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The ACT (Arts, Culture & Trade) Roxbury Consortium

ACT Roxbury is the cultural economic development program of Madison Park Development Corporation. ACT (Arts, Culture & Trade) Roxbury celebrates culture and the arts. The consortium uses these resources as valuable assets to foster the physical, economic and social revitalization of Roxbury. We do this by hosting the Roxbury Arts Series; cataloguing and publicizing Roxbury’s artistic and cultural resources; hosting the Danette Jones Business of Culture Series to heighten the entrepreneurial skills of artists; and hosting arts shopping tours and special art exhibits and performances. We have also purchased a building, the former Hibernian Hall, which has been restored as the Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall, a space for ACT’s offices, business, a bistro, and a two-story grand ballroom/performance space. . Roxbury is not just a physical community. It is also a spiritual community, especially for people of African descent (e.g., African-Americans, Caribbean-Americans, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans). Our activities reflect, preserve, and nurture arts, culture and trade for the benefit of current, former and future residents. The name ACT ROXBURY is purposely chosen to convey that we are planning and taking decisive action to revitalize this beloved community. The ACT Roxbury Consortium is a collaboration of citizens, educational and cultural institutions, businesses, and community-based agencies. We are putting the cultural and artistic riches of Roxbury boldly on the map. This benefits the people who live in Roxbury, the larger community of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the nation. Current Consortium Members (Advisory Board) Ed Bullins, Master Artist in Residence, Northeastern University Marshall Hughes, Director, Fine, Performing & Visual Arts Roxbury Community College Edmund Barry Gaither, Director, Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists Tim Hamill, Owner, Hamill Gallery of African Art Sandy Weisman, Co-Director, Center for Arts and Community Partnerships Mass. College of Art Sidney Punter, Master’s Candidate, Arts Management at Boston University Curtis Warner, Asst. Vice President, Community & Governmental Affairs Berklee College of Music Candelaria Silva, Director, ACT Roxbury Marta Rivera, Manager of Community Outreach, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Sylvia McDowell, President, Boston Women's Heritage Trail Macken Toussaint, Esq., Goodwin Procter, LLP ACT Roxbury Programs The Roxbury Arts Series: Roxbury Film Festival featuring films by Filmmakers of Color (August 17-21, 2005) Roxbury Open Studios (October 1 & 2, 2005) Roxbury in Motion (Staged Readings & a performing arts event held late spring) Roxbury Literary Annual – Youth (published annually) Arts Shopping Tours co-sponsored with Discover Roxbury. Roxbury is Rich Guide: Roxbury is Rich Holiday Arts Shopping Guide – published and distributed in November. ACT Membership Program – begins at the student/senior level and has artist and patron-level membership. Additional info is available here. . Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall (184 Dudley Street) The purchase of Roxbury’s historic Hibernian Hall structure sponsored by Madison Park Development Corporation and its Arts, Culture, Trade Roxbury Consortium (ACT Roxbury) has restored this prominent building to its original importance as a center of artistic and cultural activity in Roxbury. Built in 1913 by the Ancient Order of Hibernians as a center for Irish cultural, social and charitable activities, the building features one of the largest dance floors in Boston, and was a favorite place for dances, showers, receptions and fundraisers. The carefully restored building will serve as a permanent home for ACT Roxbury’s cultural and arts programs, feature retail (including a restaurant) and office space for arts-related businesses and educational organizations. The dance hall has been restored as Roxbury’s only high quality performance and events venue, which will be professionally managed and is intended to be made available for performances and recitals, rehearsals, and large gatherings, both public and private. Remember our motto: Roxbury Is Rich!

*ACT Roxbury is a member of Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities: Advocating for more jobs, livable communities and betterschools through the arts, sciences and humanities! For more information , visit www.maash.org

*ACT Roxbury Consortium is a proud member of StageSource. For more information about StageSource: The Alliance of Theatre Artists & Producers, visit www.stagesource.org