The Worcester Cultural Coalition will expand equitable use of the Jean McDonough Arts Center. 

WORCESTER, MA – April 12, 2023 Thanks to funding support from the Barr Foundation, the Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) is pleased to announce the award of 8 grants totaling $85,000 for programs at the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) in 2023.

With a goal of ensuring continued equitable use of the JMAC, the JMAC Access Grant Committee reviewed 26 applications for funding. Applications were evaluated and scored on a variety of criteria, including whether the presenter had leadership from and/or programming that uplifts historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, such as the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Applicants could apply for a maximum of $10,000 in venue and rental costs and $15,000 in discretionary funds. Based on the funding requested and how the application scored, selected applicants received between $3,500 and $22,500 in total support.

“We received proposals for many excellent and intriguing programs. Some were from familiar names and some were brand-new to us!” noted Doménica Dillon, Associate Managing Director of the JMAC. “It’s gratifying to see that the events we host are resonating with the community, and that awareness of our space is growing.”

“Having served on many awarding bodies, I can say the JMAC Access Grant Committee conducted its process with rigor, integrity, care, and joy,” said Cailin Manson, Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Music Performance at Clark University, who served on the JMAC Access Grant Committee. “The awardees represent an exciting cross-section of presenters who will elevate programming at the JMAC while also serving its mission of being a home for all ilk of creatives and creations.”

The 2023 JMAC Access Grant Awardees and projects, in alphabetical order, are:

• Crocodile River Music: Mali in Massachusetts
• The Hanover Theatre Repertory (THT Rep): Experimental Staged Reading of Judith, a New Play by Katie Bender Directed by Brendon Fox
• Inner Voices Outer Change: IVOC Summer Jumpoff
• Nathan D. Manna: The Acrobatics of the Divine: An Exhibition and Symposium Responding to the Work of John O’Reilly
• studioXpresents: Let Them Eat Cake!
• Voices 21C: Bridging and Breaking: Incarceration, Community, and Empowerment
• Kristin Wagner / Bodies Moving: Fairy Tales and Folklore: Dreaming with the Body
• Worcester Writers Collective: Spring Intensive

“The Barr Foundation’s funding of JMAC’s Access Grants has made real the slogan: Our House, Your Home,” says Zach Combs, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Crocodile River Music. “Now, our organization can create in this amazing space, bringing a unique African art, music, and dance experience to our community. Thank you Barr, WCC and JMAC for this wonderful Project Sponsorship opportunity!”

The JMAC Access Grant Committee is: 

• Ellen Dunlap, Treasurer of the Worcester Cultural Coalition
• JMAC Staff:
  • Livy Scanlon, Managing Director
  • Doménica Dillon, Associate Managing Director
  • Sarah MacIntyre, Production + Operations Manager
  • Elijah Lidonde, Administrative Manager
• Cailin Manson, Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Music Performance at Clark University

The $85,000 awarded in the JMAC Access Grants is part of a $175,000 investment from the Barr Foundation. The remaining funds will also be used to continue equitable access to the JMAC, primarily by underwriting rental of the BrickBox Theater through June 2023. More information about the Project Sponsorships and a calendar of events is available at www.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 exceeded 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.

About the Jean McDonough Arts Center: Comprising the ever-changing PopUp and the intimate BrickBox Theater, the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) is an initiative of the Worcester Cultural Coalition, operated in partnership with The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. The JMAC is 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. Completion of the JMAC was made possible with the generosity of the late Jean McDonough and the McDonough family. Funding for presenters is currently available through the Barr Foundation.  Learn more at JMACWorcester.org.

About the Barr Foundation: The Barr Foundation’s mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. Based in Boston, Barr focuses regionally, and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and connect all students to success in high school and beyond. Founded in 1997, Barr now has assets close to $3 billion and has contributed more than $1 billion to charitable causes. For more information, visit barrfoundation.org and @BarrFdn on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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The Worcester Cultural Coalition will receive an additional $175,000 in 2023 to further expand equitable use of the Jean McDonough Arts Center.

WORCESTER, MA – January 11, 2023 Thanks to a successful 2022 partnership, the Barr Foundation will continue to support the Worcester Cultural Coalition’s goal of equitable use of the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) in 2023.

