The Massachusetts Cultural Council designated Downtown Winchester as a Cultural District in 2019 in recognition of the concentration and vitality of its artistic and cultural resources within the community, which creates an infrastructure for local arts, humanities, and science organizations’ public programmed events.
Arts Winchester is the Winchester Cultural District Managing Partnership, comprised of volunteer artists and leadership representatives from the cultural community and creative economy. It organizes events, promotes public art and culture, connects cultural creators, and generally works to enrich our cultural environment.
Our mission is to:
- Highlight the cultural assets within the District for the purpose of education, cultural enrichment, and promoting mental health;
- Foster local arts and cultural development;
- Promote cultural programs for all ages and all ethnicities
- Support economic development and the downtown creative economy
Cultural assets include cultural organizations such as museums, art galleries, performing spaces, and schools; historic buildings and sites; creative economy businesses; artists, musicians and other performers; and works of art and other objects of cultural or historical significance to the community.
Our vision for the Cultural District includes a river walk and space on the Common and around the renovated train station for public art and cultural installations, events, and festivals beckoning residents from all parts of town.
Arts Winchester collaborates with the Griffin Museum to produce the outdoor Photoville exhibition each summer. In fall 2023 it will launch the Riverwalk exhibition, including four major sculptures and an extensive set of Augmented Reality installations along the water. Arts Winchester has produced a series of events at the Griffin Museum terrace, including music and poetry performances and, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, a beer garden. It publicizes and promotes the work of Winchester artists and cultural creators.
Volunteers are welcome to assist with exhibitions and programs, and to help build the cultural infrastructure. Arts Winchester has groups working to coordinate with the town government ("Town Liaison"), to develop physical facilities ("Cultural Resources"), to produce and encourage new events ("Arts and Events"), and to connect with students and other young people ("Youth Advisory Council"). Volunteers are welcome to join those groups, to help on individual projects, or simply to contribute ideas.