Worcester’s You Belong Here project has won a Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence from the International Downtown Association.
Members of the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District team are traveling to Washington, D.C. this week for IDA’s 71st Annual Conference & Marketplace, where the project will be celebrated and featured in the National Building Museum’s Coming Together exhibit.
The conference takes place from September 24-27, 2025.
What You Belong Here is
At its core, You Belong Here turned a library’s welcoming phrase into a public art and lighting installation on the Salem Street façade of the Worcester Public Library.
The design was created by Worcester-based visual artist Sharinna Travieso, who worked with Creative Hub Worcester to gather community input through workshops.
Those conversations shaped the artwork into a 90-foot illuminated piece that reflects the spirit and diversity of the city.
What it involved
The project started with a $15,000 MassDevelopment Commonwealth Places seed grant to cover early phases: artist selection, community engagement, and concept design.
Additional funding came from local partners including the Worcester Cultural Coalition, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Country Bank, Cornerstone Bank, Far Shot Worcester, and JAM Corporation. The Worcester Cultural Coalition alone contributed $35,000 toward fabrication and installation.
What made the project distinct was its scope. This wasn’t just a mural. It required coordination between artists, contractors, funders, and city partners to install large-scale lighting on a major public building.
Hurdles faced by the You Belong Here project
Funding was a hurdle from the start. The project team had to layer grants, sponsorships, and foundation support to cover costs.
The long timeline, stretching from its announcement in 2022 to installation in 2024, required steady effort to keep momentum and public interest alive.
Technical challenges came with ensuring safety and working within the architecture of the library.
And finally, victory came
The project’s public unveiling came at the You Belong Here Celebration on October 5, 2024, outside Worcester Public Library.
Residents gathered for performances, art activities, and to see the installation lit for the first time. That night marked the moment the project shifted from concept to reality.
Beyond the unveiling, the biggest victory is that You Belong Here has become part of Worcester’s civic identity.
It redefined a stretch of Salem Street, reinforced the library as a downtown anchor, and gave residents a visible symbol of inclusion.
The national recognition from IDA validates the work and ensures that Worcester’s story now circulates well beyond Massachusetts.
Lessons for Western Mass
1. Frame it as more than art
Worcester showed how this project would deliver returns: safer streets, stronger civic identity, more activity downtown. Towns across Western Mass should be clear about how similar projects will pay back residents, businesses, and funders.
2. Build with the community
The workshops that shaped Worcester’s project weren’t an afterthought. They created legitimacy and momentum. When people see their own voices in a design, they defend it and celebrate it.
3. Generate momentum that attracts support
Once community buy-in was visible and early funding secured, other organizations wanted to be part of the project. That snowball effect is what turns a good idea into a civic movement.
4. Budget for celebration and visibility
The October 2024 launch gave Worcester an opportunity to rally people downtown and to get lots of visibility.
The size of the celebration reflects the value placed on an achievement. Events like this turn a project into a shared civic memory.
5. Then let serendipity do its thing
Worcester’s award and national exhibit placement mean the project is now a calling card for the city.
Western Mass towns could aim for the same: local projects that also travel outward as stories of innovation, inclusion, and creativity.
They can now pitch this success to travel magazines and use it as a pillar for more grants.
Resources list for Western Mass placemakers looking to act on this
Here’s list of resources and references for readers who want to dive deeper into Worcester’s You Belong Here project and its recognition:
Primary Project & Partners
- Downtown Worcester BID announcement: Downtown Worcester BID press release
- Worcester Public Library Foundation photo gallery: You Belong Here Celebration pictures
- Worcester Magazine coverage of artist selection: Creative Hub & Sharinna Travieso chosen for project.
Funding & Support
- Worcester Cultural Coalition Annual Report (includes $35,000 contribution): WCC Annual Report 2024.
- MassDevelopment Commonwealth Places program: Commonwealth Places overview (Commonwealth Places is now part of the Community One Stop for Growth, a single application portal and collaborative review process of community development grant programs).
Recognition & Events
- International Downtown Association Awards: IDA Downtown Achievement Awards
- Worcester Public Library event listing for October 5, 2024 celebration: You Belong Here Celebration event
- National Building Museum exhibit info: Coming Together exhibit.
PHOTOS: Michael Hendrickson. Courtesy of Worcester Public Library Foundation
CONTRIBUTOR
Inc413 News Team
The Inc413 news team compiles business stories from across Western Massachusetts and beyond. Our primary focus is on stories that have an impact on small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the people they employ.
