Downtown is the cultural heart of Lynn, with a concentration of unique cultural assets, programs and organizations unparalleled in nearby towns. LynnArts and Lynn Museum are twogroups that promote the arts, history, and creative economy. Downtown cultural assets are utilized by residents from all parts of the city, and cultural stakeholders have endeavored to increase Downtown Lynn’s profile across the region. The reopening of historic Memorial Auditorium raised Downtown Lynn’s cultural profile by attracting visitors from across New England to many sold out shows by national performers. This cultural renaissance will be enhanced through coordinated efforts to increase the visibility of diverse, local cultural assets that expand the range of arts-oriented programming in Downtown Lynn.

In July, 2011, Lynn became one of the first communities in Massachusetts to submit an application to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) for the creation of a state designated Arts & Culture District in Downtown Lynn. The MCC Cultural District program was authorized by an act of the Massachusetts state legislature in 2010 in order to achieve the following goals: