After more than a decade of work and $16 million in fundraising, Creative Hub Worcester is set to open its Community Arts Center at the former Boys Club at 2 Ionic Ave.
“There were moments over the past 10 years where this project felt almost impossible, but we kept going,” Laura Marotta, executive director and co-founder of Creative Hub Worcester, said in a statement provided to WBJ. “This building matters, and so does what happens inside of it. Creative Hub exists because people showed up, believed in it, and invested in it. Now we finally get to open the doors and share it with everyone.”
The project broke ground in 2024 and looks to revitalize the 112-year-old building into a community center featuring an artisans market, 26 artist studios, and event space for up to 200 people.
Worcester-based architectural firm Lamoureux Pagano Associates, Concord-based construction company C.E. Floyd, and Worcester-based Harding Green Development Group are among the companies that have worked on the project.
The space will be used for performances, gatherings, and community events. It was funded through $16 million from fundraising, foundation support, and public funds in the form of historic tax credits and grants, the nonprofit announced Monday.
The project received a 10-year tax increment financing deal from the City of Worcester worth $751,686 in 2024, according to the state’s Economic Assistance Coordinating Council.
Additionally, Creative Hub received a Cultural Facilities Fund Capital Grant worth $200,000 from the Mass Cultural Council, according to MassDevelopment.
The Community Arts Center will open on April 16 with a free grand opening celebration. The celebration will feature silk artwork created by Xiang Li, an artist whose work has been featured in museums including the Worcester Art Museum and Boston’s Museum of Fine Art. More details on the grand opening can be found here.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
