Fine Art School to Open In Struggling Downtown
Small cities like Medfield look to art and art school to revitalize their downtowns.
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by Alex Russel
alex.russel@art-schools-search.com
Art Schools Search Columnist
Like many towns before it, Medfield, Massachusetts wants to revitalize its downtown and it’s turning to art to help do it.
The rise of the American suburb didn’t happen without the fall of the American downtown. Across the United States, historic downtown districts struggle to find a reason-for-being in a society dominated by gargantuan shopping malls and sprawled out neighborhoods.
Downtowns Blighted
Despite the trend, many Americans maintain an appreciation for old downtown areas. In towns as diverse as Syracuse or Spokane, town leaders make every effort to get businesses to occupy downtown urban areas that were left by major businesses more than a generation ago.
Like many of these nostalgic towns, Medfield, just southeast of Boston, is turning to art and a fine art school to help rejuvenate its downtown.
Fine Art School to the Rescue?
According to the Boston Globe, Medfield’s Zullo Gallery has clawed its way from being a tiny storefront art gallery in the late eighties to a full fledged community destination today. Now, plans are underway to create the Zullo Gallery Center for the Arts.
The idea is to create a multi-disciplinarian arts center that caters to artists, art lovers, and local children. In the works are expanded hours, a year-round fine art school, special events ranging from live music to artist demonstrations, and an in-gallery cafe with rooftop deck.
Medfield Art School and Art Gallery
”A cafe will allow people to have more opportunities to enjoy the space, relax, and enjoy the art on show,” said Zullo director Bill Pope. ”The income we generate by serving light fare and coffee drinks will also help us pay for staff at the gallery and support other programs.”
But art isn’t exactly a dizzying revenue generator. Charitable donations are necessary to cover the costs of the Zullo expansion.
Fundraising for the Fine Art School
To this end, a kickoff fund-raising event in November generated the first $24,000 toward the quarter-million-dollar goal. Pope sees his mission central to the plan to rebuild Medfield.
”There’s been a big push in Medfield toward revitalization of the town and how to make the downtown work better,” said Pope. ”Well, the gallery sits smack in the downtown area.”
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About the Author
Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. He holds a dual bachelor’s degree in English and History.
Posted on April 5, 2007 at 11:47 AM
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