Gift the power of creativity to Worcester organizations this December.

WORCESTER, MA – The Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) is launching the first Worcester Creative Giving Campaign, an initiative which amplifies the fundraising efforts of dozens of local arts and cultural organizations. The Campaign will run December 1 – December 31, 2020. The public can learn more and find organizations of interest at WorcesterCulture.org/Give.

“From local museums, music and theater venues, and performance groups to galleries, educational institutions, festivals, and beyond, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the continuity of the creative sector,” said Erin Williams, Executive Director of the WCC.

According to a November report from the Mass Cultural Council, artists and cultural organizations in Massachusetts reported $504 million in lost revenue and over 30,000 jobs impacted since March. “Organizations within Massachusetts’ cultural sector were among the first to voluntarily close and will be the last to fully reopen because of COVID,” said David T. Slatery, Acting Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council.

“During times of seclusion, we rely on arts and culture to bring us comfort and joy, and ultimately keep our community connected,” said WCC Chair Tracy Kraus. She added that, “arts and culture breathe life into our city. Supporting nonprofit and cultural organizations is critical to protecting our city’s vitality for years to come.”

Founded in 2000, the Worcester Cultural Coalition is a public-private partnership between the City of Worcester and nearly 80 cultural nonprofits in greater Worcester. Through collective efforts, the WCC supports and advocates for the arts at local, state, and national levels. “We’re fortunate that Worcester’s creative institutions recognize the value of community,” Williams said. “Because the Coalition formed 20 years ago, we’re not facing the challenges of the pandemic alone. We’re facing them together.”

At the 9-month mark since COVID-19 disrupted daily life in Massachusetts, cultural organizations of all sizes are facing significant financial difficulties. With the next steps around the virus uncertain, the costly operational changes required to ensure safety and fund ongoing programming are out of reach for many. Supporting greater Worcester’s cultural organizations through collective work, the WCC’s Creative Giving Campaign encourages the public to select one or more local organizations which are accepting donations.

“Through public giving support, Greater Worcester’s cultural organizations can raise the funds that may make the difference between closing the book and creating the next chapter,” said Williams.

The Worcester Creative Giving Campaign launching on Giving Tuesday is no coincidence. Donors are gifting the power of creativity to a city when they need it the most.

“After all, what is Worcester without the arts?” Williams asked.

For the full report from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, visit: https://massculturalcouncil.org/blog/survey-shows-continued-staggering-impacts-of-covid-19-on-states-cultural-sector/

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Worcester, MA  – The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is now accepting grant applications for its FY21 funding cycle. The deadline to apply is December 14, 2020 (originally November 16, 2020). WAC accepts grant applications from individuals and non-profit organizations, from associations that can establish a non-profit objective, and from schools, libraries, and other public agencies.

“WAC grants support artists, creatives, organizations, and community members across Worcester, all of whom are vital to our community,” said Worcester Arts Council Chair Yasmin Goris. “We look forward to seeing a diverse range of creative, innovative, meaningful projects from our grant applicants this year.”

The amount WAC will have available for grants this year is yet to be determined by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), as the MCC’s planning for FY21 is based on Commonwealth budgets, which are delayed due to the economic impact of COVID-19.

“It’s challenging to head into our grant cycle with uncertainty,” said Goris. “Navigating the impact of COVID-19 has been incredibly difficult for our local arts community. It’s also shown this community’s unique ability to adapt, innovate, create, and inspire, under any circumstance.”

Erin WIlliams, Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester added, “While we may not be sure of WAC’s total grant amount available for FY21 until later in the fall, we are certain that, now more than ever, funding for arts and culture is critical. We are committed to supporting arts culture and interpretive projects and programs which bring us together via creativity here in Worcester.”

Each year, WAC seeks community input through its annual Funding Priorities Survey. This year, there was more survey participation than ever before. While all projects within the realm of arts, sciences, and humanities will be considered, based on the feedback received from the Worcester community, WAC will give preference to grant applicants and projects that align with the following priorities for FY21 grants:

1. Project Categories | Projects that focus on Public Art, Arts Education & Instruction, Children’s Programs and Musical Performances.
2. Cultural Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | Projects that elevate the voices and experiences of historically marginalized groups to highlight the current and historical diversity of Worcester. Projects should create opportunities for artists and community members who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQX, refugee, immigrant, or person living with a disability.
3. Locations | Projects that take place in or benefit areas of Worcester that are historically underserved.

