Gomez Secures Funding for Cultural Initiatives in Springfield

State Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield) has announced that a pair of initiatives he sponsored during the Senate budget debate aimed at boosting cultural initiatives in Springfield were adopted by the body. Through amendments submitted by the third term Senator, Hope for Youth & Families and Springfield Museums will each receive $50,000 to support respective projects to rehabilitate an arts center in downtown Springfield and expand interactive learning experiences.  

Gómez had this to say on the amendments being adopted, “Historically, the city of Springfield has been a cultural hub at a regional and statewide level. I am proud to see this legislature prioritize funding that ensures Springfield remains a vibrant city that drives economic development by way of its rich cultural core.”  

Hope for Youth & Families (HYF) is undertaking a massive project to thoroughly transform and reinvent the former CityStage, a 39,500 square foot facility housed in downtown Springfield. The new Hope Center for the Arts will address the critical need for accessible and equitable arts programs by serving as a creative community hub for youth arts organizations in Springfield and the surrounding region. New programs will complement existing offerings and emphasize Springfield's multi-cultural community, ensuring inclusivity and fostering cultural awareness, sensitivity, and affirmation.  

Springfield Museums’ goal is to offer a dinosaur experience and learning destination that is unmatched in all of New England. The renovated and upgraded Dinosaur Hall at the Springfield Museums will draw visitors, dinosaur enthusiasts, and student near and far. Visitors will regain a fresh new perspective on dinosaurs from the new, second-level observation deck. Its placement between Earth and Astronomy Halls will allow visitors to make connections between extinction and geology.