Press Kit for Creative Haverhill

Contact: Meghan Cary
Intern at Creative Haverhill
Email: Director@CreativeHaverhill.org
Phone: 978-420-3729
Address: 4 Summer St - room 309 - Haverhill, MA 01830

Phone: 978-420-3729

July 10, 2012
Dear Media Representative,

Enclosed you will find a press kit featuring an event agenda for Creative Haverhill’s
video documentary Public and Private Passions, a company history and fact sheet about
Creative Haverhill, two versions of a news release, several photos of local artists and
also a suggested photo opportunity list. The kit also contains four capsule sheets, a
backgrounder on the creative economy as well as a personal profile of local stained
glass artist Paul Prue.
This video documentary is a behind the scenes look at the passions that drive Haverhill
artists and artisans to make their creative vision a reality.
Creative Haverhill will present one episode per month for the next eight months. This
series can be viewed on HCVT the third Wednesday of each month from June 2012 to
January 2013 as well as on YouTube.
For further information please contact David Zoffoli at 978-420-3729,
Director@CreativeHaverhill.org or visit www.creative haverhill.org

Thank you in advance for supporting the arts,

Meghan Cary
Creative Haverhill intern

Phone: 978-420-3729

Creative Haverhill Presents: Public and Private Passions, a video documentary about
artists who work or reside in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES:

9:00am Monday David Zoffoli (director of Creative Haverhill) and a small film crew
meet with an artist at a pre-determined scenic location to start
filming their piece of the documentary. This could involve
anywhere from 2 to 6 hours of recording time depending on the
artist.
Locations will include:
Artists studios full of their art as well as inspirations to their art
Artists shops where art is on display or for sale
Homes or places where the artists gather inspiration from
Scenic or well-loved areas around Haverhill where the artists
most enjoys spending time.

12:00-3:00 Wed Zoffoli and his team meet at HCVT located on Elm Street on
Haverhill, MA to start editing the footage down to a half an hour of
time for each artist. Written segments are added where questions
had been asked of the artist so that the artist speaks directly to the
audience. Two artists will be combined in each episode focusing
around one common theme.

This will continue until all 16 artists are interviewed and all footage has been edited.

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES:

Each 3rd Wednesday on channel 9, Haverhill Community Television (HCTV) a new
episode of Public and Private Passions will air. It will be shown as one-hour episodes
featuring two artists who either work or live in Haverhill, MA. These episodes will be
showing at 12:00 noon, 5pm and 8pm as well as 5pm and 8pm the following day.
Episodes will be shown June 20-21, July 18-19, August 15-16, September 19-20,
October 17-18, November 21-22, December 19-20, and January 16-17. Many re-runs
are expected to be shown between episodes to be determined by HCTV.

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Creative Haverhill Facts

Phone: 978-420-3729

Founded in 2011, Creative Haverhill currently is located at Haverhill’s City Hall room
309, 4 Summer Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
Creative Haverhill stimulates economic development, by identifying, promoting, and
nurturing local cultural organizations, artists, and artisans.
Creative Haverhill grants matching funds to local partnerships that promote cultural
tourism and provide jobs and building capacity for a creative workforce.
City Hall, the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, the Haverhill Cultural Council,
Team Haverhill and Haverhill’s Cultural Treasures are all partners of CH.
The Adams Arts Initiative from the Massachusetts Cultural Council provides much of
the funding to Creative Haverhill. In 2011 the Initiative gave $40,000.
Creative Haverhill employs creative workforce locally, enhances the education of
children, inspires residents, and advances the sense of community pride.
theMassINC Polling Group say that 7 in 10 voters in Massachusetts' 11 Gateway cities
(Haverhill included) consider community arts and culture "very important" and 80%
support government funding for such events.
"Creative Haverhill is doing extraordinary things to support economic development in
your city," said State Treasurer Steven Grossman recently.
Creative Haverhill received the Special Recognition Award from the Essex National
Heritage Commission "for fostering collaboration among the major entities in the City of
Haverhill to stimulate economic development and the creative economy to revitalize
Haverhill for residents and visitors.”
One of Creative Haverhill’s recent events the Storefront Art Project pairs artists with
downtown building owners to fill empty storefronts with art installations and exhibits,
making downtown Haverhill look more full of life.
Soon Creative Haverhillwill be installing a tourist map of the city and other downtown
signage that will lead the way to attractions that operate outside of the downtown area.
A video documentary series—Public and Private Passions—will feature artists and
artisans living and working in Haverhill. In collaboration with NECC and HCTV, these
unique-to-Haverhill stories will be to the community as a promotional tool several
times each month with 8 episodes in total.
The Pop-Up Shops will promote local art and products made in and around Haverhill at
many events this year.
The Shops @90Wash will return for a full two months in the fall for retail shopping
downtown. These shops provide rent-free spaces to local artists.
The Mobile Art Show will travel to one-day events and festivals around the city.
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Phone: 978-420-3729

