Let’s Make a Marionette!

Dominican Artist Luis Rivas worked alongside the community to create eighteen sculptures. Each doll is ten to twelve feet tall and represents 18 different countries.

Africa, America, Brazill, Caribbean, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic: Los Pepines, Dominican Republic: Muñecas Limé, El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Ireland , Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Syria, Venezuela

Stay tuned and check back often!

We will be updating this page with future opportunities to view the Marionettes

Guardians of Traditions is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating entertaining and culturally relevant events that reflect the diversity of the community. Through a shared love of art and community, Creative Hub Worcester provides equitable programs for creative expression in accessible spaces. Creative Hub works alongside historically underserved youth and communities to achieve collective healing and happiness. These non-profit organizations, along with Technocopia, and the Hector Reyes House, have assembled these impressive sculptures, which reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our community. The residents of Worcester, of all ages, have been involved in the process of making these art pieces. Vanessa Joga, Executive Director of Guardians of Traditions, says “Feeling the power of collaborating and of community engagement has been humbling... We've had children, the elderly, the youth, and entire families be a part of this ambitious project. We've learned that an engaged community is a city that thrives; we've had serious conversations about cultural identity, colorism, stereotypes, and representation. We learned that it is possible to retain our cultural identity and still be part of the community.” 

For the past six years, Creative Hub Worcester has been working on an ambitious capital campaign to begin renovations on 2 Ionic Ave to become the Creative Hub Community Arts Center. Executive Director Laura Marotta shares her thoughts on this project: 

“This project for the Worcester Tercentennial Celebration is exactly the reason why there is such a desperate need for a Community Arts Center in Worcester. Creative initiatives such as this one are not possible without this type of safe and welcoming space for all. The collaboration between these key organizations is the most powerful thing to witness – we are here to be a HUB for this arts and cultural community, but it can only happen if we are able to open. We are actively seeking supporters who can make a sizeable contribution to leave a legacy for the future of all of the artists and creatives in this community.” 

All of the organizations involved are so grateful to the City of Worcester and the Tercentennial Committee for their support in making this project possible, and we hope that you will join us for the Worcester Tercentennial Festival on Saturday, June 11th. The parade begins at 11am and will feature the sculptures coming down Main Street on wheels along with an array of other organizations and floats walking in the parade.