Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1368898
12 Worcester Business Journal | May 10, 2021 | wbjournal.com P O W E R 5 0 H O S P I T A L I T Y & C U L T U R E We're not about to let an extra billion change the way we do business. Thanks billion. another Member FDIC/Member DIF Equal Housing Lender. NMLS # 583135 EQUAL HOUSING LENDER 100% local and now $2 billion in assets. We are pleased to announce that UniBank has achieved $2 billion in assets. While this newest milestone is impressive, we remain firmly committed to doing business as we always have: by providing sound financial solutions and support to our local community. UniBank • 49 Church Street • Whitinsville, MA 01588 www.unibank.com • 800.578.4270 Luis Antonio Fraire & Birgit Straehle FRAIRE'S TITLES & COMPANIES: MANAGING DIRECTOR AT THE SPRINKLER FACTORY ART GALLERY, AND EVENT SALES MANAGER AT THE PARK VIEW ROOM STRAEHLE'S TITLES & COMPANIES: CREATIVE CONSULTANT AT SPRINKLER FACTORY ART GALLERY, AND PAINTINGS CONSERVATOR AT WORCESTER ART MUSEUM Residence: Worcester Colleges: Fraire: None; Straehle: Technical University of Braunschweig and Cologne University of Applied Sciences At the heart of Greater Worcester's desire to attract more industry, development, and people is the effort to showcase the region as a place where people want to live. The vibrant arts community plays an all-too-important role in that narrative. Fraire and Straehle, the duo behind Worcester's Sprinkler Factory, have become connections between local artists and the community in the seven years they've been involved in the gallery, all while collaborating on exhibitions and events.This collaboration has widened the impact radius of their work, which they've seen grow significantly as they've begun to attract artists and patrons from around New England and beyond. From their vantage point, folks travel to where the energy is fun and exciting. In the burgeoning world of art tourism, they're making sure Worcester is on the map. What do you think the future holds for Central Mass.? "Worcester is fortunate because the creative energy of artists has an outlet at venues like the Sprinkler Factory Art Gallery, ArtsWorcester, Worcester Center for Crafts, and events like stART on the Street … We hope the future of the creative sector remains unique and welcoming." Music man: Fraire played drums in an instrumental progressive rock power trio called Juggernaut. The hustler: Straehle plays ping-pong in Worcester dive bars, and spectators bet money against her opponents.