City of Worcester, MA
Worcester Cultural Coalition, Cultural Development Office Partner with Fitchburg Cultural Alliance for Cultural Advocacy Week Initiatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/24/2025 4:37 pm
WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester Cultural Development Division and the Worcester Cultural Coalition announced Thursday a partnership with the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance (FCA) to launch two strategic regional advocacy initiatives. These efforts, which are part of the broader MASSCreative Advocacy Network, aim to strengthen the voice of Worcester County’s cultural sector and empower communities to influence policy and protect critical arts infrastructure.
The initiatives include:
Creative Advocacy Sector Day at the State House – April 30
A delegation of cultural leaders from Worcester and Fitchburg will travel to the Massachusetts State House to advocate for robust public investment in the arts. This unified regional presence will amplify the needs and stories of Central Massachusetts creatives as they meet directly with elected officials to advance cultural policy. Transportation is provided for all interested in attending. For more info, email culture@worcesterma.gov
Worcester County State of the Arts Convening – May 14
Open to artists, cultural workers, community members, and local leaders, this inaugural convening will explore how data can inform and influence cultural planning and policymaking. The event will feature Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council, and his presentation of the “Worcester County Cultural Assets Inventory,” a landmark mapping of the people, places, and organizations that drive the region’s creative ecosystem. Following Bobbitt’s presentation, we’ll engage local and state legislators in a panel to respond to the findings of the report.
“These advocacy efforts are essential—now more than ever,” said Fabian Barracks, Cultural Development Officer and Executive Director of the Worcester Cultural Coalition. “We are rallying not just for funding, but for recognition of the arts as a vital engine for community wellness, economic growth, and civic identity. Worcester County is stepping up to lead by example.”
“This is about regional solidarity,” said Jessie Olson, Executive Director of the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance. “When communities like Worcester and Fitchburg collaborate, we show that the arts are not a luxury—they’re a necessity. These initiatives empower our cultural workforce to claim their seat at the table and shape the future of policy, investment, and social capital.”
The regional partnership is made possible through funding from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation as part of its Creative Worcester County Initiative. Both events are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend and add their voice to the collective call for sustaining investment in the creative sector.
RSVP for the Worcester County State of the Arts Convening: Worcester State of the Arts Convening
Learn more at: www.worcesterculture.org