Parade Of Hearts Coming To Framingham Cultural District

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A parade of hearts will soon be on display in Framingham, a new effort by the Framingham Centre Common Cultural District showcasing the diversity of artists across the city.

Here's more from a cultural district press release:

The Framingham Centre Common Cultural District (FCCCD) has announced a new public art project titled “Many Cultures, One Heart” designed to highlight the many artistic and ethnic faces of Framingham. The project will involve 38 by 40-inch heart sculptures, which will be painted by local artists to represent the artistic, cultural, historical, and recreational offerings of the Cultural District partners and Framingham’s arts organizations. Artwork designs will also incorporate the diversity of the city to celebrate the many communities that call Framingham home.

“We see this project as a fabulous way to honor the artistic and cultural diversity of the city,” FCCCD Board Chair Aimee Siers said. “We look forward to these sculptures adding a beautiful, creative statement to Framingham’s landscape, enhancing the vibrancy of the city.”

Various arts organizations and corporations are sponsoring the statues, which will be located around the Cultural District and throughout the city. Many other towns in the U.S. have created similar public art campaigns, the most famous of which is the Cow Parade of Chicago. These types of sculptures then become a strong focal point for tourism in the city, often generating “find the statues” scavenger hunts by visitors and residents who then post pictures of themselves on social media, vying for who out of a group can find them all first.

“Public art is a wonderful way to unite the community,” Danforth Art Museum Director
Jessica Roscio said. “We are thrilled to be active members of the Cultural District, and have high hopes for how this project will bring together many local artists from underrepresented communities to highlight the rich diversity of Framingham.”

The statues will be designed and created during the spring, and then unveiled on June 18 during a multicultural festival on the Centre Common, when the general public will be able to explore what “Many Cultures, One Heart” is all about.

The project has already generated widespread financial support through grants and sponsorships. If you are an organization interested in sponsoring a sculpture or an artist interested in designing one, please contact Stacey David at framcentrecommon@gmail.com or visit the Many Cultures, One Heart website.