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Watertown Cultural District Partnership
The Cultural District Partnership (link to full partner descriptions) meets every 2nd Monday of the month at 4pm via Zoom. The partnership is the public-private governing body of the Watertown Square Cultural District and is subject to all Federal, State, and local regulations for public bodies. The Partnership Handbook (PDF) provides details of governance structure. Anyone interested in joining the Cultural District Partnership should review the Partnership Handbook and Partnership Agreement (PDF).
Cultural District Partnership Officers and Appointees:
- Kristen Kenny, Chair
- Doug Orifice, Vice Chair & Watertown Business Coalition Appointee
- Jeannette Belcher-Schepis, Co-Secretary
- Lois Pond, Co-Secretary
- Liz Helfer, City Liaison & Treasurer
- Rick Saunders, Watertown Public School Appointee
Cultural District Partners:
- Public Arts & Culture Planner, Department of Community Development & Planning (public)
- Watertown Farmers’ Market, Department of Community Development & Planning (public)
- Watertown Free Public Library (public)
- Watertown Cultural Council (public)
- Watertown Public Schools (public)
- Project Save Armenian Photograph Archive (nonprofit)
- Armenian Cultural & Educational Center (nonprofit)
- Russell Cooperative Preschool (nonprofit)
- Historical Society of Watertown (nonprofit)
- Watertown Cable Access Corp (nonprofit)
- Armenian Museum of America (nonprofit)
- Watertown Business Coalition (nonprofit)
- Mosesian Center for the Arts (nonprofit)
- Friends of Watertown Music (nonprofit)
- Perkins School for the Blind (nonprofit)
- AANE Artists Collaborative (nonprofit)
- Mount Auburn Cemetery (nonprofit)
- World in Watertown (nonprofit)
- Gore Place (nonprofit)
- Susan Jones, Artist (business)
- Jack Dargon, Artist (business)
Starting in 2022, Watertown began pursuing a Cultural District designation from the state. A Cultural District is an important civic tool designed to support the economy, the arts, and culture bearers on a local level. The Cultural District planning process has involved numerous stakeholders to get to this point and welcomes your feedback. On this webpage you will find links to information about the benefits of Massachusetts Cultural District designation, the Watertown Square Cultural District Proposal, the Resolution to Create a Cultural District, key dates for the project, and who's working on this project. For questions about the Watertown Square Cultural District, please email wscd@watertown-ma.gov.
- Learn about Massachusetts Cultural District designation (external link).
- Review the Watertown Square Cultural District Proposal (PDF).
- View the Resolution to Create a Cultural District (PDF).
- See the Letter of Support from the City Manager (PDF).
Key Dates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
October 3, 2023 | November 1, 2023 | December 2023 | April 10, 2024 | November 13, 2024 |
| Public Meeting in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown | Public Meeting in the 3rd Foor Gallery at the Armenian Museum of America, 65 Main Street, Watertown | Cultural District Application submitted to the Mass Cultural Council
| Site visit with Mass Cultural Council | Official Cultural District designation by the Mass Cultural Council |
Image Below: Concertgoers enjoy the musical stylings of Perfect Crime Band and the life-sized puppets by the Puppeteers Cooperative at a Summer Concert in Saltonstall Park on August 23, 2023.