Mission:
The mission of First Night Worcester is to promote and encourage community awareness and understanding of the arts of all kinds, and to bring the arts to the widest cross-section of the community as possible via an affordable, accessible and non-alcoholic annual New Year’s Eve celebration. First Night Worcester’s broad-based participation and cultural diversity of artists and audiences enhances community life through the positive, unifying and reaffirming spirit of the arts. The event is designed to expose celebrants to the highest caliber of arts and artists within a welcoming format that showcases the city’s grand civic and architectural jewels.  In this meaningful way, First Night Worcester has transformed the revelry of past New Years’ Eve excesses into a vibrant local tradition that has grown in its 26-year history to become a regional cultural destination and the largest celebration of its kind in Central Massachusetts.

Outreach:
In recent years, First Night has broadened its scope to include award-winning outreach programs that occur throughout the year with professional development workshops for teachers as well as artists’ residencies in schools and neighborhoods, all culminating in original performances or installations that are features of the celebration. These programs creatively engage hundreds of youth each year. To assure that the celebration is indeed accessible to all populations, unique programs have been developed with the specific aim of inclusion. Entering its 8th year, the First Night Worcester Deaf Youth Theatre residency is the only program of its kind in our region that welcomes both the artistic and audience participation of the Deaf community as part of a mainstream public event. In addition to original performances that are the result of each year’s youth residency program and ASL (American Sign Language) interpreted performances, organizers have also devised a unique means to identify non-auditory activities at First Night (look for the “eye” icon*) that appears in the event schedule) thereby expanding the number of festival offerings for the enjoyment of non-hearing celebrants.

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First Night's "eye" icon

Organization:
Contrary to public perception (probably as a result of our name) First Night Worcester is not a city-run event. First Night is a private, non-profit 501C(3) organization with a hands-on volunteer Board of Directors that meets year-round to plan and implement programs and raise 100% of funding annually in order to produce the celebration. It is through the generosity and support from all sectors of the community that First Night Worcester is made possible. Donations of any size are always appreciated and are tax-deductible.

How You Can Be Involved:

Provide goods and/or services
Serve on committees
Volunteer during the event
Become a sponsor
Apply to perform

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