The Work Center has been dedicated to providing a supportive and nurturing haven for emerging artists and writers since its inception in 1968. Not only has this mission benefited hundreds of Fellows, it has also served Provincetown by perpetuating and strengthening the town's reputation as the oldest continuously operating arts colony in the country.
What began as a grassroots effort to encourage and support a creative community has blossomed into a resource of national renown and significance. The unparalleled Winter Fellowship Program offers seven months of uninterrupted time and space to ten visual artists and ten writers. Selected from a pool of over 1000 applicants from around the globe, this culturally diverse group provides the necessary nourishment on which our society thrives. To date, over 600 Fellowships have been awarded, and many Fellows have gone on to win the most prestigious awards in arts and letters.
Now more than ever, the Work Center's commitment to
provide a nurturing environment for emerging creative voices is crucial. This has been an unsettling year. The economy has been slow to recover. The decision to cut funds to the Massachusetts Cultural Council by 62% has had a devastating effect on arts organizations around the state. Costs continue to escalate while financial resources available to arts
programs have dwindled.
We have worked hard on our Capital Campaign, raising money to reduce our mortgage debt, increase the endowment, and repair our historic structures. Still, the costs
associated with running programs here at the Work Center are staggering. For example, each Fellowship requires funds in excess of $20,000.
So we ask for your help. Your belief in the Work Center and in the importance of the arts in our society will help us
survive these difficult times.
In advance, many thanks for your support and assistance.
Hunter O'Hanian
Executive Director
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