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placeDECORDOVA SCULPTURE PARK & MUSEUM, LINCOLN, MA

Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History

Launched in 2015 as part of a mission-driven strategy to raise awareness of and appreciation for the Heritage Area’s natural, cultural, and historical resources, Hidden Treasures has become the organization’s signature program, highly anticipated each May.

Over the course of the month, the festival showcases events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places, objects, and stories of the Heritage Area. A curated presentation of free public programming, Hidden Treasures reinforces a shared identity and sense of place by encouraging people of all ages and walks of life to explore and see anew their own communities, and beyond.

Information for Partners

OVERVIEW

The month-long Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History curates an immersive mixture of physical and online events and activities featuring opportunities for family learning.

Each year dozens of Community Partners organize and offer memorable experiences to the public free of charge. Think tours, walks, talks, workshops, performances, demonstrations, scavenger hunts, film screenings, volunteer workdays, exhibits, activity kits… the possibilities are endless!

Freedom’s Way elevates the visibility of our Community Partners’ work by promoting the Festival across the region—and beyond—enhancing a vibrant sense of place and reinforcing our regional identity.

Mini grants of up to $350 in qualified reimbursable expenses area available to eligible non-profit organizations and public entities.

While there is no cost to participate, the donated value of your time counts as a vital matching contribution to the Heritage Area, enabling access to National Park Service funds and making programs like this possible.

By working together, we increase accessibility to the region’s heritage assets for all, bringing awareness and appreciation to our most valued treasures—often hiding in plain sight—that make the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area worthy of its national distinction.

GUIDELINES & REGISTRATION FORM

What’s your organization’s or community’s Hidden Treasure? 

A significant neighborhood or natural feature? An historic house or farm? An uncovered story? A special collection? An interesting object?

How would you like to showcase it? 

A guided walk or tour? A lecture, presentation, or gallery talk? A reenactment or performance?

As a Community Partner, you are responsible for:

  1. Organizing an event or activity showcasing a Hidden Treasure that:
    – takes place within Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area or is virtual,
    – is scheduled for a day and time of your choice in May 2024 or is self-guided, and
    – is free and open to the public.
  2. Registering your event or activity by April 15, 2024.
  3. Tracking the time you and your colleagues spend developing, promoting, and offering the event or activity,
  4. Promoting the event or activity as being “offered as part of the annual Hidden Treaures Festival of Nature, Culture, & History produced by the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area”
  5. Submitting a brief update once the event or activity has taken place that includes an in-kind donation of volunteer services, the number of attendees, and appropriate documentation should you wish to apply for a Hidden Treasures mini grant to reimburse up to $350 of qualified expenses.

When you are ready to register an event or activity, you may do so via the online application form below.

Questions may be directed to hiddentreasures@freedomsway.org.

MEDIA TOOLKIT

We deeply appreciate our partners helping to spread the word about the Heritage Area and its work whenever possible. If you’re feeling a bit stuck on how to do so, please consider including the following statement in your publicity and welcome statements: This program is offered in partnership with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area during the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History. Learn more at freedomsway.org.

Please feel free to use the following logo files when promoting your Hidden Treasures event. If you need a different file type, please contact dhamelin@freedomsway.org.

Additional promotional materials will be added in April 2024.

    FORMS

    Community Partners may find the following documents useful for reporting on their Hidden Treasures events and activities:

    placeOLD BURYING GROUND, GROTON, MA

    placeFITCHBURG ART MUSEUM, FITCHBURG, MA

    Hidden Treasures 2024 Program Registration

    Partner Information

    Name of Primary Contact(Required)

    Event/Activity Information

    This will be used to identify this program in any and all Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History promotion.
    This description will be used to promote the program. Be sure to include information regarding registration and/or space limitations, as well as information regarding rain dates/weather cancellation, if applicable.
    Include the name of the venue and an address for in-person events.

    If this event/activity will take place virtually, please say so.

    If need be, it is acceptable to include only the community name and note that registrants will be provided an exact address prior to the event.

    As a reminder, Hidden Treasures events and activities must take place within the 45 communities that comprise the Freedom's Way National Heritage Area or virtually.
    Include any pertinent information regarding when the event/activity will take place. For one-time events, include the date, as well as start and end times.

    If this event/activity will take place multiple times during the month of May, include schedule specifics.

    If this activity is self-guided throughout the month, include schedule specifics.

    As a reminder, Hidden Treasures events and activities must take place during the month of May.
    Upload images suitable for web use. These images will be used to promote the program on the Freedom's Way website and social media.

    Should you encounter issues uploading, please email files directly to hiddentreasures@freedomsway.org.
    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 512 MB.

      Additional Information

      How many lawn signs would you like?
      Freedom's Way provides up to two (2) lawn signs with stands. The design is the same as it was in 2023.
      Are you interested in applying for a mini grant?
      Each partner organization is eligible to have up to $350 in qualified expenses directly related to planning and implementing a Hidden Treasures event/activity reimbursed following successful completing of the program.

      To receive a mini grant, the Stipend Reimbursement Form and copies of receipts and backup documentation must be submitted no later than Sunday, June 30, 2024.

      Allowable expenses are detailed on the Stipend Reimbursement Form available above under the section "Forms."

      Your answer is not binding; it simply helps us plan ahead!
      Your answer is not binding; it helps us ensure mini-grants will only be used to cover eligible expenses.