Arts & Culture

Growing the arts and culture economy to support working artists and increase local community engagement and tourism

The Hilltowns are full of makers and creators – from traditional fabric and quilt art to ever-innovating theater companies. Creative people are drawn to this area – inspired by the natural beauty around them and by the deep connections of rural life – and we invite you to engage with them in the glorious act of artistic exploration.

The Hilltown CDC is a recipient of a LISC Creative Placemaking grant and is actively engaging the community in enhancing the role of arts and culture as an important tool in community development. Creative communities have proven to be a strong driver of economic growth, quality of life and healthy, connected places to live, work and visit.

Hilltown CDC promotes Arts and Culture programming as an economic and small business development tool as well as for community planning. We continue to grow our arts and culture economy by supporting as many art groups and initiatives as we can:

• Hilltown Open Studio Tour has become an annual event in the Hilltowns. In 2019 there were 29 participating artists in 24 studios creating in 11 diverse mediums, with live demonstrations scheduled throughout the weekend-long event. After the 2018 event, reports of studio visitors ranged from 80 in one studio to 200 in another. The average sale amount per artist was $800 with some going over $2,000 for the weekend.

• Cummington Cultural District. Cummington is in the process of applying for a Cultural District Designation from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. This will also give us to momentum to reapply for federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant.