Five Worcester Artists Selected for 2026 Creative Residencies at Holy Cross Prior Performing Arts Center
The HC x WCC program will support new work in dance, music, film, visual art and community storytelling.
WORCESTER, Mass. — Five local artists have been selected for the 2026 HC x WCC Creative Residencies for Worcester Artists at The Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross.
The Worcester Cultural Coalition announced that Ava D’Eon, Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire with JSSDance, Cesar Rodrigues, Samuel Sjostedt and Isiah Tucker with Inner Voice Outer Change were chosen for this summer’s residency program.
The program is part of a three-year partnership between the College of the Holy Cross, the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division and the Worcester Cultural Coalition. Now entering its third summer, the residency is expanding to include five artists and will incorporate dance and visual art for the first time.
The residencies are designed to support the development of new artistic work while also exploring how campus-based arts residencies can support artists and communities.
The Selected Projects
- Ava D’Eon – “I Could Be Your Muse If You Let Me”A contemporary dance work rooted in personal research and journaling. The project explores how people construct, internalize and perform the role of the “muse,” with a focus on identity, visibility and validation.
- Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire – “Exploring My Afrobeats”Examines identity, migration and cultural memory through Afrobeats. The work is centered on the lived experience of an East African artist and dancer based in Worcester.
- Cesar Rodrigues – “Abstract Beast: Creative Freedom Through Assistive Technology”A documentary film project focusing on his journey as an artist and inventor living with a physical disability. The documentary explores his early work in realism, his move toward abstract art and the development of his assistive painting system. “As an artist with a physical disability, my work is rooted in adapting to limitations while continuing to create. I aim to document the relationship between intention, communication and execution, highlighting how artistic control can exist beyond physical limitations.”— Cesar Rodrigues
- Samuel Sjostedt – “Memoryscape: Homage to the Armenians of Worcester”Focuses on composing a multi-movement musical work for oud, a Middle Eastern lute, and a mixed chamber ensemble. The work honors Worcester’s Armenian Diaspora community.
- Inner Voice Outer Change – “Music Is The Medicine”Focuses on composition, communal songwriting and professional recording. The project will create a mixtape about summertime in Worcester through the perspectives and experiences of community members, touching on themes of mental health, culture, belonging and hopes for the city. “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. By elevating authentic stories through music, the project fosters dialogue, shared understanding, and a deeper sense of collective belonging within the city.”— Isiah Tucker, on behalf of Inner Voice Outer Change
Program Support & History
The HC x WCC residency is funded by Holy Cross’ Scholarship in Action initiative. This initiative brings together faculty, student researchers and community stakeholders to design projects rooted in equity, antiracism and shared knowledge production.
The residency began in 2024 and has previously hosted luthier Jesse Kenas Collins, playwright Diana Khong, composer Daniel Gay and filmmakers Angelique B. Webster and Cyrille Vincent.
Why This Matters
- Worcester’s creative community continues to grow, and programs like this give local artists space, support and resources to develop new work right here in the city.
- This year’s selected projects reflect a wide range of Worcester stories, including identity, disability, migration, Armenian heritage, mental health, music, dance and community belonging.
- For residents, the program is another reminder that Worcester’s arts scene is not just about performances and exhibits. It is also about storytelling, culture, access and making sure local artists have opportunities to create.
🔎 W.U.W. Verification Box
The magnifying glass represents looking closer, asking better questions, checking details, and helping residents understand local stories, resources, decisions and opportunities.
- What we verified: This article is based on a June 3, 2026 press release from the City of Worcester and Worcester Cultural Coalition.
- Key details checked: The five selected artists are Ava D’Eon, Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire with JSSDance, Cesar Rodrigues, Samuel Sjostedt and Isiah Tucker with Inner Voice Outer Change. The residency is part of a three-year partnership between Holy Cross, the City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division and the Worcester Cultural Coalition.
- Community impact: The residency supports Worcester artists while helping create new work connected to local identity, culture, history and community experience.
- Source: City of Worcester / Worcester Cultural Coalition Press Release, June 3, 2026
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