Knapik competes for top spot in mayors' challenge

Date: 10/27/2010

Oct. 27, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Editor

WESTFIELD -- The Oct. 29 voting deadline is quickly approaching for the Massachusetts Cultural Council's (MCC) first Mayors' Arts Challenge and Mayor Daniel Knapik is convinced Westfield could take out the competition.

Knapik is one of only 16 mayors in the state to submit a video testimonial highlighting his city's cultural assets. The winning video, determined by viewer votes on YouTube will be showcased at the State House during the Commonwealth Awards on Feb. 9 and the United States Conference of Mayors.

"We're trying to get on the map as a cultural destination," Knapik said, adding that the city has many dedicated volunteers who promote the arts throughout the city via Westfield State University, Westfield on Weekends (WOW), the Westfield Athenaeum and the Westfield Business Improvement District.

"If anything, it speaks to the collaboration of all the elements of Westfield Life," Robert Plasse, president of WOW, said of the video he helped to produce. "When people tell me there's nothing to do in Westfield I can't imagine that they can ever say that because when I look at our calendar there is something going on everyday and every night."

Gregory Liakos, director of communications for the MCC, said he's hoping the Mayors' Art Challenge will become an annual event.

"We're really impressed with the mayors' enthusiasm. We've known for a long time that mayors are really passionate spokespersons and champions for culture and community vitality. We wanted to encourage that with some friendly competition," Liakos said.

"We have an extraordinary history in Massachusetts and it's an important part of our life and economy here," he added.

To watch or cast a vote for the city's video, log onto www.youtube.com/mayorsartschallenge.