For Immediate Release: 2/21/2012 8:30 am
Worcester, MA (February 17, 2012) - At its Annual Legislative Breakfast this morning, the Worcester Cultural Coalition celebrated the announcement of a $32,500 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Adams Arts Program to support its WOO Card program and continued creative marketing for the region.
In making the announcement, Senator Harriette Chandler noted, " Voters are seeing that arts and culture bring a community to life and enhance our life experience, which in turn attracts new businesses and residents. I understand that the arts mean business. And because arts and culture bring visitors to the region, and increase the quality of life of the region, we know this is a wise investment."
Initiated in 2007 as a means of engaging the City's large collegiate base with its wealth of cultural destinations, the WOO Card program has since grown to now include a Public WOO Card offer subscribers discounts and special deals at nearly sixty area arts and cultural destinations along with restaurants, hotels, retailers, transportation providers and other hospitality oriented creative businesses. Designed to open the door to Worcester County's vibrant cultural community by offering discounts and special offers for cool concerts, dynamic theatre, unique museums, magical music, street festivals, outdoor adventures and more throughout Worcester County, throughout the year, the program today boasts nearly 10,500 registered WOO Card subscribers.
City Manager Michael V. O'Brien said, "The WOO Card program has been incredibly well received and has introduced Worcester's wealth of cultural opportunities to our student population. We are grateful of the Massachusetts Cultural Council's continued support of this program, and we look forward to continuing to expand the program, sharing the gift of culture with the citizenry of greater Worcester."
Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council which has supported the WOO Card program since its inception, agreed, "Worcester is a city with tremendous cultural assets, and the Worcester Cultural Coalition has been instrumental in harnessing those assets to draw visitors and businesses. The MCC is proud to support cultural development in Worcester, whether it's through an investment in the Coalition's economic development efforts, new cultural facilities such as the Hanover Theatre, or established institutions such as the Worcester Art Museum. We believe these investments go a long way in making Worcester a great place to live or to visit."
Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council which has supported the WOO Card program since its inception, agreed, "Worcester is a city with tremendous cultural assets, and the Worcester Cultural Coalition has been instrumental in harnessing those assets to draw visitors and businesses. The MCC is proud to support cultural development in Worcester, whether it's through an investment in the Coalition's economic development efforts, new cultural facilities such as the Hanover Theatre, or established institutions such as the Worcester Art Museum. We believe these investments go a long way in making Worcester a great place to live or to visit."
The MCC's Adams Arts Program for the Creative Economy will invest some $641,500 in 19 projects in every region of Massachusetts. Adams is the oldest and most-far reaching program of its kind in the nation, supporting projects that harness the unique assets of the Commonwealth and the creativity of its residents. Adams grants fuel a creative sector that has a $4.2 billion total impact on the state's economy and provides more than 109,000 jobs.
"The creative sector is a proven engine for economic development and revitalization," said Anita Walker, the MCC's executive director. "This year's Adams grants will generate real dollars for these communities at a time when innovative strategies to produce wealth and create jobs are sorely needed."
Chandler noted further that in addition to the Adams Program, Governor Deval Patrick has announced an additional $5 million dollars for the Massachusetts Facilities Fund, which supports capital improvements and project developments throughout the Commonwealth. Worcester County received a number of cultural facilities funding awards this round, including Friends of Institute Park/City of Worcester, Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston and Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge.
