City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. is excited to announce the installation of public art pieces along the North Main Street corridor starting this week, adding a historical and artistic element to the City of Worcester’s Main Street Reimagined.

Construction of Carroll Plaza at Hanover Theatre is also underway, and will feature a public art element.

The reconfigured Main Street features bicycle lanes, widened sidewalks and new streetscapes similar to other recently completed street upgrades in downtown Worcester. The intent of Main Street Reimagined is to supplement the streetscape with custom public art installations to activate public space and develop interest through both functional and decorative elements.

Pieces will start being installed this week, beginning with “Flat Curves,” by Jennifer Rubin Gray, representing the corset developed by the Royal Worcester Corset Company; “Esther Howland Bench,” by Gianna Steward, in honor of Esther Howland, who started selling valentines through father’s stationary store in Worcester; and “Wrench Bench,” by Bartek Konieczny, recognizing the invention of the “monkey wrench” in Worcester.

“Flat Curves” will be installed at 526 Main St. “Esther Howland Bench” will be installed on the left corner of City Hall. “Wrench Bench” will be installed at 327 Main St., to the right of Mechanics Hall.

Two more installations will be installed after Veterans Day. “Guitar,” by Jose Criollo Guncay, celebrates Worcester’s musical heritage. “The Speaker’s Stand,” by Ann Hirsch and Jeremy Angier of A+J Art+Design, is inspired by 19^th-century Worcester abolitionist and suffragist Abby Kelley Foster, representing the voices of women committed to social justice and equality for all women. 

“Guitar” will be installed at 288 Main St., while “The Speaker’s Stand” will be put in place at 311 Main St., to the left of Mechanics Hall.

All five pieces are expected to be installed by Thanksgiving.

A sixth installation, titled “A Perfect Jump,” by Seth Hoffman, Laura Marotta and Penn Ruderman, a bike rack in honor of Worcester-resident and world-champion cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, is expected to be installed this winter. It will stand at 120 Main St., to the right of Armsby Abbey.

Ultimately, the installations will be accompanied by informational kiosks providing background on the art pieces and detailing the artist’s vision for the finished product. The kiosks are expected to be added next year; temporary signage will hold their place.

Work has also begun on Francis R. Carroll Plaza outside Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St. The approximately $3.1-million project will include a public art installation, titled “Calliope,” by Ross Miller, composed of stainless steel and LED lights. This piece, accompanied by a water feature, will give nod to the in-house organ so popular in entertainment venues and churches in the early 20^th-century. The plaza will also feature plantings, festoon lights, a seating area and a raised stage for performances arranged by Hanover Theatre.

“I’ve often referred to the arts in Worcester as the City’s secret sauce,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. said. “We started Main Street Reimagined focusing on our infrastructure by incorporating ADA-compliant streets and sidewalks to make them safer and more practical for everyone to use. Now we are adding the secret sauce. These art installations will tell the story of Worcester’s rich history. They will invite people not merely to drive and walk our streets, but to pause and look around. We want people to stay awhile, not just pass right through, and we want to tell them a little bit about our City’s great past. Collaborating with our partners in the arts community, we are doing that with this project.”

State Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester, who helped secure funding for the art piece honoring Abby Kelley Foster, said, “The City of Worcester deserves public art for residents and visitors to appreciate and admire. I was proud to help secure funds for the Abby Kelley piece, and I am incredibly grateful that the City is investing in a public art offering at Carroll Plaza.”

The City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Office and Department of Public Works & Parks, in partnership with the Worcester Cultural Coalition, have been working with the Public Art Working Group (PAWG) to incorporate the arts, place-making, and Worcester’s cultural heritage into public spaces around the City, noted Cultural Development Officer Erin I. Williams, who said, “These efforts will bring the history of Worcester to life through artistic expression and build on the momentum of the Worcester Cultural Plan.”

Public art, said Gloria Hall, founder and director of Art in the Park and PAWG member, is place-making.

“It has the power to energize our public spaces and stimulate memory and our mind’s imagination,” Hall said. “The additions of these sculptures on Main Street at once connects the city’s past to the present and enlivens and enhances the streetscape.”

Of the new gathering space outside the theatre he oversees, Hanover Theatre President and CEO Troy Siebels said people can look forward to diverse entertainment options.