WAC will also host a virtual Grant Workshop via Zoom on October 7, 2020 at 7pm ET. Anyone interested in applying for a grant is encouraged to attend. Pre-register at: 

WAC offers two types of competitive grants for arts and culture in Worcester: Project Grants and Fellowship Grants.

Project Grants support individuals and organizations from Worcester County in developing projects and programs that are innovative, collaborative, provide a public benefit, reach under-served populations, and demonstrate creative excellence. All projects must take place in the City of Worcester within the 2021 calendar year.

Fellowship Grants assist artists of all trades, scholars, and literary persons in developing and exploring their work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation. Through its Fellowship Grants, WAC honors individuals who are innovative, demonstrate excellence in their field, and represent the best of Worcester’s creative community. Fellowship applicants must maintain a residential, commercial, or studio address in the City of Worcester. WAC is one of only a few Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) in Massachusetts to offer Fellowship Grants. Due to the uncertainty about its available grant funding this year, WAC may allocate from one Fellowship Grant in the amount of $2,500 up to two Fellowship Grants in the amount of $5,000 each. The number of Fellowship Grants available and the amount(s) will be determined by WAC depending on overall available funds for FY21.

The 2021 Grant Guidelines and Applications for Project and Fellowship Grants can be found on the City of Worcester website.

Apply for a grant online at: mass-culture.org/Worcester

All applications must be submitted by 3pm November 16, 2020. This year, WAC will only accept online applications. Paper applications will not be accepted. Late applications cannot be accepted for any reason.

The Council will review all grant applications November through December 2020. Applications who are denied funding will be notified in January 2021. Applicants who are awarded grants will be notified in February 2021.

The current Worcester Arts Council members are Yasmin Goris (Chair), Jennifer Riley (Vice Chair), Lisa Malo (Secretary), Mitchell Perry (Treasurer), Thomas Conroy, David Filar, Lisa Malo, and George Sedares. Those interested in serving on the Worcester Arts Council can find out more or apply at: www.worcesterma.gov/boards-commissions.

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/wac

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

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The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is looking to redesign its logo, and is inviting Worcester-based creatives to apply to work on the project.

The selected designer will receive a stipend of $1,500. Those interested can learn more or apply by September 30, 2020, at: https://airtable.com/shrGTsm2xImP4gvwR

Worcester Arts Council Chair Yasmin Goris says now is the perfect time for WAC to rebrand.

“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. And, there is so much energy pulsing through our creative community right now,” Goris says. “We are inspired by the way Worcester’s artists and creatives continue to grow and adapt to the times — there is a lot of passion, vibrance, and talent here. We want the WAC brand to really reflect that back to our community.”

For its logo redesign project, WAC wanted an application process that would be accessible to experienced and up-and-coming creatives alike. The online application is simple, and has flexibility for both professionals and emerging designers to share their ideas, work samples, and information. It was also important to WAC that funds for this project go directly to the local community, so only those who live in Worcester are eligible to apply.

“There are so many local creatives whose work we already admire, and we hope to get to know even more Worcester artists and designers through our logo redesign project. We are excited to see a variety of talent through our open application process — whether it’s someone who already has professional experience in logo design or someone who is just starting out,” said Goris. “First and foremost, WAC wants to work with someone who has fresh ideas and creative chops. The right person will also understand how to effectively collaborate, implement feedback, and work efficiently to deliver a great final product on time.”

WAC will review all applicants in October and make its final selection by November. The Council will then work with the selected designer to complete the logo redesign project by the end of December. WAC will roll out its new logo early next year, around the time the Council announces its 2021 grant recipients.

In addition to the logo redesign project, WAC has several other important activities underway:

• WAC’s 2020 Funding Priorities Survey is live through September 7, 2020. The survey is used to gather community input on arts and culture in Worcester. The answers directly impact how WAC allocates its grant funds.

• There are currently two open seats on the Council. Those interested in serving can learn more or apply any time. Applicants are considered on a rolling basis.

