Free Creative Workshops

Idea:

Volunteers could offer to teach their special skills in workshops held in an underutilized space donated by the City or by a property owner. They could teach pottery, quilting, crocheting, painting, music, gardening, photography, etc. and it would be free to the public. The DIY Lowell project would be a pilot series of these classes.

Benefit:

There are many people that have wanted to learn a craft but never had the opportunity or the resources to do so. This would encourage people to be creative, to enjoy socializing with others with similar likes, to feel useful and to maybe set up a small home business. A [Read more…]

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

Cultural Community Round Table

Idea:

Not necessarily institutions–folks who are doing things!

Benefit:

Together we can!

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Dance Festival

Idea:

Bringing different dance styles into one area. People coming to just learn. Also just playing music so people can vibe to it. Having different vendors, for example: water/food and also selling T-shirts etc.

Benefit:

Bringing the community together and love dance because it is movement.

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.

Design a Better City Flag

Idea:

Host a community based, community judged design competition to come up with a better city flag for Lowell. While the current one has nice symbology and meaning, it is largely a sendup to the Lowell of the 1800’s. It features the seal (which was created in the 1800s) and was adopted in 1960. A more [Read more…]

Benefit:

A flag only starts life off as a flag. A flag that is really, truly embraced finds its way into other places. Public art, murals, signage, bumper stickers, event tattoos. To that end, it is important to design with that in mind. Judges should have perspective in art, design, business, [Read more…]

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

DIY Christmas decoration: paper Christmas tree

Idea:

Create this mini Christmas tree decoration from scratch using simple materials such as paper, cardstock and various embellishments. Choose scrapbook paper and decorations that are in-keeping with your own style to make a trendy seasonal decoration. These atmospheric paper Christmas trees are produced by cutting and folding paper, and adding sequins. Why not place an [Read more…]

Benefit:

Location:

Back Central, Don't Know, OldIdea.

DIY Lowell Park(ing) Day 2.0

Idea:

An event so nice, why not make it happen twice? With the approval process figured out, 60 LF of astroturf ready to roll, and many community contacts from 2016… the DIY group would have more time and space to focus on a new creative concept that would loop in small businesses and community partners! Yaaaas.

Benefit:

PARK(ing) day is a fun and creative community building event for all ages!

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

DIY Movie – A Pop-Up Film Production

Idea:

A movie production where everyone can participate! We set a date and write a short script for a five-minute film. We publicly advertise the date, and anyone who wants to take part comes that day and takes on roles of film production. Cameraman, director, actors, audience, stage crew, etc. We would make sure to have [Read more…]

Benefit:

Come together as community, people learn new skills in a fun way, activate and bring attention to an unused space, maybe be multilingual to reflect Lowell's diversity, and we have a five-minute video as a memento to share and promote Lowell's creativity.

Location:

Citywide, OldIdea.

Dog Day Afternoon

Idea:

An Afternoon dedicated to all Dogs. Dogs for Adoption will be the stars of the Day, and will be highlighted with Profiles on all Social media weeks leading up to the Event. There will be parade inside Mill No.5 to kick off the event with the Stars for adoption marching down the hall to the [Read more…]

Benefit:

Finding Forever Homes for Dogs. Educating the public on Rescue Dogs. Local artists and services vending to show their dog products and gaining more customers for their businesses.

Location:

Back Central, OldIdea.

Dog Therapy Club Gatherings

Idea:

Perhaps small tables set up along the wall near the music area with therapy dogs and their trainers. This could be a monthly event at Mill No. 5 – or elsewhere.

Benefit:

Encourage therapy dog visits to Lowell destinations; Colleges, homeless shelters, and park dwellers – etc. All dogs are therapy dogs, and therapy dogs are especially therapeutic!

Location:

Downtown / JAM, OldIdea.

Domestic Violence Survivor Gallery of Hope

Idea:

Basics: How do we bring attention to a domestic violence survivor’s (who are POC/LGBTQ+/Immigrant/Refugee) journey towards healing and hopefulness? How do we get people to learn more about this widespread yet still private issue? How do we get the public to 1) learn 2) to feel empathy 3) to feel inspired enough to organize around [Read more…]

Benefit:

Survivors: POC Survivors get to share their story of hope. The community has a chance to learn about domestic violence as well as what resources are available. City/Neighborhood: Maybe in future years, we could have the project be a way to gather funds to revive these spaces in Lowell as [Read more…]

Location:

Don't Know, OldIdea.