MassCreative to Promote Worcester Arts at Mechanics Hall

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

MASSCreative, a political advocacy group for the arts and cultural community of Massachusetts, is bringing its message of emphasizing the importance of the arts in communities to Worcester.

The organization will be holding the regional meeting, open to people in the Worcester area, in Mechanics Hall tonight (Wednesday,October 10). The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The event is co-sponsored and planned in coordination with the Worcester Cultural Coalition.

A series of speakers representing MASSCreative and the Worcester Cultural Coalition, plus elected officials and legislative candidates from Central Mass, will be speaking about the ways in which the arts are necessary to build and maintain vibrant and economically-healthy communities.

This is true especially for the city of Worcester as Erin Williams, Executive Director of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and one of the speakers at the event, points out.

"The artistic and cultural attractions of Worcester are an asset and economic engine for the city," Williams said.

An agenda, crafted by the area's cultural institutions, will be put forth at the meeting to explain how this important process can continue.

"Tourists come to see the arts and cultural events in the city. While they're here they not only may spend money on tickets, they also spend money on restaurants, hotels and other things that help get the city's economy moving. We want the arts interwoven into the city's urban experience," adds Williams.

Recently, such Worcester cultural and artistic icons as Mechanics Hall, the Worcester Historical Museum, and the Hanover Theatre and the DCU Center, have received funding for renovations. Matt Wilson, Executive Director for MASSCreative who will also be speaking at the event, speaks specifically about the renovations to the Hanover Theatre.

"They have had the effect of reviving downtown, lowering crime and bringing excitement to the area," Wilson said.

Bringing awareness to stories like these across the state is the main goal of MASSCreative.

"We want to broadcast stories of the impact creativity has on the quality of lives in communities across the state," says Wilson.

In doing so, the organization hopes to maintain and increase the amount of public and private funds available to rejuvenate, renovate, and energize the arts in Massachusetts.

"The best way to do this," according to Wilson, "is to bring the community together to speak in a unified political voice."

This is what MASSCreative hopes to begin to accomplish with tonight's meeting for the Worcester area, by letting the various creative and cultural organizations in Worcester know they are there to help in any way possible.

"MASSCreative wants to bring these entities together to build a network of creative organizations, " says Erin Williams.

Among the Worcester area organizations represented at the meeting will be Old Sturbridge Village, the Worcester Art Museum, Music Worcester, and the EcoTarium, among many others. The Worcester Cultural Coalition itself represents 73 organizations. Troy Siebels, Director of the Hanover Theatre, and State Senator Harriet Chandler are additional confirmed speakers.

In addition, as special treat, the band the Joy of Music Jazz Summit will be performing.

For more information visit www.mass-creative.org or www.worcestermass.org