As you may have heard (or seen on our social media pages), Plymouth 400 hosted a delegation of thirteen representatives from Plymouth, UK last week, to discuss cultural arts collaborations, educational programming, and economic development opportunities surrounding the 2020 commemoration (Think: co-commissioned works for theatre companies both here and in the UK, shared art and history exhibits, scholarship opportunities for students to travel between the US and UK doing research projects, etc.) and, really, the opportunities are endless!
The delegation, called Mayflower 400, was comprised of leaders of Plymouth, UK’s higher education institutions, theatre arts and heritage organizations, and Plymouth City Council. Here’s a quick recap of our week:
On Monday, Mayflower 400 and Plymouth 400 met with Lea Filson, Governor General of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
The group took a quick walk down to Plymouth Rock and along the waterfront before lunch at Wood’s Seafood.
(The Plymouth 400 staff had to give lessons on eating a lobster!)
After a long afternoon of meetings with Plymouth Town Offocials, Mayflower 400 was treated to dinner at Tavern on the Wharf, where Mayflower 400 Chair Adrian Vinken presented Plymouth 400 President Ken Tavares with a 2020 Commemorative flag.
On Tuesday, Plymouth 400 invited arts & culture organizations from around the South Shore and Cape Cod to a discussion at Plymouth Center for the Arts, during which our UK visitors made meaningful connections with their counterparts here.
Tuesday afternoon included brainstorming sessions on economic development and education, and ended with a beer tasting at Craft Beer Cellar Plymouth.
Adrian Vinken, Chair of Mayflower 400, and Ken Tavares, President of Plymouth 400 signed the official Memorandum of Understanding between the US and UK, which states that our two organizations will work together in commemorating this iconic moment in world history (check out the video!)
On Wednesday, Plymouth 400 invited our guests to Boston for a meeting with Governor Charles Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash, Representative Tom Calter, MOTT Executive Director Francois-Laurent Nivaud, and Executive Director of Massachusetts Cultural Council Anita Walker
The Massachusetts Cultural Countil then invited Plymouth 400 and Mayflower 400 to a working lunch, where we made connections with arts and heritage organizations from around the Commonwealth and discussed the endless opportunities for collaboration on events in and around 2020.
Mayflower 400 Chairman Adrian Vinken summed up the UK’s sentiment towards the whole 2020 commemoration well by saying, “The Mayflower carried on board the seed of the soul of the American nation, and in that sense it was the most important single voyage in the history of mankind.”
Want to see more? Check out our media coverage from last week:
Old Colony Memorial: MAYFLOWER 400: Meet Mayflower 400 UK Executive Lead Amanda Lumley
Old Colony Memorial: PLYMOUTH 2020: Students around the world will play key role in town’s 400th commemoration
Old Colony Memorial: MAYFLOWER 400: ‘The seed of the soul of the American nation’
Old Colony Memorial: PHOTO GALLERY: Plymouth 400 and Mayflower 400 Meet
Old Colony Memorial: Plymouth UK visitors take a tasty break
95.9 WATD: Plymouth: Mayflower 400 Group from England Collaborates with Local Cultural Instituations
95.9 WATD: Boston: Plymouth 400, UK’s Mayflower 400 Meet with Top Officials at State House
95.9 WATD: Plymouth: Selectmen Address Dogs, Trees and Residents of Plymouth, England
Denise Maccaferri Photography: PHOTO GALLERY: Mayflower 400 UK Visit
