Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Best of Central Mass Awards
“Best Nonprofit” Nominee:
2018, 2019, 2020
Young muralists unveil the
first of works destined for
Main South
Worcester Magazine
Tuesday, Jun 15, 2021
“When Main IDEA Worcester and Boys & Girls Club of Worcester put out a call for a social justice mural this spring, they received an outpouring of original designs from 11- to 18-year-olds across the community…”
Youth from Main IDEA, Boys & Girls Club Create 100-foot mural
Spectrum News 1
Wednesday, Jun 9, 2021
“Two local organizations, Worcester’s Main Idea Youth and Arts and the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, have collaborated to create a social justice-themed mural in the city…” FULL STORY
ValleyCAST Virtual Art & Music Makers Festival features artists of all abilities
Worcester Magazine
Thursday, Dec 24, 2020
“Joy Rachelle Murrieta, executive director of Main IDEA, had approached Collari about taking part in the festival this year, and young musicians from Main IDEA will be featured in videos”….FULL STORY
‘All about empowerment’: Young artists in Worcester take ownership of Reign Cafe in DCU Center by designing, creating mural
MassLive
Thursday, Oct 29, 2020
“It’s cool to have an opportunity to come into this space and have youth have an opportunity to take ownership of [it] and…make their mark.”…FULL STORY
Make Music Day to Coat Worcester in Sound Friday
Worcester Magazine
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
For the first time, Main IDEA — a nonprofit dedicated to providing accessible arts programs to under-resourced communities — is hosting a youth stage at University Park, which will have performers from ages 9 through 17 beginning at noon…“We felt this would suit our mission well – to have youth empowered to have their own stage and make music,”…FULL STORY
WCCA TV, “Soapbox” with Mauro DePasquale
Monday, Dec 17, 2018
WCCA TV produced “Soapbox” show is hosted by WCCA Executive Director, Mauro DePasquale. Mauro talks with Joy Rachelle Murrieta, the Executive Director at Worcester’s Main IDEA Youth and Arts.…FULL STORY
Charter TV3, Worcester News Tonight
Friday, July 6, 2018
The collaboration between Main IDEA and Creative Hub Worcester offers affordable arts programs for the Central Mass Community…FULL STORY
Worcester Magazine
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Main IDEA started in 2011. A group of artists who were living in Main South at the time noticed a lack of accessibility for youth art classes for kids in our neighborhood…It started as an idea, an experiment that worked…FULL ARTICLE
Boston Voyager Magazine
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
In the first year we launched Main IDEA, we nearly tripled the number of students we had after the very first day, simply from word-of-mouth. We may have been in over our heads that day, but we knew it meant that our program was meeting a significant need in our community…FULL ARTICLE
Institute for Nonprofit Practice
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Seven years ago, a group of artists friends and I who were living and working in ‘Main South’ Worcester noticed that there was a lack of accessibility to arts programs for the youth in our neighborhood, and we decided to pool our resources to meet that need.…FULL ARTICLE
Worcester Business Journal’s 2017 “40 Under 40” Award
Monday, August 21, 2017
Co-Founder and Program Director, Joy Rachelle Murrieta, was chosen as one of the Worcester Business Journal’s 2017 “40 Under 40” Award Recipients…FULL ARTICLE
2017’s People To Watch
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Co-Founder and Program Director, Joy Rachelle Murrieta, was chosen as one of Pulse Magazine’s People to Watch in 2017…FULL ARTICLE
“Entering Worcester” ARTraiser
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
“Entering Worcester” ARTraiser was held Sept. 1… FULL GALLERY
WELCOME TO WORCESTER: ARTraiser Benefits Main IDEA
Thursday, September 1, 2016
POW! WOW! Worcester has officially kicked off and the towering murals being crafted throughout the city are well on their way. The city skyline is already beginning to shift dramatically and the downtown footprint is getting a colorful overhaul… FULL ARTICLE
Entering Worcester Inc. 1722
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Worcester is the dark horse of POW! WOW!—brimming with potential, the city put itself on the map as a community oriented public art destination. On September 1st, one of the final events of POW WOW Worcester, Entering Worcester Artraiser to Benefit Main Idea, a silent auction at the Sprinkler Factory, took place… FULL GALLERY
Children explore arts in Main IDEA program
Monday, August 15, 2016
WORCESTER – When Heather Bachand took part in a creative drama session a couple of summers ago, the idea of seriously getting involved with acting was not something the then preteen had given a lot of thought to… FULL ARTICLE
Sun Shine: Main IDEA paints a new picture of opportunity in Worcester’s Main South
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Art and creativity allow children to express themselves, foster a sense of self-confidence and broaden their horizons. At Main Idea, a weeklong summer day program in Main South, a team of volunteers and teachers is invested in the positive impact art… FULL ARTICLE
Young lives transformed through the arts
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
The relevance of a program designed for children can be touted on a web site or in a commercial, but there’s no stronger testimonial than the words of the moms themselves. Worcester’s summer program called Main IDEA has won over some local moms… FULL ARTICLE
Main IDEA looks to the future
Thursday, September 12, 2013
WORCESTER — In August, the organization known as Main IDEA hosted their week-long summer program for 40 children in the Main South neighborhood of Worcester. The children were offered exposure and experience in creative drama, music, dance, visual art and creative writing… FULL ARTICLE
Arts for Main South kids the Main IDEA
Friday, August 9, 2013
WORCESTER — If seeing a need and filling it is a recipe for success, a group of artists who love the arts and love Worcester are well on their way. The benefit of that success… FULL ARTICLE
Art program benefits Worcester kids
Friday, June 14, 2013
Joy Murrieta is program director at Main IDEA, an arts day camp for kids in the Main South neighborhood of Worcester. She’s proud of the way Main IDEA is bringing smiles and changing lives… FULL ARTICLE
Photo Gallery: Main IDEA
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Main IDEA 2011 is an art day camp located at The Woo (Pilgrim Church) on Main Street. The camp is run by local artists and volunteers. It is offered at no cost for students in grades 3-6 and concentrates on activities such as music, drama, visual… FULL ARTICLE