Museum Director Touts PENTA As Embassy Of The East

Westborough_ On April 28^th, 2016, PENTA Communications, Inc., headquartered in Westborough, MA, hosted business and community leaders, curators, and museum board members for a night of music and art to support the Worcester Art Museum. Guests enjoyed one of Boston’s best jazz trios, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, art, great conversation, and an engaging presentation on the many offerings of the Worcester Art Museum.

Deborah Penta, CEO of PENTA Communications, Inc., opened the program by introducing business and community leaders to the Worcester Art Museum. “Our objective in hosting this event is to bring together community leaders for an evening of music and art, featuring an inside look at the Worcester Art Museum through the eyes of its esteemed Director,” said Penta.

Joseph J. Bafaro, Jr., President of the Board of the Worcester Art Museum, acknowledged the strength of support for the Worcester Art Museum. He thanked PENTA and the local business community for their support. “I am proud to say that today’s business and community support for the museum is as strong as ever,” said Bafaro. “The Worcester Art Museum is definitely a thriving and relevant institution.”

In a fascinating presentation, Matthias Waschek, Director of the Worcester Art Museum, shared his insights into the Museum’s collections, global perspectives shaping art throughout the world, and introduced ways business leaders can work with cultural institutions to bring much needed civic engagement to the MetroWest region.

“What we offer is closeness, intimacy, and a connection to culture that you would not have in Boston,” said Waschek. He articulated the importance of strengthening the culture and creating a sense of place, pride, and belonging in the community.

In his remarks, Waschek called PENTA Communications the embassy of the Worcester Art Museum. “The Worcester Art Museum is not as old as this house… but this is our embassy.”

The Worcester Art Museum is a world-renowned cultural institution with an amazing art collection for its size. It is recognized globally for some of its most prized original art. It recently acquired the largest collection of arms and armor in the world, which it received from the dissolution of the Higgins Armory Museum.

With a slideshow highlighting the best pieces of the collection, Waschek highlighted how the Worcester Art Museum is the anchor of cultural identity in the region. “It can function as a regional branding opportunity, as a regional contribution to quality of life, a place of civic pride, and as a regional showcase of artistic heritage,” said Waschek.

“By introducing this cultural gem to the region, our hope was to help the museum grow and build awareness to a wider and more expansive audience of art lovers, by helping to expand its geographical footprint as its ‘Embassy of the East,’” said Penta.

The museum holds pieces from all around the world: Asian, American, Pre-Colombian, European, and Middle Eastern art, among others. Pieces like “The Last Judgment Tapestry” and the late Roman Mosaic “Hunting Scene” are pieces that are coveted by large museums, such as Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The armory collection,” said Waschek “can be used as a gateway for children to participate in art and culture.”

“The small size of the museum actually works to its advantage,” said Waschek. He explained how one can make connections by easily comparing works of art from around the globe, and recognize similarities that would not be apparent in larger museums.

Waschek ended the night with a rousing call for business leaders to engage with culture, and to bring strength so communities can be truly engaged in art and culture, and business leaders can unite with cultural leaders for better civic engagement.

“We were thrilled that so many people joined us for this event, and hope it served to foster greater awareness for the Worcester Art Museum,” said Penta.