| Mass MoCA |
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Organization: Mass MoCA Issue Addressed: Neighborhood Revitalization Location: North Adams, MA (condensed from www.massmoca.org) In 1860 O. Arnold and Company printworks established 25/26 buildings of Mass MoCA, employing some 3,200 people in the textile business. However as cotton production and manufacturing moved south, and as the effects of the Great Depression lingered, Arnold Print Works closed their operations. The complex of buildings was soon purchased by Sprague Electric, and in 1966 operations were up and running again. In a town with a population of 18,000, Sprague Electric employed about 22%, or 4,000 workers, but as the competition for electronic battery sources moved abroad, Sprague Electric failed to compete. In 1985, Sprague Electric closed, leaving behind the network of buildings and factory spaces. In 1986 the Williams College Museum of Art began to consider using the large, open factory spaces to exhibit large pieces of contemporary art, and the Mayor of North Adams at the time suggested the abandoned buildings of Sprague Electric. Thus began the launch of Mass MoCA. Joe Thompson, the current director of Mass MoCA, led a campaign to lobby for funds to further develop the space. The Massachusetts legislature, as well as the city of North Adams, foundations, and private donors all eventually contributed to Mass MoCA, and in 1999 the artspace opened as the nation's largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts. As Mass MoCA continued to grow the impact on the neighborhood became evident, as businesses developed and North Adams became a point on the map to visit alongside other cultural institutions in Berkshire county. A study performed by the Center for Creative Community Development documented how the neighborhood has slowly grown from its decline in the late 20th century. Nuts and Bolts process: - $22 million construction grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; $9.4 million in pri vate funds for construction support; $5.6 million in private contributions for programming and start-up. Programming and general operating costs will continue to be supported by admissions revenue and fund-raising initiatives. - A feasibility study of converting the factory space to an art gallery was conducted by architects. Bruner/Cott was named project architected and in 1995, the firm completed master plan and final designs. - Spaces were divided to allow for 19 galleries, black box theatre, lab theater, outdoor cinema, artist residency space, performance courtyards, workshop space, kid space, rehearsal space, office and retail space for commercial tenants - Mass MoCA employs students from the nearby Williams College as well as locals, often purchasing materials, craftsmen, and technical assistance for installation, art, and building development. - Mass MoCA and Williams College start an analysis of the impact of the Mass MoCA on North Adams, the data of which can be read in the following "successes." Successes: - Commercial leasing added 1.2 million dollars to the total 14 million operating budget. - Outside businesses take residency in North Adams, encouraging further growth in the region. - A study measured that Mass MoCA created an economic impact up to 11 million dollars in the region, either from visitor's direct purchases to more indirect sources, such as the museum's purchases of raw materials or services from the neighborhood - Employment increased in North Adams by 250 people, from 1998 to 2001 - Restaurant and bar businesses, educational services, and hotel/motel business increased. - Property values increased significantly from 1998-2001. - Local visitors from North Adams gain exposure to a more ethnically diverse group than the one they would find in their own neighborhoods. Keys to Success: - Financial and political resources and support from all levels - Linking the town with the series of other cultural institutions in the region - Being a small, enclosed community on the decline. North Adams could absorb the economic and community growth that Mass MoCA produced. - High energy and dedicated hard work; Mass MoCA was a project at least 13 years in the making - Research staff and support that could study impact of Mass MoCA on North Adams - Local activity and support to rebuild facility |