City of Worcester: 300 Years 75
W
T
he arts have long been a vital part of Worcester. For
generations our community has come together to
learn from, to enjoy and to celebrate the arts. Whether
it's stART on the Street, Art in the Park, or art in the
various museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls
throughout the city, the arts, both old and new, give
perspective to our lives.
During the years Worcester was a rural town (1722-1848), music and
the visual arts were enjoyed mainly in the home and the churches, with
a few wealthy families beginning to commission and collect art, mainly
portraits and landscapes. Once Worcester became a city in 1848, the
appreciation of the arts gained greater attention from community-wide
collaborative efforts for cultural enrichment. The Worcester County
Musical Association, founded in 1858, took advantage of Mechanics
Hall—the Renaissance Revival style building completed the previous
The Arts in
Worcester
Mechanics Hall, 1910
source: Mechanics Hall
For the
Benefit
of All
