Imagining - and planning - more arts in Downtown Manchester

Manchester, CT - Enthusiastic, passionate, arts-oriented volunteers are hard at work making plans on how to enhance the arts and culture scene in downtown Manchester.

Seen as a key driver in ramping up efforts to revitalize the Downtown area, a town-organized community brainstorming session resulted in the formation of a new committee with a vision of an arts mecca.  The committee, called  ”Imagine Main Street”, is a collaboration of the Town staff, local businesses, artists, non-profit organizations and the Downtown Manchester Special Services District.

“Our goal is to leverage the great work already underway by the many arts and cultural organizations in Manchester.   In combination with the increased focus on the Downtown District, we feel the arts can be a major component of the economic growth plan for Manchester”, said “Imagine Main Street” Chairperson and Manchester Town Director Steve Gates.

“Imagine Main Street” will begin with a series of downtown neighborhood events.   The initial event is a cooperative effort with the Pride in Manchester Week committee.  The “Imagine Main Street Strollin’ on Main” will be held during Pride week on Thursday, June 7.  The event will include many of the traditional Strollin’ on Main activities, which has been a part of Pride Week for many years.  Strollin’ replicated the days of the 50’s to 70’s when the community strolled down Main Street on Thursday nights for business and fellowship.

“Pride in Manchester is thrilled to see this project get its public inauguration during our Town’s special week . . .  what better way to show your pride than to gather great volunteers, build an exciting vision, and create more activity than ever!”, offered Joyce Hodgson, Pride in Manchester Week Chairperson.

“Development of an arts and culture focus in the Downtown was a recommendation of the recent Downtown Market Study. Manchester is fortunate to be blessed with an abundant creative community. The Downtown Manchester Special Services District looks forward to working with members of “Imagine Main Street” to bring the talents, enthusiasm and creativity of the arts community to our historic Downtown”, said DMSSD manager Tana Parseliti.  “This new energy will complement our existing business mix, build on the opening of MCC on Main and help create a renewed sense of place for our Downtown”.

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Imagine Main Street Committee at ImagineMainStreet@cox.net.   Additional information is also available at the Town of Manchester website, townofmanchester.org/prideandheritage.