The Worcester Cultural Coalition’s members make it easy to support the local economy this holiday season – read on for suggestions to give the gift of culture!

Jump to: Holiday Experiences • Creative Fun + Education • Cultural Institutions • Memberships + Subscriptions • Music Performances • Tangible Gifts • Theatre



Holiday Experiences

If “quality time” is your love language, there are several festive events during which you and yours can make memories to last (and get some sweet pics for the ‘gram). 

The Worcester Youth Orchestras present their most popular concert of the year at Mechanics Hall on December 17th! The Annual Family Holiday Concert includes festive music, food, and carols.

The Old Sturbridge Village campus is decorated for Christmas in 19th century style through December 30th. Visitors can watch a nightly lighting ceremony, stroll through the Christmas Tree Trail and make a wish on the Christmas Wish Bridge, watch demonstrations of classic Christmas projects, visit with Santa, sample sweet treats, enjoy live music and storytelling, and more. Christmas By Candlelight runs through December 30th. 

Preservation Worcester’s annual Door to Door walking tour is a free, fun, inclusive, and educational event which celebrates the architecture, history, culture, and all that makes each neighborhood of our city beautiful, interesting, and unique. All city residents, institutions, and businesses are invited to participate by decorating their front doors and properties in any fashion, faith, or custom of their choosing. You can submit your decorated property and a short statement to share the inspiration, tradition, or context of your decoration – all submissions will be included in a digital booklet. Preservation Worcester’s “Door to Door Tour” is available December 4th through 31st.

Home for the Holidays is back at Salisbury Mansion! The Worcester Historical Museum invites you to tour Worcester’s only historic house museum – decorated to display the joy of the season. Tours are available from 1-4pm Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays through the end of the year. If that’s not romantic enough for you, candlelight tours are offered from 4:30-6pm Fridays through December 30th.  

Thousands of individual lights transform the formal garden spaces and conservatories of the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill into a magical winter wonderland during Night Lights. More than 50,000 guests explore the artfully-crafted displays each year – and yet no two years are the same. On view through December 31st, the 2022 display includes a model train, firepits, and a 100’ long rainbow tunnel.

The Worcester Art Museum is merry and bright for the holidays! For Deck the Halls! at WAM, Sally Jablonski of Herbert E. Berg Florist has artfully-decorated trees around the museum’s galleries, pulling inspiration from current WAM exhibits Jewels of the Nile and The Floating World. Concerts, performances, art making, and more fill out the program, which is on display through January 8th.



Creative Fun + Education

Snow is falling, chestnuts are roasting, and education is in the air! Give a creative gift this holiday season through lessons and workshops offered by cultural organizations right here in Worcester. 

For the nature lover in your life, Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center & Wildlife Sanctuary hosts a variety of fun and educational experiences, from bird walks to snowshoeing. Winter only comes once a year- these classes will help you make the most of it.

Give the gift of Flamenco! Both experienced dancers and newbies are welcomed in Flamenco Worcester’s dance classes. Suitable for all ages, classes are held Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, with children’s classes held Saturday morning. 

The Joy of Music Program offers private music lessons for voice and a wide range of instruments, as well as a variety of classes, from a children’s chorus to music theory lessons. 

The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill has a variety of classes this holiday season, for both children and adults. From yoga classes to forest expeditions, there are many unique gifts to choose from! Just don’t forget your winter coat. 

Students of all levels ages 6 and up can hone their skills in voice, woodwinds, percussion, and more through private lessons in voice, woodwind, percussion, and more at the Pakachoag Music School! New children in your life? You can also purchase a gift certificate for Music Together classes, for children ages 0-5 and their caregiver. 

For those who are a little more “hands on,” give the gift of a Technocopia class or workshop. Take advantage of the range of equipment available in the makerspace through workshops on 3D printing, embroidery lessons, and more!

Give the gift of performing art this year! In its Conservatory, The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts offers a range of theatrical workshops for all ages, from acting and improv to dance and design.

The Worcester Art Museum offers both remote and in-person programs for youth, teens, and adults. There are classes for all levels of artists, from novice to advanced. 

Learn how to use digital software to record, edit, and produce your own music! The Worcester Music Academy invites aspiring producers to learn valuable skills through music technology lessons. If traditional instruments are more your speed, Worcester Music Academy also offers private lessons for students ages 5 and up.



Cultural Institutions

Give your loved ones a reason to leave their houses on a snowy day through a gift from one of the many cultural institutions in Worcester. 

