Sawyer Free Library Relaunches Historic Gloucester Lyceum with Placemaking Expert Ethan Kent
The Sawyer Free Library is proud to announce the official relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum with a special event, Placemaking: Our Library in Our Community, featuring internationally renowned placemaking leader Ethan Kent, Executive Director of PlacemakingX.
The event will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester. Free and open to the public with registration required, this interactive evening will highlight the vital role of the Sawyer Free Library as a public space that strengthens community and fosters civic pride. Register at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited.
Ethan Kent, one of the world's foremost voices in the placemaking movement, has worked in more than 1,000 cities across 60 countries to advance inclusive, thriving, and equitable public spaces. As co-founder and Executive Director of PlacemakingX, he has built regional networks around the globe and helped shape placemaking as a transformative force for equity, sustainability, and urban vitality.
The special program will begin with remarks by Mr. Kent, followed by interactive conversations with fellow attendees throughout the various spaces of the newly renovated, expanded, and modernized Sawyer Free Library. The perspectives shared in these dialogues will inspire closing insights from Mr. Kent, allowing participants to reflect on how Gloucester can continue to build meaningful, inclusive spaces—starting with its newly reimagined Library.
"Placemaking is about strengthening the connection between people and the places they share," said Ethan Kent. "It's about making the spaces we live, the places we love.
The Gloucester Lyceum: A Tradition Renewed
Founded in 1830, the Gloucester Lyceum once brought thought leaders such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. to Cape Ann. Lyceums across the country became hubs of public lectures, spirited debate, and civic learning. Today, lyceums are experiencing a resurgence nationwide as places where communities come together to think, learn, and engage with the pressing issues of the day.
The Sawyer Free Library's relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum builds on this proud tradition, hosting marquee events that connect contemporary voices with the local community. This inaugural program marks the beginning of a new era of civic dialogue, community learning, and cultural enrichment for Gloucester.
"The relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum is about renewing a proud tradition of bringing people together for public discourse within a collaborative forum. True to the notion that a lyceum is "where the city comes to think," we are honored to welcome Ethan Kent as our first speaker in this new chapter. His work around the world embodies the very spirit of community dialogue and imagination that we hope to cultivate right here in Gloucester," said Laura Ventimiglia, Chair of the Gloucester Lyceum.
The event will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester. Free and open to the public with registration required, this interactive evening will highlight the vital role of the Sawyer Free Library as a public space that strengthens community and fosters civic pride. Register at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited.
Ethan Kent, one of the world's foremost voices in the placemaking movement, has worked in more than 1,000 cities across 60 countries to advance inclusive, thriving, and equitable public spaces. As co-founder and Executive Director of PlacemakingX, he has built regional networks around the globe and helped shape placemaking as a transformative force for equity, sustainability, and urban vitality.
The special program will begin with remarks by Mr. Kent, followed by interactive conversations with fellow attendees throughout the various spaces of the newly renovated, expanded, and modernized Sawyer Free Library. The perspectives shared in these dialogues will inspire closing insights from Mr. Kent, allowing participants to reflect on how Gloucester can continue to build meaningful, inclusive spaces—starting with its newly reimagined Library.
"Placemaking is about strengthening the connection between people and the places they share," said Ethan Kent. "It's about making the spaces we live, the places we love.
The Gloucester Lyceum: A Tradition Renewed
Founded in 1830, the Gloucester Lyceum once brought thought leaders such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. to Cape Ann. Lyceums across the country became hubs of public lectures, spirited debate, and civic learning. Today, lyceums are experiencing a resurgence nationwide as places where communities come together to think, learn, and engage with the pressing issues of the day.
The Sawyer Free Library's relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum builds on this proud tradition, hosting marquee events that connect contemporary voices with the local community. This inaugural program marks the beginning of a new era of civic dialogue, community learning, and cultural enrichment for Gloucester.
"The relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum is about renewing a proud tradition of bringing people together for public discourse within a collaborative forum. True to the notion that a lyceum is "where the city comes to think," we are honored to welcome Ethan Kent as our first speaker in this new chapter. His work around the world embodies the very spirit of community dialogue and imagination that we hope to cultivate right here in Gloucester," said Laura Ventimiglia, Chair of the Gloucester Lyceum.
"Welcoming Ethan Kent to Gloucester to help relaunch our historic Lyceum is both timely and inspiring," said Mern Sibley, President of the Board of Trustees of the Sawyer Free Library. "Our newly reimagined and modernized Library is the hub of the community, offering so much to so many—meeting people where they are in their lives. Ethan's work demonstrates how meaningful public spaces can bring people together, foster belonging, and strengthen communities. We are thrilled to begin this new chapter of the Lyceum with him at the center of the conversation."
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About the Sawyer Free Library
The Sawyer Free Library, a beacon of knowledge and culture, has been serving Gloucester's residents of all ages for nearly 200 years. With its doors now open in a beautifully reimagined and renovated space, the Library continues its commitment to providing equal access to resources that meet the community's evolving cultural, educational, and informational needs. This historic expansion and modernization project enhances the Library's ability to deliver innovative resources, nurture creativity, and foster community engagement— ensuring that residents of all ages have a welcoming place to learn, connect, and thrive.
The Sawyer Free Library, a beacon of knowledge and culture, has been serving Gloucester's residents of all ages for nearly 200 years. With its doors now open in a beautifully reimagined and renovated space, the Library continues its commitment to providing equal access to resources that meet the community's evolving cultural, educational, and informational needs. This historic expansion and modernization project enhances the Library's ability to deliver innovative resources, nurture creativity, and foster community engagement— ensuring that residents of all ages have a welcoming place to learn, connect, and thrive.
Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library
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Tracy Davis PR Director
- October 20, 2025
- (978) 325-5500
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