GREENFIELD — The city’s increasingly vibrant arts and culture scene and its future potential will be up for discussion during a Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee panel on Thursday, June 27.
The four-person panel, which will start at 5:30 p.m. at the John Zon Community Center, will include: Linda McInerney of Eggtooth Productions and chairwoman of the Greenfield Cultural Council; Director of Community and Economic Development MJ Adams; Rachael Katz, owner of The Greenfield Gallery and chairwoman of the Crossroads Cultural District Committee; and Steve Goldsher, owner of Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center.
According to an SGIC press release, the panelists will dive into why Greenfield’s creative economy is growing, and the behind-the-scenes efforts to build more facilities and draw more talent to the downtown Crossroads Cultural District.
“Many struggling cities and towns have seen the creative economy lead the way to their revival,” Katz said, “and I am privileged to join so many talented and motivated people in that movement here in Greenfield.”
“Thanks to worker bees like Hawks & Reed and The Root Cellar bringing great music, theater and art, along with the increasing number of restaurants and bars offering great local food and drink in our downtown Crossroads Cultural District, we have become a hive of creative activity,” said McInerney, “and there’s more on the way.”
Adams cited former state Senate President Stanley Rosenberg’s efforts to turn the First National Bank building into a flexible cultural assembly space, setting aside $3.5 million for its restoration, as well as Greenfield recently being named an “opportunity zone” by the state and federal governments.
“Greenfield has always had a rich creative sector,” Adams said. “We are now coming to understand and value the economic impact of these cultural activities.”