Mass. Cultural Council funds Worcester Way

By Chet Williamson

Worcester is the place to be — at least a new book and a $50,000 grant given to the city both seem to be recognizing the city's quest to become a creative economy. Creative economies are generally defined as those that are rife with creative and intellectual potential.

Two different sources of recognition have recently helped Worcester validate this point.

The first is a $50,000 grant given to the city by the Massachusetts Cultural Council to fund Discovering the Worcester Way. The money was distributed through MCC's Adams Arts Program for the Creative Economy.

The other affirmation comes in Richard Florida's new book, Who's Your City? How the Creative Economy is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life. Florida, one of the architects of the creative city movement, gives Worcester high marks in multiple categories throughout his book.

Florida, who is also the author of the bestselling, The Rise of the Creative Class, claims the place you choose to live is the single most important decision you can make. And because of its ranking in the new creative economy movement, Worcester might be one place to consider.

In his list of "best cities," in the category of "for young singles (20-29), mid-size regions," Florida names Worcester along with Madison, Wis.; Bridgeport, Conn.; New Haven, Conn.; and Raleigh, N.C. We miss out in the category of "empty-nesters," and "retirees," but make the cut for "gays and lesbians" with Portland, Maine; Honolulu and Charleston, S.C. We are not recognized in the category of "best cities for mid-career professionals," but score for "families with children," where he again lists us with Bridgeport and Raleigh, along with Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and Ventura, Calif.

Erin Williams, Worcester's cultural development officer, says, "I'm glad to hear that he is mentioning us. I certainly think Worcester is on the map, at least in terms of our state and the region for being identified as a creative economy city."

In February the Massachusetts Cultural Council announced the release of the grants. In citing Discovering the Worcester Way, the awardees wrote: "The MCC provided seed funding in 2000 that helped fund the development of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and the city's cultural economic development agenda. The Coalition now seeks to actively engage approximately 24,000 college students and visitors in the cultural life of the city through special promotions, events and marketing strategies."

Williams says the grant will allow for the "continuation of the cross-collaborations that we have with the Cultural Coalition members. This grant is also in collaboration with the Colleges of Worcester Consortium and the UniverCity partnership."

Discovering the Worcester Way is a continuation of the Way Finding initiative that, among other things, introduced the Woo Card, which gives college students discounts to arts and cultural events and venues throughout the city. Its slogan is "Do You Woo?" o