“We’re excited to help reimagine our end of Main Street,” Siebels said. “We’re already working on performance ideas for the new outdoor stage on Carroll Plaza, to be complete in fall 2022. We will program that new space with a range of entertainment throughout the year. It gives us the opportunity to reach so many people that aren’t coming into the theatre to sit down and see a Broadway show.”

“Carroll Plaza,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. added, “will be a wonderful addition to the Downtown Main Street landscape, and will serve as an enhancement to the events held at Hanover Theatre, while at the same time inviting people to enjoy a unique public space.”

Work on Carroll Plaza and the installation of the public art pieces along Main Street are both being done by UEL Contractors, Inc., a woman-owned, Clinton-based general contractor.

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WORCESTER, MA – March 23, 2021 – In the Worcester Cultural Coalition’s ongoing work to support a walkable downtown filled with local art, Worcester Windows announces its next public phase: PULP. After a series of COVID-conscious opening nights at the Worcester PopUp, PULP has been restaged in storefronts throughout downtown Worcester. The storefront window iteration, in collaboration with local business, will remain in place until the end of summer 2021.

PULP represents a new phase of Worcester Windows in its embrace of non-traditional definitions of art. The work on display represents Worcester’s vibrant community of alternative artists: indie comic and zine creators, tattoo artists, graffiti writers, and fashion designers. “This exhibition of incredibly talented local work collectively demonstrates themes of community and revolution through subversive mediums; themes that have been on nationwide display recently,” said Hank von Hellion, Managing Director of the Worcester PopUp and the Worcester Windows program.

Von Hellion says PULP is unique in that it is, “the first Worcester Windows exhibit to provide prize money to artists whose work was deemed ‘Best of Show’ by a panel of JMAC staff and members of the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District.”

“The Downtown Worcester BID is thrilled to support the Worcester Cultural Coalition and the Worcester PopUp in the Worcester Windows PULP exhibition,” said Evelyn Darling, executive Director of the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID). “By showcasing local artists’ work in Downtown windows, this exhibit helps them gain more exposure and enlivens our sidewalks.”

The Downtown Worcester BID provided $1,000 in prize money for PULP. The top three prizes were awarded to artists Naama Commander, Aqua Carter, and Luca Colizzi. Honorable mentions were given to artists Chris King and Ted Lilley. For a full list of artists and locations of Worcester Windows displays, click here.

The Worcester PopUp at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, or JMAC, is a unique creative and local incubator space that operates under the JMAC umbrella. Alongside its sister space, the BrickBox, it is a community-minded multi-space venue directed by a team dedicated to cultivating diverse creative engagement and access for all.

About Worcester Windows: Worcester Windows is a program of the Worcester Cultural Coalition. It is currently managed by the staff of the Worcester PopUp. If you own a storefront and would like to participate in this program, contact the PopUp at popup@jmacworcester.org.

About the Jean McDonough Arts Center: Comprised of the ever-changing “permanent” PopUp and the intimate BrickBox Theater, the Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) 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 twelve cultural organizations. Today membership stands at 80 organizations, accounting for more than 2.7 million visitors to Worcester in calendar 2015, up from 1.5 million in 2006. Its mission is to draw on Worcester’s rich and diverse cultural assets to foster economic revitalization, support active, creative engagement for all and promote a strong cultural identity for Greater Worcester. Learn more at WorcesterCulture.org.

About the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District: Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District is a nonprofit organization established in 2018 to sustain momentum in the heart of Downtown Worcester. The result of a comprehensive community-based effort, the organization represents the owners of 140 properties and seeks to create a unique sense of place through enhanced investment and development, establishing and sustaining a vibrant, welcoming, and economically viable district for all. Learn more at DowntownWorcester.org.

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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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Worcester Arts Council Awards Over $163,000 in Grants for Local Arts and Cultural Programs in 2020

Worcester, MA- City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. and Worcester Arts Council Chair Yasmin Goris have proudly announced the awarding of 53 grants totaling more than $163,000 for arts and cultural programs in Worcester in 2020.

The Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is part of a statewide network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. 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 on an annual basis. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers. The current Worcester Arts Council members are Yasmin Goris (Chair), Mitchell Perry (Treasurer), Stephanie Mireku (Secretary), Lisa Malo, Thomas Conroy, and George Sedares.

