SPRINGFIELD – Three of the Commonwealth's top economic and arts' planners will speak as panelists on the subject "Culture Leads the Economy” on Wednesday, September 19th from 7pm – 9pm. This public forum is the final step in the execution of the Adams Planning Grant which was funded to the City of Springfield by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The panel discussion will take place at the Springfield Central Library Meeting Room (first floor), 220 State Street, Springfield.

The panelists, each representing a different city in Massachusetts, were specifically chosen because of their significant and very successful roles in making the arts and culture jumpstart their own city's downtown economy.

LZ Nunn, Executive Director of the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL), focused on the creation of artists' spaces in downtown as the key to development.

Erin Williams, Director of the Worcester Cultural Development Office, assembled over 40 arts agencies together to stimulate Worchester's downtown through this huge collaborative effort.

Deanna Ruffer, Director of the Department of Community Development in Pittsfield, brought her municipality to the fold in turning Pittsfield's downtown completely around into a lively place to be.

The moderator for the evening will be George Murphy of WGBY. Murphy is host of two local PBS programs and is also a former radio personality and actor.  Murphy will lead audience participants in a question and answer session to the panelists.

Free parking is located behind the Library off of Elliot Street or directly across the street in the State Street parking lot. The site is wheelchair accessible. No RSVP is necessary as the program is open to the general public.