• WAC’s 2021 grant application will be open October 1, 2020 through  November 16, 2020. The Council will also be hosting a grant workshop to assist those interested in applying for Fellowship or Project grants. More details will be announced soon.

• WAC is actively working with the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development office and other local arts and cultural organizations to plan the Worcester Book Festival, which was originally slated for April 2020 but has been postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19.

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/cultural-development/worcester-arts-council

The current Worcester Arts Council members are Yasmin Goris (Chair), Jennifer Riley (Vice Chair), Lisa Malo (Secretary), Mitchell Perry (Treasurer), Thomas Conroy, David Filar, and George Sedares. The Council currently has two vacant seats. Those interested in serving can learn more or apply any time. Applicants are considered on a rolling basis.

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The City of Worcester, in collaboration with over a dozen community partners, will celebrate Women’s Equality Day and the centennial anniversary of the 19^th Amendment’s ratification with a series of events this August.

A Worcester Women’s Suffrage Working Group has met regularly since January 2020, discussing how to best celebrate the centennial anniversary of the 19^th Amendment to the US Constitution. Made up of local leaders, creatives, and activists, the working group, “recognize the many challenges women have faced historically, and continue to face daily, to ensure their voices are heard. The group is excited to celebrate Worcester’s role in the suffrage movement and highlight contemporary activists from the community,” said Yaffa Fain, Program Assistant for the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division.

View all Worcester Women’s Suffrage events here.

The main event, “Worcester Women Changemakers: A Celebration of Women’s Equality Day and Suffrage,” takes place August 26^th from 7-8pm and can be viewed through the City of Worcester’s Facebook page and public access channels, The program will feature a panel discussion, performances, and a series of readings highlighting diverse historical and contemporary voices. All content centers around the Women’s Suffrage Movement, voter registration and activation, female empowerment, and community activism. The City of Worcester and Worcester Cultural Coalition will produce Worcester Women’s Changemakers with community organizers, local leaders, cultural and historical institutions, artists, and youth groups.

“Worcester played a unique role in the fight for women’s rights,” said Erin Williams, Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester. “Thanks to our location and Worcester’s long history with activism, Worcester county was home to many suffragists, and Worcester was the site of the first two National Women’s Rights Convention in 1850 and 1851 – 70 years before the passage of the 19th Amendment.”

“When women and people of color were denied the right to vote, their perspectives and concerns weren’t included in creating policy. When these perspectives and concerns are challenged as they have been in recent years, you see record numbers of women and people of color on voting day – not just to vote, but on the ballot as well. Representation matters, representation empowers real progress at all levels,” said Massachusetts Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler. “The power of women is no longer a question, but an answer to the problems plaguing our world,” she added.

“While more work was needed to ensure voting rights to all, ratification of the 19^th Amendment was an important step toward that goal,” Williams added.

“We are excited to celebrate 100 years of the Women’s Suffrage movement,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “We are proud of the City’s history in advancing women’s rights, and, with help from dedicated groups such as the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, continue to work toward greater equality and opportunities for all women in Worcester.”

Additional events from the Worcester Women’s Suffrage Working Group include:

• August 12, 6pm: Voting in 2020/Getting Out The Vote. The League of Women Voters, in conjunction with MA Women of Color Coalition, Worcester Voter Registration Initiative, and the City of Worcester’s City Clerk, will present a webinar with speaker Senator Harriet Chandler.

• August 24, 7 – 7:30pm: Madame Secretary, Francis Perkins. The Worcester Historical Museum’s fifth PRETTY POWERFUL program is a one-person show written and performed by Ann Marie Shea. During the Great Depression, the stock market crash of 1929 led to massive unemployment and foreclosures, and in 1933 the new president handed these problems to Frances Perkins – a woman! This engaging show highlights Perkins’ private and professional challenges, including her actual words and excerpts from “The Roosevelt I Knew,” by Frances Perkins, used by permission of Curtis Brown Ltd., all rights reserved.

• August 26: Suffrage100MA will host a virtual commemorative event with speakers including Governor Charlie Baker, First Lady Lauren Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, US Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and more.

