Background

 Truro is a community rich in cultural opportunities, not just in summer but year-round.  It also enjoys the rich cultural offerings of nearby Provincetown and Wellfleet.  But in Truro alone musical performances of all variety, talks, poetry readings and art and photography exhibits and hundreds of art workshops each year number over one thousand attractions of a quality and scope normally only found in cities and more populous regions.  Many events are free.

A New Collaboration for an “Exchange of Ideas”

At the behest of the Friends of the Truro Meeting House, a group that includes the Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Friends of the Truro Public Library, and the Truro Historical Society and Highland House Museum & the Payomet Performing Arts Center are partnering to take their programming to a new level.  The four institutions have been meeting over the past several months to forge an annual series of themed presentations they hope will offer a kind of “exchange of ideas.” It’s called “Truro Connections.” After the kick-off program, each organization will explore the topic with additional events relating to the chosen theme. 

Additionally, each organization will continue to present other programs as they have in the past, not directly linked to “Truro Connections.”  It is our hope “Truro Connections” will encourage bringing our audiences together, invite discussion and stimulate ideas that could further benefit public education and civic action.  It will also help reduce event conflicts in a short season when so many program schedules overlap.

 “Keeping Truro Sustainable: Stewardship for a Strong Community”

The first themed offering will take place June 27, 2018 at 6:30 PM with additional programs to follow. Titled “Keeping Truro Sustainable,” the first event will feature distinguished speakers who will outline the major features that make Truro such a unique place of great beauty and cultural richness but a town that also faces serious issues for its future. We see exploring the following as cornerstones for Sustainability:

Elders and Introduction
Millennials
Environment
Arts+Humanities  
Government/Civic Engagement
Public Health  

Moderator: John Marksbury

Already committed to the panel are Barry Bluestone, the Stearns Trustee Professor of Political Economy, founding director of the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, and the founding dean of the School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs at Northeastern. Dr. Bluestone recently designed a survey on elder issues for the Town of Truro.  The Chair of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Anita Walker, who will address the place of culture in community growth and vitality.  The topic on the environment, and in particular water resources, will be presented by an official of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. We have also issued invitations to State Senator Julian Cyr and State Representative Sarah Peake to talk on government and civic engagement.