A museum gift certificate for the Museum of Russian Icons can be used for admission, the Museum Shop and Tea Room, or program registration! On top of displaying an incredible permanent collection and traveling exhibitions, the Museum of Russian Icons hosts a ton of fun and unique events, including film screenings, book readings, and creative classes. 

The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill offers Garden Gift Cards that can cover the cost of admission for the garden, as well as for classes, special events, and can also be used to purchase fun and festive gifts from the gift shop!

Recipients of a Pakachoag Music School gift card can use your gift toward music lessons, classes, and programs of their choice! Email info@pakmusic.org to purchase a gift card. 

A gift card for Technocopia can go towards a monthly membership or their many events, which include workshops, tool trainings, and multi-session classes.



Memberships + Subscriptions

For the dedicated lover of music, culture, science, and the humanities, why not consider a gift that keeps on giving? Many local organizations offer memberships and subscriptions, some of which come with perks that extend well beyond their physical locations. 

A membership to 90.5 WICN comes with several benefits. In addition to supporting public radio, members get exclusive presale access to WICN events, live-streams, and festivals, as well as a chance at monthly giveaways and special events hosted through the station. 

ArtsWorcester memberships help both new and established artists develop through connecting them to exhibition opportunities and gallery shows, as well as providing a space to network and meet fellow artists.

With great memberships comes great responsibility. Choose wisely, as a Mass Audubon membership gives free admission to 60+ wildlife sanctuaries across Massachusetts (including Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester) as well as discounts on seasonal events, classes, and purchases from the gift shops.

With a membership to the EcoTarium, your recipient can receive free admission to the museum for the whole year, as well as discounted access to special events and reduced prices in the gift shop. Additionally, EcoTarium members get free or reduced admission to over 350 science and technology centers across the country and world, through the Association of Science and Technology Center program. 

This holiday season, why not be a part of history? A membership to Mechanics Hall, celebrating its 165th year in 2022, provides complimentary admission to the Celebration of Excellence and Annual Meeting, as well as discounted access to the Bull Mansion and reduced ticket prices. 

Members of the Museum of Russian Icons receive free admission to the Museum for a whole year, as well as discounts on gift shop items and programs. In addition, members receive invitations to exclusive special events. Sounds intriguing? You can purchase a gift membership online!

A yearly membership to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill comes with free general admission, as well as discounts to the Garden Gift Shop, and savings on classes and special events. Plus, a membership comes with exclusive privileges (including discounts) at over 340 gardens across North America.

Travel back in time this holiday season with a membership to Old Sturbridge Village! Members receive free daytime admission to Old Sturbridge Village and Coggeshall Farm Museum, and additional benefits such as discounts at the gift shop and access to exclusive special events. Purchase a gift membership in December and get 10% off!

We all know Worcester has some amazing architecture, but how much do you really know about it? This year, gifting a membership to Preservation Worcester will give your loved ones the opportunity to save big while learning more about our city through free admission to select walking tours, lectures, and receptions. 

 A Technocopia membership will give the DIYer in your life access to all shared equipment and common spaces in the makerspace! Equipment in the 12,000 square foot facility includes shops (wood, metal, laser cutting, and glass flameworking), a 3D printer, an electronics bay, textile and design studios, and more.

All who lives, works, or studies in Worcester are eligible for a WCCA-TV membership. Members can produce their own television programs, sponsor a broadcast, and learn about tv production. Student and senior discounts are available! 

This winter, support local performing arts through a membership to the WCLOC Theatre Company! Members can take advantage of the oldest active theater company in Worcester through discounts on workshops, invitations to exclusive events, voting rights at special meetings, and the ability to participate in WCLOC productions – both on and off stage. 

For the bookworm in your life, a Friends of the Library Membership from the Worcester Public Library will provide 20% off purchases from the Friends Bookstore, as well as invitations to special library events. 

A membership to the Worcester Art Museum comes with unlimited free admission to the galleries and the Museum Library, access to members-only presentations, and other great benefits. Plus, in the month of December, members receive 20% off at the Museum Shop!

Give the gift of poetry this year with a membership to the Worcester County Poetry Association. Membership benefits include free submission to the annual poetry contest, access to WCPA mailings, and a subscription to the Worcester Review. 

A Worcester Historical Museummembership provides free admission for a year to both WHM and Salisbury Mansion, as well as unlimited access to WHM’s research library. If that isn’t enough to tempt you, members also receive early admission to select exhibits, a discount on the Museum gift shop, and a coupon for a limited-edition book courtesy of Chandler House (while supplies last). 