• August 27, 12pm: Women at WAM, Highlights from the Collection. In honor of Worcester Women’s Suffrage, the Worcester Art Museum has created a video with highlighting the artwork of women, as well as works of art that celebrate the powerful impact of women on our nation’s history in its collection.

• August 27, 6-7pm: Women of Consequence Award Ceremony. The City of Worcester Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (ACSW) celebrates the 2020 Women of Consequence. These Awards are given in recognition of women who have shown great leadership and tangible results as an agent of change in Worcester. The 2020 Award recognizes Etel Haxhiaj as its Woman of Consequence, and Safiya Nafai as the Youth Woman of Consequence. Worcester Youth Poet Laureate Amina Mohammed will perform, and Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia will deliver a keynote address.

Partners in Worcester Women’s Suffrage events include 4^th Wall Stage Company, ArtsWorcester, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Guertin Graphics, Latino Education Institute, Massachusetts State Representative Marry Keefe, Massachusetts Senator Harriette Chandler, Preservation Worcester, Suffrage100MA, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester Historical Museum, Worcester League of Women Voters, and the Worcester Women’s Oral History Project.

Initial plans for a march, in-person voter registration, live performances, and other festive activities were adjusted to virtual programming due to COVID-19. The full schedule of programs is being finalized and can be viewed at worcesterculture.org/19th.

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A Letter from the Worcester Arts Council – July 27, 2020

Hi Everyone –

We want to give you an update on our upcoming 2021 grant cycle.

Typically, the Commonwealth’s operating budget is set by July 1 each year, and the Mass Cultural Council (MCC) releases its spending plan in August. However, the MCC’s planning for Fiscal Year 2021 is delayed due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The Legislature’s budget process is delayed this year as policy-makers work to understand the current revenue picture and potential federal aid. The State government is currently operating on a month-to-month basis.

Because of all of this, the Mass Cultural Council is delaying the Local Cultural Council (LCC) grant cycle timeline by one month. This means our local grant applications will now open on Thursday, October 1st. The deadline to submit your application will now be Monday, November 16th. 

This timeline is based on the hope that there will be a state budget in place by mid-November. If there is no budget in place at that time, the MCC may need to further adjust this timeline.

The grant allocation for Worcester will be determined after the FY21 State budget is signed into law, and the governing Council approves the Agency’s FY21 spending plan. We have no way of knowing the amount of our allocation for FY21 at this time.

We hope to have more information in September. In the meantime, we are continuing to prepare!

We’re still gathering community input through our Funding Priorities Survey. We are extending the survey deadline as well, so it will now close September 7th (Labor Day). The answers directly impact how we allocate these grant funds in Worcester, so it’s super important. It only takes about 3 minutes to complete, and you could win Bose headphones just for taking it! If you haven’t yet, you can take the survey HERE.

The Worcester Arts Council will vote on and announce our FY21 funding priorities in September.

We also have one open seat on the Council! We would love to welcome a new member in time for our grant cycle. If you’re interested or know someone who would make a great addition, find out more or apply HERE.

Finally, thank you for all your support and patience as we work together during this extraordinary year to ensure that the Worcester Arts Council can continue to help enrich our local neighborhoods with arts and culture.

If you have any questions, please get in touch any time.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

The Worcester Arts Council

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Weigh in on Arts & Culture in Worcester and Enter to Win Bose Headphones

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is seeking community input on arts and culture in Worcester through its 2020 Funding Priorities Survey.

The online survey will be open now through September 7, 2020, and can be completed here. Responses to this brief survey will help determine the Council’s funding priorities for the 2021 grant cycle, which begins October 1, 2020.

“Taking WAC’s 2020 Funding Priorities Survey might be the simplest way anyone in Worcester can weigh in on the direction of arts and culture in the City. It takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and the answers directly influence where our annual grant funding goes,” said Worcester Arts Council Chair Yasmin Goris. “Plus, this year you also have a chance to win a pair of Bose headphones by completing the survey! It’s a win-win-win.”

Those who complete the survey also have a chance to win a pair of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 ($399 value). The Worcester Cultural Coalition has teamed up with WAC to help encourage survey participation by offering this raffle prize.

