Mass Cultural Council (MCC)’s Cultural Districts Initiative was authorized by an act of the Massachusetts state legislature in 2010 and launched in April 2011. Its purpose was to establish districts “with a density of cultural facilities, activities, and assets” as destinations that would foster local cultural and business development, stimulate economic growth, and attract visitors and tourists.

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MCC defines a cultural district as an area that is “an easy to navigate, compact area that acts as a hub of cultural, artistic, and economic activity and offers a place-based identity to collaborative community initiatives.” Today, MCC administers a network of 55 designated cultural districts throughout the state.

 

Beginning in 2016, Creative Arts Network Inc. (CAN), led an initiative to secure a cultural district designation for a large walkable area on Fall River's waterfront. The area runs along the shore of the Taunton River, is bordered by Commonwealth Landing to the north, follows Davol Street in the east, and ends on Columbia Street to the south.​

 

Our quest to obtain the designation culminated successfully in 2020, when Mass Cultural Council named the area as its 50th cultural district. The city of Fall River then passed a resolution committing its support and appointed Creative Arts Network Inc. to oversee and manage the district. ​

 

The district -- officially named the Fall River Waterfront Cultural District (FRWCD) -- is now the major hub of cultural, social, and business activity in the city. 

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