Music Performances

Is caroling not enough for someone in your life? Give the gift of music this December with tickets, subscriptions, and memberships to one (or more!) of the many local musical organizations!

Purchase tickets to upcoming performances by the Master Singers of Worcester online and save money on each ticket!

A subscription to Music Worcester provides season-long benefits, including discounted tickets, premium seat selections, priority access to special events, and more. 

Free tickets and invitations to annual meetings? Say no more! A membership to Worcester’s own Salisbury Singers can get you this, plus additional benefits. 

Gifting a yearly subscription to the Worcester Chamber Music Society will get your recipient 20% off tickets and remove their ticket fees. 

Recognized by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as a leader in enriching the cultural life of the Commonwealth, the Worcester Symphony Orchestra will be performing around our region in the coming months. Tickets are available for upcoming performances at Mechanics Hall, the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, and more.

Support young artists this holiday season by purchasing tickets for upcoming Worcester Youth Orchestra performances. 



Tangible Gifts

Tis the season to shop local! Support Worcester organizations through purchasing your holiday gifts right here in the city. 

Check out an ArtsWorcester exhibition for the opportunity to support local artists by buying a unique piece! 

Choose from a variety of nature themed gifts from the Broad Meadow Brook gift shop. Don’t forget, Mass Audubon members get 10% off every purchase! 

For the theater lover in your life, the Calliope Productions gift shop sells merchandise including tote bags, sweatshirts, and more. 

The EcoTarium offers many fun gifts suitable for science lovers of all ages in their gift shop. They stock everything from field guides to science kits, so make sure you head over to the museum to check it out!

The Greater Worcester Orchestra shop offers apparel, household items, gifts, and more, so you can rep the GWO in your everyday life. Every purchase supports the Greater Worcester Orchestra’s mission of bringing the highest quality music to Worcester. 

Purchasing a gift from the Museum of Russian Icons Museum Shop and Tea Room is a great way to support organizations and designers who are dedicated to expanding access to both education and the arts.

The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill gift shop offers a variety of specially curated items, including books, gardening tools, stationary, and other fun seasonal items. Shop in person or online!

The No Evil Project sells merchandise to support their cause of challenging stereotypes and building a strong community. Plus, you can guarantee an original gift by purchasing customized merch with your own photos. 

Nothing fits a Worcester winter like some locally themed gifts! This holiday season, you can purchase a variety of Worcester themed merchandise from the Preservation Worcester gift shop. Preservation Worcester is now offering in-person pick-up for online orders as well.

For the art buff in your life, the Worcester Art Museum gift shop offers merchandise inspired by not only the permanent collection that we know and love, but museum exhibitions all around the world!



Theatre

Give your loved ones a night out on the town with the opportunity to enjoy live entertainment from one of Worcester’s many performing arts organizations!

Tickets to the Assabet Valley Mastersingers gives your recipient the opportunity to support the local arts while enjoying the fantastic shows they put on! A season ticket pass provides access to all three concerts at a discount. 

The Central MA Jewish Theatre Company explore the Jewish identity and culture through staging award- winning theater. They have already announced two shows for the upcoming 2023 season, so keep an eye on those ticket sales!

Looking for a great way to spend some time locally this holiday season? Check out tickets to any of the upcoming performances by Greater Worcester Opera. 

Take advantage of the historic Mechanics Hall with tickets to one of the many shows they have planned! With nationally renowned acoustics, and the oldest pipe organ in the Western Hemisphere, a performance at Mechanics Hall combines music and history- so it’s technically a two-in-one gift!

Gift a night out on the town with a gift certificate to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts! A certificate can be used towards admission to a show, classes, or memberships. FLEX packages allow holders to save on ticket prices for multiple upcoming shows, including Annie, Aladdin, Hadestown, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

This winter, give your loved ones an excuse to get out of their pajamas on a cold day! Gifting tickets to Worcester County Light Opera Club is a great way to support local theater while catching a variety of fantastic shows.



Editors note: this list is a work in progress and does not include every possible option. Do you see something we missed? Email Culture@WorcesterMA.gov to let us know!

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Part of a Barr Foundation-funded accessibility initiative, Month-long Residencies subsidize all venue costs and provide $15,000 in discretionary funding to local creatives.

WORCESTER, MA – May 13, 2022 – After announcing the Barr Foundation’s support of a year-long accessibility initiative, the Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) and Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) are pleased to announce the Month-long Residency recipients for summer 2022. 

