Cultural District to be formed in downtown Middleboro

Feb 21, 2023

MIDDLEBORO — The Middleboro's Cultural Council, in partnership with The Office of Economic and Community Development, will be forming a Cultural District in Historic Downtown Middleboro. 

Establishing a Cultural District for the downtown will strengthen the creative community in the downtown scene and further its identity as a destination, supporters say. This will also increase local and regional tourism and foster cultural development. 

The designation provides access to annual Cultural District Initiative grants from the Mass Cultural Council. Grants support the district's own marketing and promotion of local events that draw the public downtown and create a sense of place. 

There are 51 statewide cultural districts in the Commonwealth, and it is widely recognized as an effective economic driver for the cultural sector of downtowns and creating a source of community pride, supporters report.

Middleboro Cultural Council met on Feb. 9 to consider a presentation on the process of forming a cultural district in Middleboro. The Middleboro Cultural Council voted unanimously to support The Office of Economic and Community Development’s pursuit of the Cultural Council District designation. 

The Office of Economic and Community Development's Communications and Community Engagement Officer, Zannah Noe, delivered the presentation addressing the Massachusetts state designation requirements and benefits of forming a Cultural District. Noe has worked on Cultural Districts and their designation requirements in other towns and detailed the process to the council.

The Mass Cultural Council has administered the Cultural Districts Initiative since 2011 on behalf of the State of Massachusetts. Towns with a local cultural council chapter enter the designation process in partnership with a municipal representative from the town. The town of Middleboro's Office of Economic and Community Development reports that they are eager to support and guide this effort.  

Designation requirements mandate an inventory of all the downtown's cultural assets, such as theaters, museums, art galleries, music venues, and other creative and cultural businesses. 

Boundaries of the district must also be defined. This will include mapping cultural assets and areas with potential development as cultural spaces. 

Once the boundaries of the Cultural District have been defined, the council will create a draft of goals and a vision for the district. The process will mandate public engagement meetings and formalizing partnership agreements with a percentage of the downtown cultural assets. 

This will ensure all stakeholders are recognized, considered and included in the discussion of the formation of the Cultural District. The work will entail finalizing goals, vision and type of management to oversee the District. All the work must resonate with and reflect the community's needs and interests.

 Becoming a Cultural District can develop a sense of pride and identity for the community as residents celebrate their town's unique cultural heritage, supporters say. Highlighting the cultural assets in Middleboro and pooling marketing resources to market the downtown will benefit all businesses, supporters say. 

However, there are challenges to becoming a cultural district. It will require volunteer time and resources to promote the district, attract visitors, and time to develop a management team and a plan for the Cultural District.

The district represents an opportunity to celebrate the town’s unique downtown culture, council members said.