By Tiffany Williams –
WORCESTER, Mass. — Five Worcester-area artists representing dance, film, music and community-based creative work have been selected for summer residencies at The Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross as part of the HCxWCC: Creative Residencies for Worcester Artists program, organizers announced Wednesday.
The Worcester Cultural Coalition said Ava D’Eon, Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire with JSSDance, Cesar Rodrigues, Samuel Sjostedt and Isiah Tucker with Inner Voice Outer Change were chosen for the third year of the residency program through the College’s Scholarship in Action initiative.
The residency is part of a three-year partnership involving the College of the Holy Cross, the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division and the Worcester Cultural Coalition. Organizers said the program is expanding this summer to include five artists and, for the first time, projects involving both dance and visual art.
D’Eon’s project, “I Could Be Your Muse If You Let Me,” is a contemporary dance work that examines how individuals construct, internalize and perform the role of the muse through personal research and journaling.
“The work engages deeply with themes of identity, particularly in how women are shaped by systems of desire, visibility, and validation,” said D’Eon. “By interrogating the figure of the muse, the work critiques historical and cultural frameworks that position certain bodies as objects of inspiration.”
Duvilaire’s project, “Exploring My Afrobeats,” focuses on identity, migration and cultural memory through Afrobeats and draws from the experiences of an East African artist and dancer living in Worcester.
“My primary focus will be refining a movement language that authentically bridges East African identity with West African Afrobeats traditions,” said Duvilaire. “I am particularly interested in developing greater clarity in how rhythm, musicality and physical expression communicate narrative, ensuring that the work remains both culturally grounded and personally truthful.”
Rodrigues will develop “Abstract Beast: Creative Freedom Through Assistive Technology,” a documentary film chronicling his artistic journey and the development of an assistive painting system following challenges associated with disability.
“As an artist with a physical disability, my work is rooted in adapting to limitations while continuing to create,” said Rodrigues. “I aim to document the relationship between intention, communication and execution, highlighting how artistic control can exist beyond physical limitations.”
Sjostedt’s residency project, “Memoryscape: Homage to the Armenians of Worcester,” centers on the creation of a multi-movement composition for oud and mixed chamber ensemble honoring Worcester’s Armenian Diaspora community.
“As a new generation of Armenian-American artists are coming to light, my goal is to see how we can push our traditions (in this case, our instrument) forward into a territory it does not often see,” said Sjostedt.
Tucker and Inner Voice Outer Change will lead “Music Is The Medicine,” a collaborative music project involving songwriting and professional recording that will result in a mixtape reflecting summertime experiences in Worcester while exploring mental health, culture and community aspirations.
“The mixtape’s participants will explore what it means to belong in Worcester, how identity is shaped by neighborhood and culture and where inequities impact daily life,” said Tucker from Inner Voice Outer Change. “By elevating authentic stories through music, the project fosters dialogue, shared understanding, and a deeper sense of collective belonging within the city.”
Organizers said the residency program is funded through Holy Cross’ Scholarship in Action initiative, which supports collaborative research and community-based projects involving faculty, students and community partners. The initiative focuses on equity, antiracism and public engagement while highlighting the role of the humanities and liberal arts in addressing contemporary challenges.
Beyond supporting the creation of new artistic works, the residency also seeks to expand understanding of campus-based arts residency programs. Participants will engage in discussions and reflective exercises throughout the process to help document and evaluate their experiences.
The residency program launched in 2024 and has previously supported artists including luthier Jesse Kenas Collins, playwright Diana Khong, composer Daniel Gay, and filmmakers Angelique B. Webster and Cyrille Vincent.
The latest cohort represents the program’s largest group to date and reflects an effort to broaden artistic disciplines while strengthening connections between Worcester’s creative community and the College of the Holy Cross.