Arts & Culture
Growing the arts and culture economy to support working artists and increase local community engagement and tourism
The Hilltowns are full of makers and creators – from traditional fabric and quilt art to ever-innovating theater companies. Creative people are drawn to this area – inspired by the natural beauty around them and by the deep connections of rural life – and we invite you to engage with them in the glorious act of artistic exploration.
Hilltown CDC promotes Arts and Culture programming as an economic and small business development tool as well as for community planning. We continue to grow our arts and culture economy by supporting as many art groups and initiatives as we can:
• Hilltown Open Studio Tour has become an annual event in the Hilltowns. In 2019 there were 29 participating artists in 24 studios creating in 11 diverse mediums, with live demonstrations scheduled throughout the weekend-long event. After the 2018 event, reports of studio visitors ranged from 80 in one studio to 200 in another. The average sale amount per artist was $800 with some going over $2,000 for the weekend.
• Cummington Cultural District. Cummington has become the first rural cultural district, a designation offered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
A sampling of our local hilltown makers and creators:
Cummington Cultural District Grant Video (2018)
Arts and Culture in the Hilltowns is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.