State House to celebrate Worcester: Who Knew? Day

Great News ! VIA RELEASE:
State House to celebrate Worcester: Who Knew? Day
New marketing campaign highlights City's cultural destinations, offers discounted admissions

Worcester, Massachusetts - May 14, 2009 - The Worcester Cultural Coalition will
join with Senator Harriette Chandler and the legislature's Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development in celebrating Worcester: Who Knew? Day at the State House in Boston on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

A reception in Nurse's Hall from 11 a.m. - 12 noon, will highlight a new marketing
campaign, Worcester: Who Knew? capitalizing on the wealth of cultural destinations
in and around the City.

"This campaign calls attention to the many unique museums, outdoor adventures and special interactive experiences the greater Worcester area has to offer," said Erin Williams, Executive Director of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and the City's
Cultural Development Officer. "Who knew there was so much? We did! This campaign demonstrates our place as a truly creative city that actively engages our residents and visitors alike in the creative experience."

"This day will be a great opportunity to showcase Worcester and what it has to offer
to legislators, staff and visitors to the State House," agreed Senator Chandler.

The nonprofit cultural sector of the Massachusetts economy is substantial, employing nearly 40,000 people and delivering $4 billion in economic impact to the state. Funds invested in cultural organizations contribute to the financial health and
stability of this sector which is essential to the communities, industries and
workforce that make up the creative economy.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition has been a strong advocate for restoration of budget cuts to the Massachusetts Cultural Council as well as the reinstatement of Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund. Six Cultural Coalition member organizations received combined MA Facilities funding of over 1 million dollars in 2008. Worcester Cultural Coalition member organizations have grown to more than 60 strong, accounting for some 2 million visitors to Worcester in calendar 2008.
More than a half dozen representatives of Worcester area cultural organizations
will participate in the May 20th State House reception, which will also include
a performance by the Worcester Chamber Music Society - a highly acclaimed group, dedicated to making the finest chamber music accessible to the Greater Worcester community. It is the eclectic force of their collective voice, whether performing masterpieces from the classic chamber music literature or lesser-known unusual repertoire that is most strongly heard and that guarantees the listener an unforgettable concert experience. WCMS members Tracy Kraus, Angel Hernandez and Peter Sulski will perform Beethoven's Serenade for flute, violin and viola.
The Worcester: Who Knew? campaign includes a new rack card, featuring discounted coupons to eight cultural organizations. Cultural organizations presently offering discounts through the new campaign include the EcoTarium, The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Higgins Armory Museum, Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, the Museum of Russian Icons, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, the Worcester Art Museum and the Worcester Historical Museum. A total of more than $40 in savings is available. The new rack card, available to the public at participating cultural organizations, area hotels and businesses as well as countless other visitor destinations throughout Central Massachusetts, will involve a simultaneous online component offering users additional discounts available for download.

The rack card was funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Business Development/Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, with the overall marketing campaign being supported by the Worcester Cultural Coalition, the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Adams Arts program, and the City of Worcester.