Just as any other city, Worcester faces many economic and social issues. Can you provide examples as to how you would integrate the arts, culture and creative community in solving social problems? How would you use the creative community to drive economic development in the city?
- Using the arts to help solve complex social problems is a way to provide an outlet to vulnerable populations who might not otherwise have opportunities to engage in the cultural community. We need to look at expansion of the arts in our Worcester Public Schools, and also expand the programming in the Worcester Public Library as to make cultural programming available to everyone. The creative community is vibrant in Worcester - from institutions such as the Worcester Art Museum and Music Worcester to street festivals such as stART on the Street. We must, as a city, more actively embrace the cultural institutions large and small into our marketing efforts to promote the city in a different way.
What revenue sources will you create or use to increase the city’s investment in the creative community?
- The city should be more actively engaged with the institutions large and small, and work with them to help identify and solicit funding from both national and local sources.
We’ve all had defining moments in our lives. What personal experience with arts, culture and creativity has had an impact on your life and your view of the community?
- For me, the beauty of Worcester is seen in the vast array of architecture we have in the city. We should continue to work with our community partners in the cultural community to preserve this special architecture and explore more ways to showcase the beauty in our houses and commercial buildings.
Worcester is being touted as a creative city with public art, festivals and dozens of cultural organizations. Through the WOOcard program, the Worcester Cultural Coalition is trying to brand Worcester as being creative and to leverage the strength of our members to attract more residents, college students, and visitors. How would you utilize the creative community to make Worcester a great place to live, learn, work and play?
- The beautification of the city though the use of large wall murals has been something that has been both eye- catching and created a discussion about the arts community in Worcester. We must be more engaged with the creative community in everything we do when it comes to street scape, beautification or rehab of buildings and our parks. We can only be more successful when we partner with the creative community.
