News Page
RiverCulture wins 2011 Commonwealth Award
January 21, 2011
Turners Falls RiverCulture receives 2011 Massachusetts Commonwealth Award for ʻCreative Community. Ceremony February 9th at the State House in Boston.
In Boston this past week, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) announced the winners of the 2011 Commonwealth Awards, honoring exceptional achievement in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Among the list of winners on this annual list of the best in Massachusetts-based arts and culture is Turners Falls RiverCulture. Recognized in the ‘Creative Community' category, RiverCulture works to create a vibrant and
connected Turners Falls community through innovative partnerships and cultural programming.
The Commonwealth Awards will be presented Wednesday, February 9th at a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House; a local celebration is also planned in Turners Falls at a later date.
RiverCulture was formed in the 19th century mill village of Turners Falls in 2006 when artists, organizations, business leaders and town officials came together to create programming around the local cultural offerings, scenic beauty, ecological and historical integrity. The partnership is committed to supporting arts and culture as important omponents of a healthy community and a way to enhance quality of life and create pride and a strong sense of place among visitors and residents alike.
"It may be a tiny village in the most rural county in Massachusetts, but Turners Falls is truly a creative community brimming with big talent," said Lisa Davol, Director of RiverCulture. "We are honored that RiverCulture has been recognized for our efforts in bringing the community together in a way that has yielded unprecedented cultural activity, economic vibrancy and pride in sense of place."
In a very short period of time RiverCulture was able to organize and rally the local creative community to create a rich year-round calendar of programming designed to emphasize bringing people into the downtown. The diverse calendar of events include:
- an annual Block Party and concerts in Peskeomskut Park;
- artistic installations such as the Woven River art pathway on an overgrown and littered boardwalk connecting thedowntown to the more residential section;
- creation of a Geologic Walking Tour that highlights the extensive local fossil formations and other geology;
- thought provoking and boundary testing art pieces such as the Sun Boxes Solar Sound Installation in downtown parks;
- creative events featuring upcylcing such as the enormously popular Recycled Fashion Show - an outgrowth of the Lost and Found Fashion Show which creates new designs from clothes left behind in the laundromat onThird Street;
- and, an upcoming "hardhat auction" to celebrate the reconstruction (and mitigate the aggravation) of the Gill-Montague bridge. The event will feature artists-decorated hardhats, first modeled by bridge constructionworkers and local Department of Public Works employees which will then be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Beyond tourism, RiverCulture has attracted a surge of new businesses and artists relocating in the community further stoking the revival of this community. Within the last few years a number of galleries, gourmet restaurants and artists have seized the opportunities presented by the resurgence of Turners Falls.
Peter Hamelin and Heather Maloney relocated to Turners Falls in the past year from Portmouth, New Hampshire where each was involved in the local music scene. Hamelin, a seasoned music promoter, has been instrumental in the operation of PowerTown Music, a music production and youth mentoring program. Maloney is a singer-songwriter with an extensive touring schedule and a creative career garnering notice from the national music press.
"Turners Falls is a place where it doesn't matter what kind of car you drive or what you do to earn a paycheck, there is nothing luxury about it. The town itself is a piece of art, it's like living inside a painting, one where everybody can be involved in building a stronger and more vibrant community," says Hamelin.
Eric McClean and her partner John MacNamara, are local artists very involved as committee members of RiverCulture who recently purchased a building in Turners Falls which will house studio space as well as and industrial antique shop called LOOT.
"When we were looking in the Pioneer Valley for a town to call home and also open a business, we were struck by the sheer beauty of the town... It seemed to strike the perfect balance between urban life and natural beauty." said McClean. "This renewed energy and hopefulness could be attributed in large part to the efforts of RiverCulture. Their work in forging partnerships and fostering a wide array of creative events has helped to shape a positive public perception of Turners Falls."
Recently, groups and individuals other than RiverCulture have started holding major events in the community. The first annual Montague Soapbox Races this summer drew over 1,500 people and the new Franklin County Pumpkin Fest brought an estimated 8,000 participants to the downtown, a number equal to the town's entire population.
With attention to the cultural activities happening in Turners Falls, travel articles and features stories started appearing in with description such as the Boston Globe's "Fossils and a funky arts scene share the spotlight in the tiny mill village of Turners Falls." Positive editorials in local papers started supplanting the frequent police log entries and crime reports with headlines like, "Turners Falls is a comeback town... a cause for celebration."
In addition to RiverCulture, the Massachusetts Cultural Council will be recognizing other organizations including the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Longwood Symphony Orchestra and arts and culture leaders such as Nancy Fitzpatrick of Berkshire Creative in Pittsfield. A complete list of the winners and more information on the Commonwealth Awards is available through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
