Last month, Stoneham Town Planner Erin Wortman was selected to serve on the new Arts & Culture Planning Advisory Group of the MAPC (Massachusetts Area Planning Council). An honor for Wortman, this is also a strategic benefit for Stoneham. Through Wortman, Stoneham will have an opportunity to best plan for and incorporate Arts & Culture from an overarching perspective, with solid planning goals and benchmarks backed by community input and buy-in.
Everywhere, downtowns are looking to revitalize themselves and hoping to become thriving and vital centers that attract residents, visitors, economic development and revenues. Arts and Culture is a big part of what people want to see and experience in their cities and towns, and a “creative economy” is an important part of that economic engine.
Through her work on this Advisory Group, Wortman will receive priority trainings on arts and cultural planning and community development topics facilitated by experts around the country. She will advise on the direction of the new Arts & Culture Division’s services and technical assistance offerings. Wortman will also benefit from partnering with MAPC in promoting knowledge and support for arts and cultural planning and policy efforts - both locally and regionally.
Jennifer Sien Erickson, Manager of MAPC’s new Arts & Culture Division notes that Wortman was selected in part because of her routinely demonstrated commitment to regional collaborative planning initiatives, her diverse planning background in several communities, and her results-oriented work record.