Worcester Wants Outdoor Concert Series — But Needs Votes First

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Cultural Coalition is in the running for a $25,000 grant to produce an outdoor concert series at Crompton Park in 2020. But for Worcester to qualify, local residents need to vote for the city's proposal — and polls close for the Levitt AMP grant at 8 p.m. on Nov. 20.

There are more than 30 cities across the U.S. competing for the Levitt grant. But only the top 25 vote-getters will advance to the next round. As of Tuesday, Worcester was in the No. 24 slot, which means the city needs all the votes it can get.

If Worcester makes the top-25 in the voting round, the concert proposal will be evaluated by the Levitt Foundation board. The 15 best proposals will then be selected for $25,000 grants.

If Worcester wins, the city would host a 10-week outdoor concert series beginning June 24 at Crompton Park.

You can vote for Worcester's Levitt AMP grant proposal at the foundation's website.

The Worcester Cultural Coalition over the summer managed the Out To Lunch Festival and Farmers Market series on the Worcester Common. An outdoor festival at Crompton Park — which is in the midst of a $1.4 million renovation — would be a cultural boost for another under-served section of the city, officials say.

"There’s a lot that goes into coordinating performers, vendors, and the public, and it’s great to give people a reason to stop and enjoy what’s going on around them. We’re looking forward to hosting Out To Lunch in 2020, and we’re also excited to hopefully bring a new major summer concert series to Worcester and activate another space in the city," Worcester Cultural Development Division program assistant Yaffa Fain said in a statement.