“The JMAC strives to ensure that every cultural organization, large and small, can have a home in downtown Worcester,” said Eric Butler, Board President of the Worcester Cultural Coalition. “By providing creatives the resources needed to share their stories and programs with Central Massachusetts audiences, funding from the Barr Foundation has enabled the JMAC to turn its aspirational goals into reality. We are delighted that a diverse pool of presenters will continue to find a home at the JMAC through the Barr Foundation’s renewed support.””

SueEllen Kroll, Senior Program Officer for Arts & Creativity at the Barr Foundation, noted that, “artists are essential building blocks of our neighborhoods. They catalyze creativity, wonder, connection, and community. As the performing arts field rebuilds from the pandemic, we at Barr are pleased to partner with the Worcester Cultural Council to support artists in getting back to work. The JMAC has proven to be a critical cultural home and community space – especially for Worcester’s BIPOC and underserved artists – by helping artists create new work, generate income, and positively impact their community.”

The 2023 Barr donation of $175,000 will ensure the JMAC can continue to expand its equitable use efforts, which it plans to do through two initiatives:

• Rental subsidy of the BrickBox Theater: Qualifying organizations and individuals will receive subsidized venue rental costs on a first-come-first-served basis through June 30th, 2023 or until available funds are exhausted. Staffing and other direct costs still apply. 

• Project sponsorships: By way of a two-step application process, presenters will be selected to receive comprehensive support for a proposed project, including:
  • up to $10,000 in venue space rental and staffing cost subsidy, or
  • ​up to $15,000 in discretionary funds to pay creatives, invest in marketing, and cover other direct costs related to the event

Details and applications for 2023 Barr funding are available through JMACWorcester.org/AccessGrants. Priority will be given to individuals and groups which identify as led by, or focused on, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, such as the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and to members of the Worcester Cultural Coalition.

A free informational session will be held at the JMAC on Thursday, January 19th from 6pm-7pm.  Registration is available at https://JMACAccessGrantsInformationSession.eventbrite.com.

Organizations and individuals awarded Barr funding in 2022 include:

• Jennifer Gaskin and Giselle Rivera Flores Don’t Touch My Podcast
• Flamenco Worcester FLAMENCO! Tradition, Art & Passion and Villancicos Flamencos
• Jewish Theatre Company of Central Massachusetts My Son The Waiter
• Broadway in Worcester Free Student Masterclass with Tony Award Winner Laura Benanti
• Darren Cole and Missy Whiteman Coyote Way X: Expanded Cinema
• studioXpresents Deity
• Queer the Scene Club Kiki
• Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire and JSDDance I am Hayti!
• Casita Cultura Latina Dia de los Muertos Festival
• Michael Skrzek and Jackson Jirard Woo on Tap

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 exceeded 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.

About the Jean McDonough Arts Center: Comprising the ever-changing “permanent” PopUp and the intimate BrickBox Theater, the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) is an initiative of the Worcester Cultural Coalition, operated in partnership with The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. The JMAC is 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. Completion of the JMAC was made possible with the generosity of the late Jean McDonough and the McDonough family. Learn more at JMACWorcester.org.

About the Barr Foundation: The Barr Foundation’s mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. Based in Boston, Barr focuses regionally, and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and connect all students to success in high school and beyond. Founded in 1997, Barr now has assets close to $3 billion, and has contributed more than $1 billion to charitable causes. For more information, visit barrfoundation.org and @BarrFdn on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

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Part of a year-long Barr Foundation-funded accessibility initiative, One-Day Sponsorships subsidize all venue costs and provide $2,500 in discretionary funding to local creatives. 

WORCESTER, MA – March 4, 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 first round of One-Day Sponsorship recipients. 

Over a dozen applications were reviewed and evaluated. Round one recipients are: 

• JSDDance presents I Am: Hayti!
• Mary Darling presents 1, 5, 10: A Short Play Extravaganza
• Flamenco Worcester presents Flamenco! Tradition, Art & Passion
• Art and Music Police Partnership presents AMPP Showcase 
• Broadway in Worcester presents a Worcester Public School Masterclass with Laura Benanti

“These presenters and their exciting projects manifest the Barr initiative’s goal of making the JMAC accessible to local artists and organizations who represent and/or serve underinvested communities,” notes Erin Williams, Executive Director of the WCC.