“These remarkable presenters and their creative projects manifest the Worcester Cultural Coaltion’s goal of making the JMAC accessible to local artists and organizations who represent and serve underinvested communities, thanks to the Barr Foundation,” noted Erin Williams, Executive Director of the WCC.

Over a dozen applications were reviewed and evaluated. The selected residencies are are:

• Woo Tap by Michael Skrzek presents WORCESTER ON TAP June 13 – July 10
• Darren Cole and Missy Whiteman present THE COYOTE WAY X: EXPANDED CINEMA July 18 – August 14
• Queer the Scene presents CLUB QTS August 22 – September 17

Queer the Scene shared their enthusiasm for the opportunity: “We have been building up to an opportunity like this since our inception through our community partnerships. It is our time to showcase the vision of Queer the Scene with the support of the JMAC – one of our partners from the beginning.”

Darren Cole and Missy Whiteman, presenters of The Coyote Way X: Expanded Cinema, described their project as a, “new life that rises up through the cracks of the broken sidewalks, built on ancestral ground, deepened in cellular memory and star knowledge.”

“Facilitating the growth of organizations this diverse requires more than the type of value signaling many of these folks have sadly come to expect from outside agencies so we’re excited to be able to provide a real opportunity, with real money, and real access to our amazing JMAC facility,” said Hank von Hellion, Managing Director of the JMAC’s PopUp.

Month-Long Residencies are just one of the JMAC’s Barr Initiatives. Applications for a second round of One-Day Sponsorships are available at JMACWorcester.org/BarrOneDay and due July 15, 2022, for Fall/Winter events. Other components of the Barr accessibility initiative include rental subsidies of the BrickBox Theater for eligible presenters. Learn more at JMACWorcester.org/BarrInitiative.

About the Jean McDonough Arts Center: Comprising the ever-changing “permanent” PopUp and the intimate BrickBox Theater, the Jean McDonough Arts Center is an initiative of the Worcester Cultural Coalition, and home to myriad creative events and cultural initiatives. Individuals and groups can present or develop a wide range of work at the JMAC, including but not limited to work in theater, dance, film, music, performance art, visual art, fashion design and video game design. Learn more at JMACWorcester.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. In 2022, membership exceeds 80 organizations, which host over 2.7 million visitors annually, from Worcester and beyond. Its mission is to draw on Worcester’s rich and diverse cultural assets to foster economic revitalization, support active and creative engagement for all, and to promote a strong cultural identity for Greater Worcester. The WCC supports and encourages action that meets the creative goals of the Worcester Cultural Plan: promoting cultural equity and creative community engagement for all. Learn more at WorcesterCulture.org.

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Written by Sarah Lolya, Intern with the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division, winter 2022

On October 26, 2021, The Worcester Historical Museum opened PRETTY POWERFUL – an exploration and celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, as seen through fashion. As an intern with the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division, I was given the opportunity to experience a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibition with the media and creative staff. Immediately upon receiving an invitation, I was excited for this opportunity to learn more about the history of women in Worcester – the city I call home – through a lens of fashion. I majored in Art History at Clark University, so naturally my favorite way to learn about history is through art, fashion, and culture.

Upon my arrival at the museum, I was greeted by six members of the POWERFUL team. While not all represented, I learned that the entire team consisted of experts in diverse fields – artists, clothes makers, women’s historians, Worcester natives and more. Over the past 39 months, each member has contributed their expertise, time, and efforts to bring this exhibition to life. For this exciting insider look of the exhibition, I was joined by local news channels, blog writers, and journalists. The sneak-peek began with an overview of PRETTY POWERFUL and its goal to showcase the evolving roles of women in the century following the approval of the 19th amendment – which prohibited denying someone the right to vote on the basis of sex. My interest began to grow even more as each member of the team explained their personal experiences and goals of the exhibition.

The guest curator of the exhibition, Dr. Charlotte Haller, is a History professor at Worcester State University who specializes in American and Women’s Studies. Her talk provided an in-depth historical background of PRETTY POWERFUL and women’s voting rights. She provided us with an important reminder, which is reflected in the exhibition, that not all women gained the right to vote in 1920. Voter suppression tactics and inequality robbed minority women from accessing the right to vote – a right which was gained only after marginalized groups fought for their own enfranchisement throughout the 20th century. Especially after the important voting year that this country has just experienced, I was glad to see that the exhibition brings up vital conversations on inequality and voter suppression that remain relevant today.

