Organizers of stART on the Street, the largest art, music and cultural festival in Central Massachusetts, have decided not to hold a spring festival this year.

Instead of three festivals in 2014, stART Co-Director Tina Zlody said the volunteer-run organization will focus its efforts on the Sept 21 and Dec. 7 festivals. “Coordinating stART festivals is a labor of love, and we’ve worked hard for several years in a row to keep doing three festivals per year. This year, we have decided to give our group a much-needed rest. In doing just two festivals this year, we’re able to put more energy into the creative part of the process without stretching the limited resources we have too thin,” Zlody said.

To keep stART events running and free to the public, Zlody said the organization is looking for help in two ways, the first of which is funding. “Hosting festivals of this size is expensive, and finding ways to work within a strict budget presents multiple challenges,” Zlody said. The group plans to put more energy into fundraising and sponsorships to ease the pressure but needs more people. Zlody said there is room for new people to get involved in assorted roles, including logistics, fundraising and promotions.

Zlody said the decision was hard to come to, as the spring festival has been hosted in a newly developed part of town. “There are so many amazing things happening in the Canal District, and we want to thank the area businesses for all of the work they put in to make spring stART successful.”

Planning for the 12th annual stART on the Street on Park Avenue this September is already under way. For more information on donating or getting involved, visit stARTontheStreet.org.