Creative Haverhill History 2004 – 2012
2004 The Legislature created the Adams Art Program which funds
projects that create jobs, revitalize downtowns, and draw cultural
tourists.
April 2007 Adams Art Grant introduced to the City of Haverhill.
December 2008 City of Haverhill applies for & receives $3,000 for a Planning Grant
to conduct an analysis of cultural assets.
October 2010 City of Haverhill commits to $20,000 in matching funds.
November 2010 Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Community Arts and
Education Foundation applies for & receives $40,000 to implement
the “Downtown Haverhill Arts & Culture Project.”
Spring 2011 Creative Haverhill is formally established and four new jobs are
created: Director, web developer, tourism map designer, &
administrative assistant. The director starts to send out monthly e-
newsletters with information about events held by Creative
Haverhill as well as other groups and organizations located in
Haverhill.
February 2011 “Oscar Night” fundraiser raises over $5,000 to contribute towards
the Essex Gateway Mural, Creative Haverhill’s first formal project.
August 2011 “River Ruckus” is held as a fundraiser for Creative Haverhill. A
classic car show, pontoon boat rides along the Merrimack River, an
artisan market, community mural paint session and live music
performances occur all day as well as fireworks on the river at
9:30pm.
December 2011 The Shops@90Wash opens for five weeks allowing artists to
display and sell their work in a rent-free space, one week at a time.
Feb-May 2012 Several fundraisers are held the support the Essex Gateway Mural.
May 2012 A Pop-up-Shop is sponsored at “Kids Fest” downtown Haverhill
and local artists are encouraged to show off their works as well as
be present to talk with all in attendance.
May 2012 Recordings begin for Public and Private Passions.
June 2012 The Essex Gateway Mural is finished with a large ribbon-cutting
party. Well-known artists who got their start in Haverhill were
painted into the mural along with local heroes and other
influential people in town. The Mayor of Haverhill, presidents of
local banks and the president of the Haverhill Chamber of
Commerce all attended this public Event.
June 2012 Public and Private Passions episode one airs on HCTV five times in
June and a new episode will be shown five times per month for
eight months.
Nov – Dec 2012 The Shops@90Wash returns for two full months this winter.
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Phone: 978-420-3729

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public and Private Passions: Episode Two

Creative Haverhill presents the second episode of the Public and Private Passions video
documentary series on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 12:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 8:00 pm on
HCVT channel 9. This episode will focus upon acclaimed Haverhill artists Paul Prue and
Don Toothaker.
Creative Haverhill is a non-profit organization designed to promote artists who work
and live in Haverhill. Stained glass artist Paul Prue’s work can be found in Haverhill as
well as throughout the region. Don Toothaker is a digital photographer who focuses
upon the history and cultures of New England.
Prue is quoted as saying “I’ve always been an artist... I’ll be 90 still pulling windows out
of a church and restoring them.” In addition to churches, Prue’s work can be found in
restaurants, public buildings and private collections. “For me, one of the greatest
aspects of digital photography is the opportunities it offers. The camera is just a tool
and, ultimately, it is only as good as you are” says Toothaker. “When I was a film shooter
and headed to Maine for a weekend, I would typically bring 25 rolls of film. Instead of
wasting film, I wasted opportunities. Now, I dial a button and blow away anything that
those films could ever do.”
Public and Private Passions follows artists such as Prue and Toothaker illustrating their
love of art and connection to the city of Haverhill. Creative Haverhill will present one
episode per month for the next eight months. This series can be viewed on HCVT as well
as on YouTube.
For further information please contact David Zoffoli at Director@CreativeHaverhill.org,
978-420-3729 or visit http://www.creativehaverhill.org

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Phone: 978-420-3729

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public and Private Passions: Episode Two

Creative Haverhill presents the second episode of the Public and Private Passions video
documentary series on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 12:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 8:00 pm on
HCVT channel 9. This episode will focus upon acclaimed Haverhill artists Paul Prue and
Don Toothaker.
Public and Private Passions follows artists such as Prue and Toothaker illustrating their
love of art and connection to the city of Haverhill. Creative Haverhill will present one
episode per month for the next eight months. This series can be viewed on HCVT as well
as on YouTube.
For further information please contact David Zoffoli at Director@CreativeHaverhill.org
978-420-3729 or visit http://www.creativehaverhill.org

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Phone: 978-420-3729

Backgrounder on the Creative Economy

“The most successful economies and societies in the twenty-first century will be creative
ones. The creative industries have moved from the fringes to the mainstream.”
Rt Hon Chris Smith, MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport., UK; 2001

The creative economy is defined as the sum of economic activity arising from a wide

variety of highly educated creative people from a diverse range of industries such as

technology, entertainment, journalism, finance, high-end manufacturing and the

arts.The logic is that attracting the “creative class” to the region will generate jobs, tax

revenue and a trickle down of benefits to all citizens. There is a close economic

relationship between the creative class and other business sectors such as tourism,

hospitality, heritage and sport.