This year WAC received over a $30,000 increase in funding from the MCC, enabling the Council to fully fund 85% of its 2020 applicant pool. The 2020 grants will support a diverse range of programs and organizations in Worcester, including some familiar programming as well as new engagement opportunities for the local community. A few examples of 2020 WAC funded programs include:

• ArtsWorcester’s Annual College Show
• ACE’s Saturday Program Field Trips
• A Woman of Color Arts Weekend
• Central Mass Jazz Festival
• Refugee Artisans of Worcester’s Cultural Heritage Makers

This year, the Worcester Arts Council also allocated funding toward two $5,000 Artist Fellowships. The recipients are local puppeteer Amanda Gibson and local filmmaker Cyrille Vincent NDOMAKETTE SAMBA. The complete list of grant recipients and amounts is included below. WAC will host a grant reception celebrating all of the grant recipients in late spring 2020, with more details to be announced electronically.

“As an active member of Worcester and its artist community, it is with great pleasure to see first-hand the extraordinary impact of a city that values, encourages and supports creative expression,” said Worcester Arts Council Chair Yasmin Goris, enthusiastically celebrating the range and depth of the applicant pool and the diverse talent represented by the 2020 grantees. “Every year the Worcester Art Council successfully works on showcasing and offering our residents and grantees the opportunity to continue to inspire and produce impactful art and events for the community. I am very grateful for our past success and will look forward to a wonderful 2020 as I am excited to see these upcoming projects come to life.”

Between October and December 2019, WAC reviewed nearly 80 grant applications ranging in topic from public art installations to classical music performance to wellness programs. The Council took various criteria and details into consideration including quality, public benefit, and alignment with 2020 granting priorities which include: Public Art, Children’s Programs, and Performing Arts.

Statewide, more than $4.3 million will be distributed by local cultural councils in 2020. Grants will support an extensive range of grass-roots activities: concerts, exhibitions, radio and video productions, field trips for schoolchildren, after-school youth programs, writing workshops, historical preservation efforts, lectures, First Night celebrations, nature and science education programs for families, and town festivals. Nearly half of LCC funds support educational activities for young people.

The Worcester Arts Council will seek applications again in Fall 2020 for the grant year 2021. Applications and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org. Application deadlines and specifics will be announced on www.worcesterma.gov.

The 2020 Worcester Arts Council grant recipients and amounts are as follows:

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 questions, please email ArtsCouncil@WorcesterMA.gov. 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 Awards Over $163,000 in Grants for Local Arts and Cultural Programs in 2020 appeared first on WCC.

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

The post Senator Chandler Awarded 2019 “Outstanding Woman State Legislator Supporting the Arts” appeared first on WCC.

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

The post Naming Rights for Downtown Theater at 20 Franklin Street appeared first on WCC.

Funding Available for the Arts and Culture!

Worcester, MA- Worcester Arts Council (WAC) is now accepting grant applications for its 2020 funding cycle. The deadline for all grant applications is October 15, 2019.  Based on community input received during 2019, WAC will give preference to community projects in the following categories:

• Children’s Programs
• Performing Arts
• Public Art

However, all projects within the realm of arts, sciences and humanities will be considered.  WAC will accept grant applications from the following: individuals, non-profit organizations, associations that can establish a non-profit objective, schools, libraries and other public agencies.

WAC will be offering two types of competitive grants in 2020: Project Grants and Fellowship Grants.

Fellowship Grants are awarded to assist artists, scholars and literary persons in developing and exploring their work outside the structure of a specific project or presentation. Two Fellowship grants will be awarded in 2020 in the amount of $5,000. Through these grants, WAC intends to honor innovative individuals who 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.

Project Grants are offered to encourage Worcester County individuals or organizations to develop projects and programs that are innovative, collaborative in nature, provide a public benefit, reach under-served populations and demonstrate artistic excellence. All projects must occur within the city of Worcester within the 2020 calendar year.

To download a copy of the 2020 guidelines and the applications please visit: http://www.worcesterma.gov/cultural-development/grants

To use the new online Application visit https://www.mass-culture.org/Worcester

Online Applications must be submitted by October 15, 2019.

Paper Applications must be postmarked or hand delivered by October 15, 2019.

For a full a description on how to submit, review the 2020 guidelines online at: http://www.worcesterma.gov/uploads/34/b0/34b0a37a0b0a717e90bd7b6d0556cc43/2020-grant-guidelines.pdf

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: http://www.worcesterma.gov/cultural-development/grants.

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: https://massculturalcouncil.org/about/

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