Ché Anderson
July 13, 2020
Black Lives Matter mural in the works for downtown Worcester
Photo | Grant Welker
The DCU Center in Worcester
Plans are coming together for a Black Lives Matter mural set to be painted near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Major Taylor Boulevard in downtown Worcester as soon as Wednesday, mimicking similar initiatives in other cities around the country.
Che Anderson, deputy cultural development officer for the City of Worcester, said the initiative began when several people from the community approached City Councilor Sean Rose. From there, the idea made its way through City Hall. As the idea developed, Anderson said city officials wanted to see the project be something coming directly from the community.
No tax dollars will be used to pay for the mural, Anderson said. Instead, it will be paid for through donations, which are already being collected.
Much of the organizing is taking place through a Facebook page, where Anderson, Rose and other organizers post periodic updates and field ideas. As of Monday morning, according to an update posted by Rose, $3,500 has been donated to the mural efforts so far, including $2,500 from United Way of Central Massachusetts and $1,000 from Rose.
The mural itself will say “Black Lives Matter,” but the aesthetic details are still being worked out, Anderson said on Monday. A conversation in the Facebook group floated the idea of having each letter take on a different theme.
It was too early on Monday to say how long the mural would be up. Anderson said the city typically circulates through different murals, and updating or maintaining the mural will have to be revisited in the future.
Local artists will be sourced for the mural’s installation, with priority going to Black artists, Anderson wrote in an update in the Facebook group. Many volunteers will be needed to lay the base coat.
More details about the mural project are forthcoming, Anderson said on Monday.
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