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Date: 10/3/2023
BELCHERTOWN — Belchertown has received a grant of $2,500 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, through its Festivals and Projects Grant program.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council’s mission is “to promote excellence, education, access and diversity in the arts, humanities and sciences, to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the vitality of our communities and economy.”
This grant supports the launch of GATHER Art Space and Marketplace, which will be a new economic development program taking shape as a gallery marketplace in partnership with Belchertown Community Alliance.
It will be located at 6 Berkshire Ave. and feature many local Quabbin Art Association members.
6 Berkshire Ave. is an underutilized building located on the former State School property. Currently, an embroidery business occupies the building on half of the second floor.
Creative Economy Coordinator E. Maude Haak-Frendscho said, “GATHER will directly support local creative entrepreneurs while providing access to quality arts experiences and educational opportunities for residents.”
An arts and crafts workshop series will begin this fall in advance of MCC-supported pilot of the GATHER Art Space Marketplace in spring 2024.
The pilot program will run from Oct. 4 to Nov. 18 with a series of workshops including beginning sewing, clay portraiture, collages and cookie decorating.
Each will be led by local artists and artisans.
Those interested can find out more and register at btowncommunity.org/workshops.
A month-long pilot of the full GATHER Art Space and Marketplace will launch with an opening party filled with music, food and art in spring 2024 where visitors can walk around and purchase local artisan goods.
The pilot of GATHER is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and individual donors.
More details will be announced in the coming months, according to Haak-Frendscho.
BCA Board President April Jasak-Bangs shared her thoughts about the partnership with the town of Belchertown.
She said, “The BCA’s mission is focused on catalyzing collaboration through cultural experiences in our community. We are very excited to be partnering with the town of Belchertown to build something uniquely “Belchertown.” When we come together to work on a project like GATHER we build connections and bridges with one another and it feels like an exciting win for the whole community.”
The hope for the program is that the arts and culture grow community can drive tourism and economic growth while also leveraging the creative community of artists and creatives who animate Belchertown.
Town Administrator Steve Williams added, “Belchertown is brimming with independent artisans and creative entrepreneurs, and GATHER can serve as an outlet for their work while generating incomes, revenue and job opportunities that serve Belchertown, and stay here. Investing in this space is low-hanging fruit towards achieving our larger economic development objectives, and we hope to see more innovative approaches and partnerships like this across sectors.”