“As a new member of the Worcester community, I hope my work can contribute to enriching the diversity in art and cultural experience,” added Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire of JSDDance, which will present I Am: Hayti!

Ashley Essex, art director of the Art and Music Police Partnership (AMPP), shared her enthusiasm for the opportunity, saying, “We’re excited to share our vision with you all, and can’t wait to collaborate to bring an amazing event to our community! We are so grateful!”

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 subsidy of the BrickBox Theater for eligible presenters, and month-long summer residencies. 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 theatre, 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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WORCESTER, MA — City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. today announced that Cultural Development Officer Erin Williams will step aside from her duties in June after serving the city for 18 years.

Williams concurrently served as the executive director of the Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC), a public private partnership that advocates for the creative community throughout the region. Under her leadership, the Coalition has grown to include 89 cultural organizations, including museums, festivals, performance venues, artist collectives, and educational institutions.

In 2018, Williams and the WCC founded the Worcester PopUp, a mixed-use creative space. The second phase of creating accessible community space, construction of the Worcester BrickBox Theater behind the PopUp, was completed in 2019 thanks to a $2 million donation from the late Jean McDonough, a long-time supporter of local arts. In McDonough’s honor, the PopUp and the BrickBox function as the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC), which has hosted over 400 events.

“Erin has been a tireless advocate for the arts and cultural community,” said Augustus. “It’s no coincidence that Worcester’s rise in cultural prominence has occurred during Erin’s tenure. In addition to lifting up diverse artists and championing creative campaigns, she has established the arts as an essential component of the economic engine that powers our thriving city. We can’t thank Erin enough for all she has done for Worcester and the cultural renaissance of Central Massachusetts.”

Through her work with individuals and institutions across the city and the region, Williams has been instrumental in embedding art into everyday life and a variety of sectors. Some of her additional accomplishments include the City’s first Cultural Plan – the first cultural plan to be included in its city’s masterplan nation-wide, the Poets Laureate program – including the first Youth Poet Laureate in the Commonwealth, the I Am Worcester campaign, substantial growth of the Worcester Arts Council, a voting awareness and advocacy initiative, the Culture LEAP program with Worcester Public Schools, the #MakeArtEverywhere campaign, and a city-wide wayfinding system. In the early days of the pandemic, she began hosting the Cultural Task Force to help the arts community navigate the many challenges COVID-19 presented, and she shepherded the Give Me a Sign campaign, which featured billboards and street signs with uplifting messages by a wide variety of artists.

“It’s time to pass the baton and make space in leadership for others,” said Williams. “It’s been a privilege working on behalf of the creative community. Together we have accomplished so much and put talented artists, and the big and small c cultural organizations, in a position to thrive in the years to come. I’m excited to see what comes next for artists and cultural organizations in Greater Worcester.”

Prior to her role for the city, Williams’ roles included working as a field representative for the Mass Cultural Council and service as the founding executive director for 1794 Meetinghouse Inc., a nonprofit cultural center dedicated to cultural programming serving north-central and western Massachusetts.

“Worcester is a better place to live, work, and create because of Erin and all she has achieved with the City,” said Eric Butler, board chair of Worcester Cultural Coalition. “Erin’s vision has taken Worcester arts to the next level and our sector is now positioned with an unrivaled cultural plan to continue to thrive in the years ahead.”

In the coming months, the cultural development officer position will be posted and the search for Williams’ successor will begin.

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The Jean McDonough Arts Center will receive $545,000 in funding from the Barr Foundation to expand equitable use of the Worcester PopUp and BrickBox Theater. 

WORCESTER, MA – January 6, 2022 The Barr Foundation has awarded $545,000 to the Worcester Cultural Coalition (WCC) to support the arts community, with an emphasis on uplifting historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.