Executive Director of the Worcester Historical Museum, Bill Wallace, also described how PRETTY POWERFUL aligns with the museum’s commitment to be stewards of Worcester’s collective history and his ambition that every person in Worcester who walks into the exhibition gallery feels that their story is represented and included.

Finally, exhibition co-chair Marlene Persky explained her hopes that the exhibition may help us connect and honor the women who come before us. Her speech reminded me that much of what I am able to do today is possible because of the women before me who fought to pave the way for modern women’s success. It is a reminder to celebrate every single woman who worked hard so that we may continue to break barriers and shatter glass ceilings. Even before seeing the exhibition, I sat amongst inspirational Worcester women of all generations, women who have worked hard to get to where they are, women who made me feel pretty powerful.

On the surface, this exhibition celebrates the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. However, as I walked through the gallery and heard the backstory of each of the 35 showcased outfits, I quickly realized how much more there was to the display. Every mannequin had been meticulously dressed in an outfit that shared a little bit about its owner – their personality, life, and the time they occupied. I was taken aback by the effect. Here I stood amongst beautiful art deco ball gowns, handmade 1950s cocktail dresses, work clothes worn by women on the frontline of World War II, a suit worn by first female Vice President, Kamala Harris, and much more.

As you enter the room, the outfits loosely flow in chronological order – creating a visually impactful timeline of changing roles through adaptations in styles, fabrics, hemlines, and inspirations. Walking through the gallery, I felt as if I just had the pleasure to meet many incredible Worcester women and catch a glimpse into the beautiful and meaningful lives they led. Not only did I feel connected to the women who have come before me, but I also felt more connected to Worcester, a city which has been the breeding grounds of change and innovation over the past three hundred years.

Perhaps most striking was the skillful way the exhibition presented the evolving story – each outfit so different from the next, each outfit so intricately intertwined with the time period in which it was created, and yet each lends a unique perspective to the collective tapestry that reveals the history of women in Worcester. The exhibition leads you to a final photo mural of Morgan Johnson, a young woman and modern change-maker who represents the next generation of women who continue to challenge convention and make the world a better place. This exhibit became so much more than an exploration of fashion or the history of voting – for me it was one of the most breathtaking and unique opportunities to remember and honor some of the women who have enabled me to be where I am today and to reach further than they could tomorrow.

Whether it is because the story resonated with them or because they found inspiration for their own wardrobe, I believe every visitor will leave with one or two outfits that they cannot stop thinking about. I sat down to write this with the intention of sharing one outfit that spoke to me the most, thinking it would be an easy task. While reflecting on the experience, flipping through my notes, and scrolling through photos, I proved myself wrong. Every single object in that gallery deserves to be highlighted in a moment of recognition and I know I could spend hours delving into the rich histories that each one shares.

However, if I am to highlight just one, it would have to be this stunning sequined gold minidress that tells the story of two survivors, and a family bond that flourished in Worcester. This 1960s dress was made in Worcester by Fela Hermann for her cousin, Marcia Weissman. Both women were German natives born into Jewish families. As Nazis began to occupy the country, Weissman escaped from Germany through Sweden in 1939, came to America and eventually settled in Worcester. Hermann, on the other hand, assumed a false identity to avoid being identified as Jewish and worked as a servant for Nazi officers. After surviving the war, Hermann studied fashion design at the Ort School of Design in Munich, worked in the fashion industries of Austria, England, Italy, and France, and eventually moved to Worcester in the early 1960s to reconnect with her cousin, Marcia Weissman. With hopes of introducing European fashion to Worcester, the cousins opened Fela Boutique on Pleasant Street in 1961. The sequined minidress was made soon after the boutique opening for Marcia Weissman to wear to a social event.

To me, this dress is a symbol of the two cousins’ collaboration and a celebration of their lives and accomplishments in Worcester, as well as the hardships and dangers that these two overcame before settling in Massachusetts. Its presence in the show is a reminder of the many backgrounds of Worcester residents, of the diverse cultural history present in the city, of the incredible obstacles people have overcome – and the beauty, peace, love, and power that can be contained within something as seemingly-simple as a cocktail dress.

I left the Worcester Historical Museum with a new perspective and found myself thinking a little bit more about how I express myself through my clothes as I got dressed each day. This exhibition helped me step outside the busyness of my life to take a moment of gratitude for all those who have come before me. This is a gratitude that I carry with me every day as I navigate the opportunities that the PRETTY POWERFUL women helped me achieve.

PRETTY POWERFUL is open now at the Worcester Historical Museum through March 31, 2022. Click here to learn more at WorcesterHistory.org.

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