Pow! Wow! Worcester set for new murals at local schools

June 18, 2018 : Telegram & Gazette, by Richard Duckett

WORCESTER — Pow! Wow! Worcester plans to have muralists at four elementary schools as the international mural and arts festival returns to the city from Aug. 31 to Sept. 9.

The schools will have murals painted pending a successful $50,000 fundraising campaign currently underway through Mass Development’s Commonwealth Places program that has a deadline of midnight Thursday.

As of Monday morning, the campaign had reached $42,075.

Last year artists painted 11 large-scale and exterior murals at Elm Park Community School. Pow! Pow! Worcester intends to be back at Elm Park Community School, and artists will also be on hand at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School, Chandler Elementary School, and Chandler Magnet School, according to an announcement.

“The murals and the experience our students have with the artists enriches our schools and brings excitement to our community. We absolutely love POW! WOW! Worcester and cannot wait to see our schools come alive in September. It really is an exciting way to start the new school year,” said Worcester public schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda.

In addition to the schools, Pow! Wow! Worcester 2018 will feature 10 new large-scale murals throughout the city, as well as permanent art installations in public spaces and the artistic repurposing of vacant storefronts.

MassDevelopment, a state economic development and financing agency, had previously announced it will give a $50,000 grant if Pow! Wow! Worcester can match that amount dollar for dollar. Last year it also issued a $50,000 matching grant challenge that Pow! Wow! Worcester successfully met.

For more information and to donate, visit www.patronicity.com/PowWow.