From the Medfield State Hospital Master Planning Committee –

Photo taken at night by Vic Cevoli

Cultural Grant Received to Study Re-Use

The Master Planning Committee is excited to announce that the Town of Medfield has been approved for a Feasibility & Technical Assistance grant from the MA Cultural Facilities Fund in the amount of $17,400 to study cultural re-use of some buildings at the State Hospital. The required 1:1 match was approved at Town Meeting in April, 2016.

This grant will hire two collaborating teams. ArtsMarket will conduct a market analysis of needs and opportunities in the region to identify the best mix and scale of a variety of cultural programs. These could include visual, performing or culinary arts, arts education or presentation venues, residency programs, and more. We are happy to have Louise Stevens on board, one of the nation’s leading thinkers on arts-based economic development. Stevens will connect the dots on attracting world-class arts based institutions, responding to community interest in quality cultural experiences. She will also develop the business and financial models for capital financing and funding as well as annual operational financial support to ensure long-term sustainability.

Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects brings experience in historic preservation, historic tax credit applications, adaptive re-use studies, condition assessments, phasing recommendations and cost estimates. They will investigate up to three buildings appropriate for programs identified by ArtsMarket, prepare conceptual floor plans, and preliminary estimates of probable construction costs. The Durkee Brown study informs ArtsMarket’s business plan and recommendations for the most viable operating model and approach.

We expect the combined studies to take five to six months. The consultants are prepared to begin as soon as the state funds can be released, hopefully in June. We look forward to a presentation on their findings before year end. We expect that by integrating cultural initiatives, the Master Plan will generate the kind of environment that attracts private sector investment and generates long-term value for the Town.