The creative class is comprised of:
Publishing: Periodical, book, newspaper publishers
Film and Video: Motion picture and video production and distribution
Music: Record production and distribution, sound recording, music publishers
Broadcasting: Cable networks, television and radio broadcasting, news
syndicates
Architecture: Residential, commercial and landscape architecture services
Applied Design: Specialized design, photographic services
Advertising: Agencies, direct mail, display
Performing Arts: Theater, dance, performing arts companies and musical groups
Visual Arts: Museums, art dealers
Independent artists, writers and performers in creative industries

The creative economy represents interest in culture as a post-industrial urban

revitalization strategy. Policy-makers have realized that economic impacts are

magnified when a creative zone is bound spatially. This is how the planned cultural

district came into vogue.

Phone: 978-420-3729

“Beginning with the 1983 landmark study by the Port Authority of NY and NJ, economic
impact studies have quantified the contribution of the nonprofit cultural sector to a
regional economy based on the multiplier effect of organizational and audience
expenditures.”
“From Creative Economy to Creative Society” byMark J. Stern and Susan C. Seifert

Since receiving his PhD from Colombia University in 1986, economist and social

scientist Richard Florida has identified key driving forces for economic development of

post-industrial cities in the United States. Florida states, “Creativity is becoming more

valued in today’s global society. Employers see creativity as a channel for self-

expression and job satisfaction in their employees.”Florida asserts that metropolitan

regions with high concentrations of technology workers, artists, musicians, lesbians and

gay men, and a group he has named "high bohemians", have brought an increase in

economic development for the cities they reside in. Florida refers to these groups

collectively as the "creative class." He says that the creative class often departs from

traditional workplace attire and behavior, setting their own work schedule and dress

codes. Creative class members often are self-employed and highly regard independence

in the workplace. In 2002, Florida found that, “approximately 38.3 million Americans

and 30 percent of the American workforce identify themselves with the Creative Class.

This number has increased by more than 10 percent in the past 20 years.”

In Haverhill, formerly a shoe manufacturing mill town, a downtown revitalization has

begun with the conversion of abandoned mills into high-end residential, commercial,

and artist spaces. Two very successful examples are the Cordovan and the Hayes

buildings which have brought many new and young residents to this up-and-coming

community. Since these conversions have occurred, several new restaurants and

businesses have been opened in the downtown neighborhood bringing new tax revenue

Phone: 978-420-3729

and increased income to Haverhill. Two newly formed non-profit groups are Team

Haverhill and Creative Haverhill whose focus is on advocating the arts for the city.

Haverhill’s creative economy is continuing to thrive through the benefits of the Adams

Arts Program received from the Massachusetts State Legislature, dedicated volunteers

from the community, and the foresight of a mayor committed to the arts. Since 2009

more than a dozen visual art pieces have been added to the downtown space. The first

community wide arts project, the “Shoe-La-Bration”, captured the imagination of

thousands of people who painted large ceramic shoes, which are located through the

city. Public art displays like this continue to draw a large audience to Haverhill and

make it a more desirable community to call home.

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Phone: 978-420-3729

Creative Haverhill displays local artist’s work at Kids Fest

More than 15,000 people came downtown Haverhill for Kids Fest this past May.

Creative Haverhill helped many artists display and sell their art to those in attendance

with one of their Pop-Up Shops, similar to the Shops@90Wash seen downtown last Fall.

In addition to showing off their art, Kids Fest is a perfect outlet for artists to make a

name for themselves in the community and meet potential local partners and buyers.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Haverhill

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Phone: 978-420-3729

Local artist sells work at downtown at Pop-Up shop

At the Shops@90Wash last Decembermany Haverhill artists, including Caroline Allen

(above), displayed their artwork for many to enjoy and even purchase. Here Derek

Russell, a Haverhill resident, is being shown one of her pieces. This year, Creative

Haverhill will sponsor the Shops@90Wash for two full months - starting in November –

which allows more artists to display their work to the community.


