For Immediate Release: August 4, 2020
Media Contact:
Evelyn Darling, Executive Director
508-622-3050 x1, evelyn@downtownworcester.org
Worcester, Massachusetts - Several partners are collaborating to bring interactive public art to the storefronts of 554 Main Street in Downtown Worcester. Four prominently located storefronts across from the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts will feature temporary installations over the course of several months with a rotation of three phased installations. The partners for this project are The Menkiti Group; the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District; the Worcester PopUp at the JMAC, a program of the Worcester Cultural Coalition in partnership with the Hanover Theatre; and the planning firm Civic Space Collaborative.
One of the goals for the art installation project, in addition to adding vibrancy to the storefronts, is to engage the public in a placemaking planning process for Downtown Worcester that currently is underway by the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District. The plan will provide recommendations for public art and beautification initiatives in the downtown district, as well as opportunities for how the district can still serve the public during the pandemic. From August through November, these interactive storefronts will pioneer civic art for public engagement in a creative and safe manner according to current COVID-19 best practices for public safety.
The Call for Art, which is due on August 14th, is open to Worcester-based artists in any phase of their career, from emerging to established. Artists with a focus on diversity and inclusion are encouraged to apply, in addition to civic-minded artists interested in community engagement.
Artists will need to choose and illustrate one of these questions:
● What type of beautification elements would you like to see in Downtown Worcester?
● What types of placemaking and public art do you think downtown needs the most?
● Who is downtown really for? How can downtown be welcoming to everybody?
The site at 554 Main Street, owned by The Menkiti Group, provides opportunities for neighborhood-serving retail and commercial office space, reinforcing the district’s plan for creation of a bustling mixed-use hub of cultural activity. From privately leased space to collaborative multi-level shared space memberships, 554 Main offers a variety of solutions for businesses in the Worcester community to thrive.
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.
For detailed instructions on the Call for Art, please visit here.
