Archives
QUEST for DESIGNATION (2011-2013)
It took two years for downtown Gloucester to obtain designation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During that time a progress blog was created and a Google website. Scroll down: documents and excerpts are shared below as a digital archive.
Co-Chair Bob Whitmarsh delivers DGCD application to Meri Jenkins and Kylie Sullivan at the MCC Boston office
November 14, 2012 OUR NEXT STEPS
Send in the application and support materials and wait for word, guidance, and a visit from the Mass Cultural Council
November 13, 2012 CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUS!
Unanimous YES vote from the Gloucester City Council to adopt the Resolution approving the establishment of the Downtown Gloucester Cultural District! Thank-you!
"The Cultural Districts Initiative continues to gain momentum across the Commonwealth, and I'm thrilled to announce these four new designations today," said Anita Walker, MCC's Executive Director. "Each community is rich with remarkable cultural treasures unique to its location, history, and residents, with great potential for further cultural and economic growth."
OCTOBER 2012
Each new district will have signage, an online profile on the Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism and MCC websites, and other amenities. The Initiative builds upon one of the great strengths of Massachusetts: the distinctiveness and authenticity of its communities. Cultural Districts help cities and towns identify, support, and promote their unique identity and sense of place. (news from MCC)
PERIMETER and STREET LIST provided
October 19, 2012 Cape Ann Beacon article; CONGRATULATIONS ESSEX! https://www.facebook.com/EssexMerchantsGroup
October 18 2012 GLOUCESTER DAILY TIMES EDITORIAL Essex CD a boost
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/opinion/x1133187111/Editorial-A-deserved-boost-for-Essex
October 17, 2012 GLOUCESTER CITY COUNCIL Planning and Development Committee; establishment of an official partnership between the City and the Downtown Gloucester Cultural District committee
http://ma-gloucester.civicplus.com/archives/44/October%2017,%202012.pdf
OCTOBER 12 2012 Mass Cultural Council press announcement for 4 new districts including Essex
http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/news/cultural_districts_announced_oct12.asp
City Council
October 2012 City Council meeting.
Thank you Councilors, clerk, everyone for helping with the process
September 25, 2012 GMG Gloucester is gearing up to become the first town in MA to be awarded 2 Cultural Districts. Rocky Neck Art Colony Cultural District is flying! Amazing seARTS– a committed partner for ALL the regional cultural districts–has graciously invited the volunteers hustling for a DOWNTOWN Gloucester Cultural District to give a brief update at the seARTS meeting this coming Wednesday at Sawyer Free Library, 4PM. Please stop by. (While you’re there: have a peek at the Sawyer Free Library 2012 Art Auction and see the neighborhood quilt project!) Contact: co-chair: Judith Hoglander, judith@nii.net.
http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/gloucester-art-news-from-catherine-ryan/
JUNE 2012 UPDATE
June 21, 2012 seARTS listing for Downtown Gloucester Cultural District:
The DGCD Committee continues to work on the application.
MAY 2012 UPDATE
May 3, 2012, The Downtown Gloucester Cultural District Committee continues to gather Partners and Stakeholders from within the proposed Cultural District and reach out and research. We are hard at work on the application and will soon set a target date for submitting an application to MCC.
Thanks for the feedback!
We've been listening and continue to hear a wide range of input. Some from the public meeting:
- Why? What is it?
- Main Street thrive not dive, address entire length not sections
- Harbor is Downtown and the Downtown is the Harbor
- Why isn't Man at the Wheel and other public art along Stacy Boulevard included?
- What about Stage Fort?
- Crow's nest? Seaport/cruise port?
- Our Lady of good Voyage? St. Ann's
- Azorean? Train station?
- no more maps!
- meeting fatigue
- artist live/work options
- don't forget Rose Baker Senior Center
- don't forget residents
- reach out to youth
- include all
CONGRATULATIONS Rockport Cultural District is their downtown facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/rockportculturaldistrict
https://www.facebook.com/rockportculturaldistrict
March 25, 2012 BOSTON GLOBE MCC Designates State's First Cultural Districts. Congratulations: The Fenway Cultural District in Boston; Gloucester's Rocky Neck Cultural District ; The Central Exchange Cultural District in Lynn; The Upstreet Cultural District in Pittsfield; and The Rockport Cultural District !