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Phone: 978-420-3729

Haverhill Artist Restores Church Windows

Paul Prue, a Haverhill resident and artist,has been working in the old Armenian Church

on Route 125 in Haverhill, MA repairing the old stained glass windows. Here he is

inspecting the window for the wave effect that occurs as a window ages and gravity

pulls down on the glass. Prue will flatten all of the windows at the church and restore

them to almost new condition in a matter of weeks.

Photo Courtesy of Meghan Cary

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Phone: 978-420-3729

Creative Haverhill Sponsors pose downtown Haverhill

Creative Haverhill has many sponsors that help their event ideas turn into realities.

With help from these sponsors you have seen the Gateway Mural painted on Essex

Street, the Pop-Up Shops at 90 Washington Street and other artistic outlets such as the

recent release of Public and Private Passions a documentary series on HCTV Channel 9.

From Left: Sven Amirian, President of Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce; Mayor

James Fiorentini; Ron Trembley, Managing Director Greater Haverhill Foundation;

David Zoffoli, Executive Director of Creative Haverhill; Scott Cote, President of

Pentucket Bank; and Tom Mortimer, President of Haverhill Bank.


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Phone: 978-420-3729

Two Very Different Artists Make Beautiful Music Together

Connor Hayden (left) and Paul Prue (right) may have a 30-year age difference and two

diverse backgrounds, but when they get on stage you’d think they have been playing

together for years. Prue is a stained glass artist who lives and works in Haverhill and

has for over 25 years. Hayden is a young music lover who just came back from teaching

English in Turkey for a year after graduating from Holy Cross University in 2010.

Creative Haverhill has brought these two together in a way that only art can. The

upcoming video documentary presented by Creative Haverhill on HCVT channel 9 will

showcase artists like Hayden and Prue in the spaces where they work and live.


Phone: 978-420-3729

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Photo Opportunities:

1. Studio picture of an artist describing/showing off their work.
Arrive at the scene where Creative Haverhill is recording a new episode of Public
and Private Passions. An artist will be set with a scenic background- either in
their shop, at home or out in Haverhill- and will be talking about what they love
most: art. Sixteen distinct artists will be featured in the video documentary.

2. Because Public and Private Passions is a video documentary series there will be
many opportunities to take still images from the recorded footage. Each week on
Friday from noon to 3:00 pm David Zoffoli will be editing the recordings that will
take place earlier in the week at HCTV on Elm Street in Haverhill, MA.

3. Many photos can also be taken of the featured artists in the shops where they
work. One example of this would be going to the Origamido studio and watching
as Michael LaFosse folds what appears to be an ordinary piece of paper into a
masterpiece. He can take a single paper and fold it into a lifelike butterfly or
squirrel or a series of papers into something larger such as a pig or armadillo.
Michael makes all of his own paper and designs all of his own creations. At the
Origamido studio private and group lessons are held daily.

4. All over Haverhill you will find artwork. When walking down Merrimack Street
starting at the Post Office and heading towards the new parking garage you will
find pieces such as the Gateway Mural (sponsored by Creative Haverhill and Team
Haverhill) the storefront shops and the Shops@90Wash (both sponsored by
Creative Haverhill) as well as several large pieces in the small park near the train
station. Please visit any of these locations to see Haverhill’s artists’ work on
display where it was intended to be.

5. In many of the video recordings for Public and Private Passions the artist is asked
who has influenced their life with art. In the first episode Sharon Silverman
mentions a high school art teacher who pushed her to pursue what she loved. By
contacting both Sharon and her mentor a photo can be taken of the two
surrounded by their artwork.

For all photo opportunities please contact David Zoffoli

Phone: 978-420-3729

Director@CreativeHaverhill.org
978-420-3729

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Capsule Sheet

Creative Haverhill has had a positive impact upon the financial growth of

downtown Haverhill through the creation of a Pop-Up Shop program as well as

the establishment of the Shops@90Wash, which provides artists with a rent-free

space to sell their works at the holidays. This has attracted many new visitors to

downtown who have also dined at local restaurants and shopped at other retail

stores. With large public art displays like the Essex Gateway Mural and the new

video documentary Public and Private Passions,Creative Haverhill has successfully

drawn new visitors to this growing downtown area.

David Zoffoli, executive director of Creative Haverhill, has been active in the arts

throughout his career. Zoffoli has taught and directed theater with Northern

Essex Community College and also performed onstage with many local theater

companies. This background led Zoffoli to passionately pursue funding of the arts

in the city of Haverhill, his hometown. He was a leader in the Adams Grant

application, which brought $40,000 to fund arts in Haverhill. As director of

Creative Haverhillfor the past two years, Zoffoli has already made a large

difference downtown by bringing art to empty storefronts, engaging the

Phone: 978-420-3729

community with several pop-up mobile art shops and permanent art such as a

Gateway Mural located on Essex Street.

