Gardner officials seek community input on cultural programs
What kinds of arts and cultural programs would residents like to see in the Chair City?
That’s one of the questions Gardner officials are interested in finding out as they invite residents to fill out a survey aimed at improving publicity and allocation of public dollars for programs and activities in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences.
Jessica DeRoy, the city’s economic development coordinator, said the survey is sent out every couple of years at the suggestion of the Massachusetts Cultural Council as a way to ensure the public is properly notified about the programs and activities offered by the city.
“We always have enough applications to be able to provide the funds to all of the people that do submit to us, but we’re always looking to expand on that and make sure the public is aware of all of these programs so that those that do get funded do get some more public support,” said DeRoy, who is also the chair of the Gardner Cultural Council.
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Feedback from the survey will also be used to determine what kinds of programs the public would like to see more of in the region, and which demographic would be the primary audience, DeRoy said.
“Because the more interest we have, the more money gets allocated to us,” she said.
“The grants we give can be (for programs) anywhere within the state, as long as Gardner residents are able to get to those locations and take part in the activities,” she explained, adding that the results of the survey will also be used to apply for additional funding.
The results of previous surveys were useful in helping city officials determine which arts and cultural programs got funded over the past several years, including reptile shows at the Levi Heywood Memorial Library, the Gardner Area League of Artists' annual art shows, and the summer concert series in Monument Park.
“The Bavarian band that played prior to the events at last year’s Oktoberfest was also funded by us, as well,” DeRoy said. “We’ll fund anything related to the arts, culture, science, humanities – anything that helps people get out and about and is free to the public.”
The results of the survey are particularly important this time around as the Gardner Cultural Council is eager to fund more public events in the city, especially as officials are in the process of redeveloping the downtown area as a destination location for residents and visitors.
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“Because so much of what we do is focused around that area, and we’re just trying to bring more culture into the downtown and make it a place where someone can come and spend the entire day without leaving the downtown area,” DeRoy said. “And the more information we have, the better it will be.”
The survey will remain open until Thursday, Aug. 31.
Paper copies of the survey can be found at City Hall, the Gardner Senior Center, and Levi Heywood Memorial Library.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner Cultural Council survey to determine arts, science programs