Gloucester Daily Times March 22, 2012 editorial
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/opinion/x467323192/Editorial-A-deserved-cultural-lift
March 2012 Massachusetts Cultural Council
http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/news/cultural_districts_announced.asp
February 28, 2012 seARTS meeting; CAPE ANN BEACON ARTICLE . "With the creation in 2010 by the Mass. Cultural Council of a Cultural District initiative, some cities have moved ahead by designating specific geographic areas as such. Gloucester has already approved a district in East Gloucester, roughly encompassing Rocky Neck and the Gorton Theatre area. Rockport has also approved an area that centers around the Shalin Liu Performance Center and Bearskin Neck. Both will be presented for official designation in March to the MCC. Gloucester is also close to approving a downtown area as well, including the soon-to-be-completed Harbor Walk. It all continues a trend on the Cape to acknowledge the arts as an economic engine, and to formalize cities’ relationship with their creative residents..."
Karen Ristuben from the East Gloucester Cultural District planning group visits our committee
FEBRUARY 23 2012
Downtown Gloucester Cultural District Meeting
Karen Ristuben, from the East Gloucester Cultural District planning group, offered a thorough overview of their planning and application experience! Great job.
Present: Karen Ristuben, Amanda Nash, Beth Welin, Maggie Rosa, Judith Hoglander, Bob Whitmarsh, Mary McCarl, David Rhinelander, Catherine Ryan, Ariane Doud, Robert Newton, Jo-Ann Castano, Ronda Faloon.
FEBRUARY 2012 UPDATE
Work is under way to develop plans for the Downtown Cultural District, which extends from downtown to the harbor.
Karen Berger Discusses the Rockport Cultural District with us
FEBRUARY 9, 2012
Karen Berger presented her experiences with Anne Robinson on how to apply successfully for Rockport’s designation as a Cultural District. Fantastic work! Introductions and Progress Report Overview
Downtown Gloucester Cultural District welcome notice
February, 2012
THE MISSION of the Gloucester Downtown Cultural District Steering Group is to lead, stimulate, and guide the development of a vibrant, innovative arts and cultural district that enhances economic development in and around downtown Gloucester, MA.
NOVEMBER 2011 UPDATE
A Downtown Cultural District Committee has been formed and is currently working through the Massachusetts Cultural Council application process. The Committee has been contacting various stake holders within the downtown area and since there is an area overlap between the proposed Downtown Cultural District and the new Harbor Walk - we have scheduled a meeting of the two committees. It is our hope to announce a public hearing date soon. Many of the volunteers are familiar with past Harbor plans and processes and have broad experience within the community. The Downtown will require a different outreach for its already energized and distinctive sense of place.
"Downtown Gloucester has been very fortunate to have a broad infrastructure of dedicated organizations and individuals who support the connections between businesses and the arts. This enthusiasm and work over the years has created an already thriving, naturally occurring cultural district."
June 6, 2011
The Massachusetts Cultural Council announces Cultural Districts initiative at Gloucester's City Hall! First North Shore Mass Cultural Council Cultural Districts Information Session to be held in Gloucester City Hall. seARTS and Gloucester Committee for the Arts invited Civic Leaders, Business Leaders, and the Community. Mayor Kirk opened the meeting. The public was invited to attend. All North Shore communities were invited to this meeting. Meri Jenkins, Program Manager for the Massachusetts Cultural council was the featured speaker. Thanks Judith Hoglander, Chair, Gloucester Committee for the Arts
GLOSSARY
NEA + MA State Legislature funding sent to MCC; MCC in turn funding programs across the Commonwealth. There is no funding for the Cultural Districts.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC)
The MCC is a state agency that promotes and advocates for the Arts. The MCC receives funding from the MA state legislature and from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Bank of America, and others.
The local Gloucester Cultural Council (GCC)
Recent years has received annual funding from the MCC, between $5000-$6000
The Downtown Gloucester Cultural District committee
Volunteer based steering committee made up of neighbors, stakeholders, property owners, biz reps, art reps, community members interested in the establishment of Cultural District that can foster links between economical development and the Arts, is committed to supporting Downtown, the community, and Gloucester
The Gloucester Committee for the Arts (CFTA or GCFTA)
Stewards of City art including the WPA murals; City Poet Laureate; and public art recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.