In 2004, the Massachusetts State Legislature created the Adams Arts Program to

fund projects that create jobs and income, revitalize downtowns, and increase

tourism. Adams funded projects draw upon the assets of artists and artisans,

cultural organizations, and arts-related businesses to generate real income for

local communities including Haverhill, Newburyport, Boston, Lowell, New

Bedford, and Pittsfield. The Adams Art Program granted $40,000 to Haverhill in

2011 to assist with a renewal of their downtown area.

Don Toothaker is a self-taught photographer who works and lives in Haverhill,

MA. Using a digital capture and a photo-journalistic approach to every job,

Toothaker works tirelessly to represent each moment as an array of memorable

photographs. His goal is to capture something meaningful and lasting with each

photograph whether it is for a wedding, composing a portrait, or documenting an

event. Toothaker says on his website “I am very proud to say that I am a

photographer… it inspires every facet of my life”

Phone: 978-420-3729

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Paul Prue: Renaissance Man

“I’ve always been an artist... I’ll be 90 still pulling windows out of a church and

restoring them,” said Paul Prue, Haverhill’s own Renaissance man who is a graphic

designer, guitar player, community activist and most impressively a highly acclaimed

master of creating and restoring stained glass windows. For thirty-three years Prue has

worked at his craft in many states, getting his start here in Haverhill with the help of

some encouraging grammar school art teachers. He studied at the Vesper George School

of Art in Boston and later worked as a font designer at Compugraphic in Wilmington,

MA before returning to Haverhill where he currently resides. “I like Haverhill, I’ve lived

all over the country but I keep coming back here,” said Prue.

Moving from a font designer to full time artist wasn’t an easy move for Prue but

he says, “You have to have confidence. It is the first thing I look for when hiring

assistants.” Prue truly believes that “you can make a living doing what you want to do.”

He was given the chance to learn the lost art of creating stained glass windows and

hasn’t looked back. A lot of hard work and an inspiring attitude towards life have

turned into a career full of happiness that has brought joy to many. Prue uses state-of-

the-art and time-tested methods to transform a customer’s vision from their initial

design into a finished product. Prue has created series such as “Woman in Garden”,

Phone: 978-420-3729

medieval works, and an antique collection that includes not only windows but lamps

and chandeliers.

Prue’s clients include restaurants, churches, public meeting halls and individual

collectors. His talents are on display in churches throughout Haverhill at All Saints

where he performed paint restoration, Saint Joseph’s and Saint James’ where he

repaired existing windows, and at Sacred Heart’s where he restored and painted

stained glass window frames. In addition to churches, Prue’s work can be found in

restaurants such as George’s in Haverhill and the House of Blues in Cambridge, MA.

“I enjoy making stained glass for Irish pubs because they use it in so many

creative ways.” Throughout New England, Prue’s stained glass has enhanced more than

a dozen Irish pubs where they have commissioned him to make windows, glass

partitions, entry signs and interior art. The owners of The Peddlers Daughter, who are

originally from Connemara, Ireland, are such fans of Prue’s work that they hired him to

make several stained glass pieces for both their Haverhill and Nashua, NH pubs.

“One of my biggest challenges comes from restoring antique stained glass. I have

worked in churches that are more than a century old.” Prue explained that as windows

age, they settle. This causes a “wave effect” distorting the shape and look of the image

on the glass. Prue is able to reverse this effect by removing and flattening the glass with

heat and pressure. He has also mastered the skill of resurfacing glass which enhances

its vibrancy.

Phone: 978-420-3729

“One of my other passions is music. I love all forms of music and feel that playing

the guitar is another way for me to express myself.” Through the years Prue has

collaborated with many other musicians and has also received critical acclaim when

playing solo. Not only does he love to be on stage performing, but Prue also hosts open

mic nights at a local pub where a few of his stained glass windows are on display. “It

makes me laugh when I overhear folks talking about my art when I am at a gig. They

don’t realize that the artist is standing right next to them. I have picked up a few jobs

that way.”

“I dream of one day seeing a cultural art center in Haverhill. The Armenian

Church that I am currently restoring would be a perfect location and it is no longer

actively used as a place of worship.” Prue is involved with Team Haverhill and Creative

Haverhill who are both advocates of artists who work and live in Haverhill. “Hopefully I

will be able to make this dream come true.”

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Press Kit for Creative Haverhill

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