“As our Cultural Plan reflects, the Worcester Cultural Coalition’s efforts include creating equity in the arts in order to tell the full Worcester story. The input of all of Worcester’s populations is invaluable to these efforts,” said Erin Williams, Executive Director of the Worcester Cultural Coalition. The Worcester Cultural Plan can be found here.

Because WAC is responsible for distributing public dollars, the Council solicits 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. Strong priorities based on community input help guide its grant-making decisions.

This year, WAC is looking to gain more overall participation, with wider demographics among survey participants.

“It is so important that the responses to our Funding Priorities Survey truly represent all the people of Worcester and reflect what is important to our diverse community. The Worcester Arts Council is planning extensive outreach in the City and will be distributing this survey widely. We strongly encourage anyone who lives or works in Worcester to take part,” Goris said.

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 Yasmin Goris (Chair), Jeremy Bouchard (Secretary), Mitchell Perry (Treasurer), Thomas Conroy, David Filar, Lisa Malo, Jennifer Riley, and George Sedares. The Council currently has one vacant seat. Those interested in serving on the Worcester Arts Council can find out more or apply on the City of Worcester website.

• July 27, 2020 Update: Please note that due to updates from the Mass Cultural Council, the statewide organization which funds the Worcester Arts Council, deadlines have been adjusted. The Funding Priorities Survey will now close September 7, allowing more time for public input. Applications for the 2021 grant cycle will be accepted October 1 – November 15. An additional announcement on this adjustment to follow.

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We are facing a crisis that must be addressed now.  The Worcester Cultural Coalition — representing arts, culture, and creative nonprofits committed to equity for all — stands together in outrage, sadness, and commitment, to address the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department on Memorial Day.  This unconscionable act, and the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, are but another example of the systemic racism experienced by Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

Our hearts and minds go out to members of our immediate and national communities feeling pain, rage, and exhaustion resulting from the oppression which has been part of the American experience for centuries. We have the responsibility to address structural injustice, oppression, racism, and abuses of power. Now is the moment for change.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition’s mission is to draw on Worcester’s diverse cultural assets to (among other things) support active creative engagement for all. Arts and Culture create opportunities to engage with, record, and experience our world through multiple perspectives. Through arts and culture, we express our past and futures, our sorrows and joys, our fears and ambitions – our creative expressions are the purest form of our humanity itself. In these times where the definition of humanity seems up for debate, let us be clear: The Black experience is part of the human experience. Black Lives Matter. Black and marginalized voices must be heard.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive community for all. Now is the time for our creative and cultural community to acknowledge and help end the cycles of violence, to address structural racism, and to right injustices through our collective, creative, and cultural work.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition Board of Directors will be acting on the Worcester Cultural Plan, and encouraging our fellow WCC members and communities to join us:

• Embrace and foster cultural and creative expression, ways of life, activities, and organizations meaningful to all residents, while providing equitable opportunities and access to resources.
• Select and Elect leaders, staff, artists, and creatives from communities of color, thereby increasing the social and cultural perspectives of existing institutions, civic organizations, and the political arena, all of which are critical to the community’s success.
• Make Worcester a welcoming and inclusive community with a sense of connection, pride, and stewardship among people of all backgrounds, thus encouraging positive associations that maintain and honor cultural identity.
• Establish and strive for aggressive diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) goals.
• Create opportunities for Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian, and other people of color to be heard and seen through cultural and artistic mediums.
• Listen to perspectives and experiences which differ from our own, and challenge ourselves to not just promote them to others, but to also reflect upon them ourselves.
• Educate ourselves as to white privilege, Anti-Racism, and how we can address systemic racism to build inclusivity in all creative and cultural endeavors.
• Build community through listening, partnering, empowering and acting on creating equity for all.

In these ways, the Worcester Cultural Coalition commits to addressing racial and systemic injustices, and renews its commitment to arts and cultural expression for all. Arts and culture are not just nice, but necessary to a Worcester which can thrive and evolve into a truly creative, equitable community.

