the world in new ways, provides healing and gives voice to all. That is why the time is right for a new Cultural Plan which embraces the arts as not just nice, but necessary for Worcester to thrive and evolve into a truly creative city,” noted Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester.

The Cultural Plan was shared with City Council officials on June 25, 2019.

View the full Cultural Plan          View the Executive Summary

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