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.
