Mayor Alex Morse envisions the coordinator tying together arts and cultural activities into an economic plus.
Marcos A. Marrero, director of Holyoke Office of Planning and Economic Development, looks at presentation at state CreativeNEXT event last month.HOLYOKE — An announcement will come Thursday or Friday about which of three finalists is getting the new job of city creative economy coordinator, officials said Wednesday.
The finalists are Debbie Oppermann, who has held various local government and administrative positions in the area, Bevan A. Brunelle, marketing manager for CityStage and Symphony Hall in Springfield, and Jeffrey Bianchine, of Paper City Pictures photography here, said Marcos A. Marrero, director of the city Office of Planning and Economic Development.
Mayor Alex B. Morse has said the coordinator will highlight arts and cultural activities and organize such attractions into an economic boost.
The coordinator of arts, culture and tourism will be paid $43,037 a year.
The job drew 28 applicants. That was narrowed to seven who were to be brought in for interviews, but one got another job, so six had meetings with Morse and Marrero, they said.
“We’re feeling very confident that this field will yield a good coordinator for the creative economy,” Morse said.
Marrero said that he also was impressed with the candidates, but that he and Morse were being careful in considering their qualifications.
“I want to make sure I review everything,” Marrero said.
The coordinator would work with businesses, individuals and organizations in music and other performing arts, architecture, film, publishing, marketing and other areas, officials said.
The coordinator must live here, so if the person hired isn’t a resident, he or she will have to move into Holyoke by a certain date, officials said.
The City Council in approving the establishment of the new position made residency a requirement. The council also installed a so-called “sunset clause” that means the job is repealed in two years if Morse is unable to show it has generated activity to pay for itself.