events
ADVOCACY 101 TRAINING
Everyone can (and should!) be an advocate. To co-create an arts and culture sector that is more equitable and resilient, we need more people to see themselves as arts advocates and take action.
The Advocacy 101 training is about equipping you with the foundational skills you need to advocate for the issues and communities that matter the most to you. This training is designed to prepare you to make the most of Creative Sector Advocacy Week 2025.
ADVOCACY 201 TRAINING
The Advocacy 201 training builds on the foundation of the Advocacy 101 session. In Advocacy 201, we will prepare you to take the lead in organizing your networks and communities. We’ll cover how to turn your network into an advocacy powerhouse, coordinate advocacy meetings with your elected officials, and use your social media platforms to help folks take action on the things you care about most.
ADVOCACY 301: NONPROFITS DO’S AND DON’TS
Join Jessica Seney, Senior Policy Associate of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, and Luke Blackadar, Deputy Director of Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston Inc. and manager of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, for this session on how your 501(c)(3) organization can meet this moment as a civic leader and center for advocacy movement building. This training is designed for cultural nonprofit leaders, government affairs and communications staff, and board members.
RSVP FOR CREATIVE SECTOR DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE 2025
Join artists, creatives, cultural organizations, adocates, creative businesses and changemakers for a celebration of Massachusetts’ creative sector at the State House, April 30, 2025.
MARCH ARTIVIST TOWN HALL
In March, we are hosting MassBudget to share the ins and outs of Massachusetts’ state budgeting process. MASSCreative will provide advocacy updates and hold an informal town hall dialogue to discuss your organizing questions and needs after the presentation.
CREATE THE VOTE 2025: OPEN HOUSE
On March 6th from 12-1 PM, MASSCreative is hosting a Create the Vote 2025: Open House to share information about this year’s campaigns in Boston, Newton, and Somerville, and to invite individuals living in other towns and cities with municipal races happening this year to consider partnering with us. Please register in advance to attend this info session.
ORGANIZING HUDDLE: TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THE FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE
Join creative advocates and cultural organizers from across Massachusetts for a special Organizing Huddle on Trump’s executive orders and the federal funding freeze. We will share information and resources and hold space for community and coalition building.
JANUARY 2025 ARTIVIST TOWN HALL
In January and February 2025, we are hosting a two-part series on labor movements within the Massachusetts creative sector. In January, we are welcoming organizers from the Berkshire/Columbia Counties Pay Equity Coalition to share how they are addressing wage disparities among entry and mid-level employees of cultural organizations.
DECEMBER 2024 ARTIVIST TOWN HALL
In March, we are hosting MassBudget to share the ins and outs of Massachusetts’ state budgeting process. MASSCreative will provide advocacy updates and hold an informal town hall dialogue to discuss your organizing questions and needs after the presentation.
SOUTH END CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The South End convening will be hosted at the Boston Center for the Arts on November 12th at 6 PM.
FORT POINT CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The Fort Point convening will be hosted at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter in Boston on November 8th at 10 AM, in partnership with Artists for Humanity, The Boston Foundation, and Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The individual artists convening will happen over Zoom on November 4th at 6 PM, in partnership with Assets for Artists.
FRANKLIN COUNTY CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The Franklin County convening will be hosted at Launch Space in Orange on October 31st at 10 AM, in partnership with Launch Space.
MERRIMACK VALLEY CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The Merrimack Valley convening will be hosted at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell on October 29th at 6 PM, in partnership with Western Avenue Studios and Mosaic Lowell.
CAPE & ISLANDS CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The Cape & Islands convening will be hosted at The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown on October 28th at 12 PM, in partnership with The Fine Arts Work Center and Provincetown Art Association and Museum.
NORTH SHORE CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The North Shore convening will be hosted at The Museum at Lynn Museum & Arts Center on October 22nd at 6 PM, in partnership with Lynn Museum, Creative Collective LLC, and Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
ARTS ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR: CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The Arts Administrators of Color convening will happen over Zoom on October 22nd at 5:30 PM, in partnership with The Network for Arts Administrators of Color Boston.
SOUTH COAST CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Creative Conversations: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector is an in-person and virtual series engaging with artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and changemakers in meaningful dialogue about the sector's needs. Through these discussions, we will gather insights to inform the 2025-2026 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The South Coast convening will be hosted at The Ignition Space in Fall River on October 17th at 5:30 PM, in partnership with Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition and New Bedford Creative.
Create the Vote Candidate Forum 2024
Hosted by the New Art Center and Newton Cultural Alliance in collaboration with MASSCreative, this forum brings together voters and candidates running for the 11th & 12th Middlesex State House District seats.
ADVOCACY & ORGANIZING INFO SESSION (II)
Applications for the 2024-2025 Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship close on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM. The Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship is a year-long stipended leadership development cohort for artivists, creative workers, and emerging cultural leaders to sharpen their community organizing and advocacy stills for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector.
Join MASSCreative for the second Fellowship information session of the 2024-2025 cycle on Thursday, September 12th from 12:30 - 1:30 PM.
ADVOCACY & ORGANIZING INFO SESSION (I)
Applications for the 2024-2025 Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship open on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. The Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship is a year-long stipended leadership development cohort for artivists, creative workers, and emerging cultural leaders to sharpen their community organizing and advocacy stills for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector.
Join MASSCreative for the first Fellowship information session of the 2024-2025 cycle on Monday, August 19th from 6 - 7 PM.