As part of its plan for the funds, the WCC is launching multiple initiatives aimed at helping individuals and organizations bring their creative visions to life. Over the next twelve months, the funding will provide three types of opportunities at the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC), an arts-and-cultural space located in Downtown Worcester: 

Rental subsidy of the BrickBox Theater:Qualifying organizations and individuals can receive venue rental costs at no charge on a first-come-first-serve basis, until funds are exhausted. 

One-day event sponsorship: Up to ten presenters will receive venue rental and staffing costs for a one-day event, and up to $2,500 for discretionary expenses, at no charge.

Month-long residency at the JMAC: Up to three presenters will be selected for a one-month residency, including all venue space rental and staffing costs, up to $15,000 in discretionary funds, and exclusive use of the JMAC for the final week of each residency, at no charge.

Applications for all three opportunities are available through JMACWorcester.org. Priority will be given to individuals and groups which identify as led by, or focused on, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, such as BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Worcester Cultural Coalition members, which are local cultural nonprofits, are also encouraged to apply.

“The JMAC is committed to equity and inclusion of the many types of art, culture, and creativity that exist in our region, and to diversity in its presenters and audiences. It was developed to help fill a gap in affordability and accessibility in Worcester’s arts and culture scene, both for the public and the creators,” said Erin Williams, executive director of the Worcester Cultural Coalition. “Paired with the dedicated JMAC staff, these Barr funds will improve access to the JMAC and its resources, furthering the venue’s mission in meaningful ways, and helping to boost engagement and support the continued resiliency of the arts ecosystem as we continue to navigate the pandemic.”

“We believe that artists are the building blocks of our communities,” noted SueEllen Kroll, Senior Program Officer for Arts & Creativity at the Barr Foundation. “The JMAC is a critical cultural home and community space for Worcester’s BIPOC and underserved artists so that their voices, creativity, and stories are uplifted and celebrated. We are proud to partner with the Worcester Cultural Coalition to ensure artists have the support to get back to work and lead in their communities as we transition back to in-person creative experiences.”

“The JMAC team already caters to creatives without a Broadway budget,” noted Eric Butler, Chair of the Worcester Cultural Coalition Board. “Nevertheless, all the costs associated with working in a professional venue can remain a hurdle. We’re grateful to the Barr Foundation for these funds, which will further reduce these barriers by augmenting what’s already happening at the JMAC with more support for underserved creatives and local cultural organizations.”

“We hosted the El Salón collective for our pilot residency in 2021,” said PopUp Managing Director Hank von Hellion. “The experience challenged their artists to use the venue in creative ways, and challenged us to help them not only execute events, but also make the JMAC their home, a place to fully realize their creative visions.”

“We’re excited to take what we learned from that experience and build upon it this coming year,” added BrickBox Managing Director Olivia Scanlon.

“I can enthusiastically say these initiatives are a win for everyone they will touch – from the JMAC and WCC to those who will have their voices heard, from those who will hear these voices, and to all who will feel the echo,” said Butler, who has used the space as both an independent presenter and in his work with the WCLOC Theater Company.

Interested presenters are invited to a Q+A session at the JMAC on January 12, 2022 from 6:30pm – 7:30pm. In-person RSVP and link to livestream are available at BarrQA.eventbrite.com. Full details regarding COVID-19 safety protocols are available at JMACWorcester.org/covid19.

Additional details about the JMAC/Barr accessibility initiative, including eligibility requirements and application forms, are available at JMACWorcester.org/BarrInitiative.

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 2021, membership stands at 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.

About the Jean McDonough Arts Center: Comprising the ever-changing “permanent” PopUp and the intimate BrickBox Theater, the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) is an initiative of the Worcester Cultural Coalition, operated in partnership with The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. The JMAC is 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. Completion of the JMAC was made possible with the generosity of the late Jean McDonough and the McDonough family. Learn more at JMACWorcester.org.

About the Barr Foundation: The Barr Foundation’s mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. Based in Boston, Barr focuses regionally, and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and connect all students to success in high school and beyond. Founded in 1997, Barr now has assets in excess of $3 billion, and has contributed more than $1 billion to charitable causes. For more information, visit barrfoundation.org and @BarrFdn on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

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