The Town of Medfield has been approved for a Feasibility & Technical Assistance grant from the MA Cultural Facilities Fund to study cultural re-use of some buildings at the Medfield State Hospital. This grant will hire two collaborating teams. ArtsMarket will conduct a market analysis of needs and opportunities in the region to identify the best mix and scale of a variety of cultural programs. Louise Stevens, one of the nation’s leading thinkers on arts-based economic development, will connect the dots on attracting world-class arts based institutions, responding to community interest in quality cultural experiences. She will also develop the business and financial models for capital financing and funding as well as annual operational financial support to ensure long-term sustainability. DBVW Architects brings experience in historic preservation, historic tax credit applications, adaptive re-use studies, condition assessments, phasing recommendations and cost estimates. They will investigate buildings appropriate for programs identified by ArtsMarket, prepare conceptual floor plans, and preliminary estimates of probable construction costs. The DBVW Architects study will inform ArtsMarket’s business plan and recommendations for the most viable operating model and approach.
