Cultural District Planning

Image above: The proposed Watertown Square Cultural District boundary.

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 2024
Public Meeting in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown Watch the recording from the Public Meeting on 10/3/2023 (link). See the slides from the Public Meeting on 10/3/2023 (PDF).	Public Meeting in the 3rd Foor Gallery at the Armenian Museum of America, 65 Main Street, Watertown See images of feedback from the Public Meetings on 10/3/2023 and 11/1/2023 (link).	Cultural District Application submitted to the Mass Cultural Council Approval of $10,000 ARPA funds for City Match of Cultural District Funding (link).	Site visit with Mass Cultural Council See the site visit map and itinerary (PDF)	Anticipated Cultural District designation by the Mass Cultural Council

Key Dates

October 3, 2023

November 1, 2023

December 2023

April 10, 2024

November 2024

Public Meeting in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown

Watch the recording from the Public Meeting on 10/3/2023 (link).
See the slides from the Public Meeting on 10/3/2023 (PDF).

Public Meeting in the 3rd Foor Gallery at the Armenian Museum of America, 65 Main Street, Watertown

See images of feedback from the Public Meetings on 10/3/2023 and 11/1/2023 (link).

Cultural District Application submitted to the Mass Cultural Council

Approval of $10,000 ARPA funds for City Match of Cultural District Funding (link).

Site visit with Mass Cultural Council

See the site visit map and itinerary (PDF)

Anticipated Cultural District designation by the Mass Cultural Council

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:

Maria Hendricks, 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)
Watertown Center for Healing Arts (business)
Maria Hendricks, Artist (business)
Susan Jones, Artist (business)
Jack Dargon, Artist (business)
Seth Deitch, Artist (business)

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.