Sincerely,

Erin Williams, Executive Director

Tracy Kraus, President of the Board

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COVID-19 has changed our way of live indefinitely. The cultural sector has been deeply impacted, and arts organizations are feeling the financial stress like never before. Read on for details on local, state-wide, and national effects to culture, and for ways to take action to ensure creative workers and institutions aren’t left behind as budgets are reevaluated and funds distributed.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) hosted a survey for Worcester cultural organizations. Respondents ranged from small volunteer efforts to large institutions, including the performing arts, museums, the sciences, visual arts, public radio, festivals, game development, and more. As of May 18, the 34 respondents reported revenue loss of $6.29 million, with a total expected loss exceeding $12.6 million. Thus far, 21% of organizations with paid employees have laid off or furloughed staff, over a third have reduced salaries and hours, and at least 70% have applied for financial aid through the PPP or SBA’s EIDL. View the data in a slideshow here. This survey was only open for 4 days to make the data available during a recent Town Hall with Congressman Jim McGovern hosted by the WCC and the MCC.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) has completed two surveys of both arts organizations and individual creative workers in Massachusetts. In its first survey released March 24, 566 cultural organizations reported over $55 million in losses. Less than a month later on April 15, nearly 700 organizations reported losses exceeding $260 million, and over 15,000 jobs had been impacted by layoffs, furloughs, and reductions to work hours or pay.  More information, and links to these surveys, can be viewed at MassCulturalCouncil.org.

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) updates their national findings weekly. As of June 1, 2020, over 12,000 nonprofit arts and cultural respondents have reported financial losses estimated at $5.9 billion, with 67% expecting a “severe” impact on their organization, and 39% saying they are “likely” to have to reduce staff. Of course, these losses extend beyond the cultural sector itself – it’s estimated that $7.3 billion has been lost in event-related spending at local businesses such as restaurants, retail, and lodging. Of the 19,000+ individual artists who responded, 94% are losing income and 62% are fully unemployed, and 66% are unable to access supplies, resources, spaces, and people necessary for their work. Despite these foreboding numbers, the AFTA survey also found a tremendous resilience: 67% of organizations and 75% of artists are creating content to raise community spirit, improve morale, and create community cohesion.

In reviewing data gathered before COVID-19, the 2017 Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study found that just in Worcester, arts and culture is a $125.7 million industry. This industry doesn’t just enhance quality of life, but its economic benefits reach far beyond the walls of its venues.

The data make it clear – for the arts to survive, action is needed. Many organizations are offering suggestions on how to advocate for the arts and cultural sector, including Americans for the Arts and MASSCreative, which lists ideas including contacting your elected officials, signing petitions, writing a letter to an editor, creating and sharing a self portrait, and ways to advocating for funding at the national, state, and local levels.

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The City of Worcester Cultural Development Division, in partnership with the Worcester Cultural Coalition and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, is accepting proposals from artists and designers for the Give Me A Sign project.

“The ‘Give Me A Sign’ project highlights the relationship between creative expression and mental health, which is especially relevant during COVID-19,” said Deputy Cultural Development Officer Che Anderson. “Artistic and creative outlets contribute positively to our community’s well-being and have proven valuable in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.”

To provide the community with moments of inspiration, education, and optimism, the Give Me A Sign project will provide visual encouragement throughout Worcester on 12” x 18” metal signs. The Request For Qualifications on the City of Worcester website lists various inspiration for messaging including “call your grandparents,” “you can and you will,” and “tomalo con calma.”

Artists are invited to submit their qualifications until May 26 and will be notified of their selection by June 2. Once notified, finalists will have until June 9 to submit digital designs for consideration. Up to 19 designers will be selected by a committee, which will coordinate sign fabrication and place signs throughout Worcester. Honorariums in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to the creators of the designs chosen.

“With the adoption of the Cultural Plan in 2019, the City aims to share Worcester’s story through embedding art into our everyday lives,” said Erin Williams, Cultural Officer for the City of Worcester. “Worcester is committed and excited to offer 19 paid creative opportunities to artists, especially in these uncertain times.”

The Requests for Qualifications are open to all artists, artist teams, and design professionals with experience in public art design. Professionals residing in or with studio space in the city of Worcester are encouraged to apply. The deadline to submit qualifications is May 26, 2020, with installation planned for June 16, 2020. The signs are expected to be on display through at least June 2021.

Artists and designers may submit their credentials using this Google Form.

For more information, including full project details, please click here.

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