MARLBOROUGH MAKERS
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What we are doing -- 

Mural Crew 

2020 Murals: 
  • Tackle Box Brewing - Baltic Sea Monster // see our Instagram to watch this painting unfold!
  • Lost Shoe Brewing - Shoe Makers Factory on Weed Street, projected completion Fall 2020
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  • Black Lives Matter mini mural, Maplewood Ave  
  • Black Lives Matter mega mural: location TBD - know anyone who is interested? Let us know! The project materials are already fully funded. 
Volunteers needed for: 
  • Advocate for a public art and mural ordinance in collaboration with the City Council, Marlborough Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council
  • Paint a new design on the windows of 266 Main Street 
  • Background painters for Lost Shoe mural 
  • Input on the 2022 First Church Bolton Street mural design 
  • 2021 grant writing: new mural designs, identifying locations

What we are imagining -- 

Movies on Main 

Adjacent to 175 Main Street is an empty lot created by a devastating building fire. 
It could be an ideal location for summer outdoor movies!  
Ward Park currently hosts summer movies for children. 
Movies on Main would show movies catering to a slightly older crowd. 
What would we need? An electrical outlet for a projector and a clean wall.  
Movies on Main is a BYOC event (bring your own chair). 
Check out Movies on the Block in Providence Rhode Island to see this model in action: 
http://www.moviesontheblock.com/ 

This concept was pitched to the MEDC in March 2019. 
Want to help it get off the ground?
Email us and lets chat: MarlboroughMakers@gmail.com

Vacant Storefront Popup Gallery and Creative Event Space 

Marlborough Makers on Main: 
266 Main Street is a vacant storefront Marlborough Makers is helping to decorate until it is rented. 

Spaceus.co is an organization in Cambridge MA that reimagines vacant storefronts and vacant lots as platforms for local makers, and as sites for workshops, art experiences—and more.

Marlborough Makers is inspired by Spaceus.co and other vacant storefront initiatives in Massachusetts as a means of local revitalization.
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The following concept was pitched to the MEDC in March 2019.
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Vision:
Marlborough Makers seeks to host a community art gallery in a vacant store front for the months of July and August on Main Street in Marlborough MA. The "pop up gallery" will display artworks by local residents and host evening events in collaboration with neighboring businesses.

Objective:
  • Attract foot traffic to Main Street / beautification
  • Free entry for artwork submissions provides an equitable and accessible exhibition space for local residents and youth.
  • Vacant storefront becomes an accessible space for local artists to host events (live music, knitting groups) as well as an opportunity to sell their exhibited artwork, keeping local revenue local.
  • Vacant space transformed into vibrant gallery space with no furniture or structural renovations needed.
  • Availability of vacant space cross promoted through event promotion and artist social media sharing.

A vacant space is perfect because:
Being that an art gallery entails a furniture-less room with plain walls, the bulk of the work for Marlborough Makers volunteers will be
community organizing prior to opening doors in July.

Building Community:
The pop up gallery could potentially collaborate with the community in the following ways:
  • Art Stop Pub Hop - Downtown now has 2 breweries. The gallery can serve as a stopping place on an organized pub hop.
  • Crafters Pop Up - Local craftsman can set up a temporary table in the gallery with functional wares for sale on a weekend; this is a more accessible than a farmers market which requires a vendor tent.
  • Face Paint Station - Marlborough hosts the summer concert series and observes July 4th. Free face painting can be offered for an afternoon to generate foot traffic and interest on a concert day or holiday.
  • Open Mic / Artist Led Workshops - based on community interest.
  • Crafters Meet Up: A largely successful recurring event at Gather Here
  • Sew Studio in Cambridge hosts "Bubbles & Crafts" which is a free meet up encouraging crafters to bring the project they are currently working on and make new friends and seek help over bubbly beverages.

Neighboring Community Initiatives 
Hudson
ArtsFest Hudson - http://upwitharts.org/artsfest-hudson/
River's Edge Arts Alliance, seeking to pair artwork with Downtown businesses - http://upwitharts.org/
Arts in the Park - http://upwitharts.org/art/arts-in-the-park-2/

Framingham
Downtown Social Strolls - https://downtownframinghaminc.org/strolls
Amazing Things Art Center, Downtown Weekly Arts Events - https://amazingthings.org/events/

Maynard
Spring 2019 ArtWalk - http://maynardbusinessalliance.org/events/artwalk/
Maynard Fest - http://www.assabetvalleychamber.org/maynardfest.shtm

Many Hands Make Light Work:
Have an idea about how to get this initiative off the ground? 
Want to chat about the suggestions and action plan post our MEDC meeting? 
Know a vacant storefront owner who is willing to collaborate? 
Want to help write a grant to raise funds to rent out a space for this initiative? 
Have a better version of this proposal to pitch? We'd love to hear your suggestions!

This concept was pitched to the MEDC in March 2019 and again in June & July 2019. 
Want to help with the next phase of this project?
Email us and lets chat: MarlboroughMakers@gmail.com

Volunteering for our community can make a difference 

Check out some of the latest developments in the city of Marlborough: 
Certified Vacant Storefront Communities - Press Release 
Mass.Gov/News ​
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