MASSCreative’s Artivist Town Hall is a monthly webinar that connects artists and creatives with resources, training, and expert insights to support them in their creative practices and activism. This month, we welcomed Joyce Linehan and Erin O’Brien for a panel discussion about how public and cultural policies are written, how we create momentum to carry legislation, and how policies impact creative communities.

In May 2024, Daniel Deutsch published a comprehensive cultural blueprint for the Pioneer Valley with recommendations for nurturing the arts ecosystem in Western Massachusetts. Continue reading for Daniel’s findings and report.

During this month's webinar, we focused on key updates and strategies for the creative sector in this crucial final month of the legislative session. Our main topics were the Senate’s Mass Leads Act and the inclusion of the Downtown Vitality Act in their version of the bill.

During this month's webinar, we provided updates on our advocacy around the FY25 Budget Conference Committee and previewed ways that the creative sector can benefit from the anticipated Mass Leads Act (Economic Development Bond Bill).

During this month's webinar, we reviewed the FY25 Senate Ways and Means Budget, talked about Emily's testimony on the Mass Leads Act, and shared about the South Coast creative community's recent success organizing a legislative roundtable.

During this month's webinar, we reviewed the FY25 House Ways and Means Budget, the state budget process, and the federal STAGES Act and CREATE Art Act. We also provided updates about our inaugural Creative Advocacy Institute happening on May 17th in Lowell, as well as this year's Create the Vote campaign season.

On Friday, March 8, 2024, MASSCreative used their monthly Policy & Advocacy Webinar to provide a federal funding update, review the Governor’s Economic Development Bond Bill, give a status update on the Creative Sector Legislative Agenda, and preview the FY25 State Budget. Read the blog to watch the recording and download the slideshow.

In this month's webinar, we recapped Creative Sector Advocacy Week in January and shared Joint Rule 10 outcomes for the Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. We also shared the news that Boston City Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the Creative Space Preservation Act.

On Friday, January 12, 2024, MASSCreative held the first of two trainings preparing arts and culture advocates for Creative Sector Advocacy Week 2024. During this Webinar, the MASSCreative team reviewed the schedule for Advocacy Week and shared tips and outlines for meeting with lawmakers and organizing advocacy meetings.

MASSCreative was joined by the Massachusetts Health Connector for a presentation on their open enrollment period. Open enrollment lasts now through January 23, 2024. See our webinar recording and linked resources to get started.

Check out the resources we shared at November’s Policy & Action Webinar.

Check out the resources we shared at October’s Policy and Action Update Webinar.

During our September Policy & Action Update Webinar, we discussed how to prepare for Fall hearings and announced our Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship!

During our July Policy & Action Update Webinar, we reviewed the Federal FY24 Budget and proposed NEA appropriations, discussed the status of the State FY24 Budget, and previewed advocacy opportunities in Fall 2023.

During this webinar, we talked about FY24 House Budget outcomes, the Senate Ways and Means Budget, and previewed the upcoming Senate Budget debates. We also hosted MassINC for a briefing on H.228/S.130, An Act to promote downtown vitality.

During this webinar, we talked about the upcoming Creative Advocacy Training series, FY24 House Ways and Means Budget, House tax relief bill, changes to open meeting laws, and announced our new website!

Building relationships with elected officials and their staff is crucial to every advocate's work. Take a moment to learn who represents you on Capital Hill and at the State House.

An important part of the governing process is public hearings. These occur on all levels of government (Federal, State, and Local). Understanding the hearing process and how you can participate will make you a more effective advocate for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector.

Maintaining and increasing public investment in the creative community requires constant and broad grassroots activism throughout the annual budget process.

In our first webinar of 2023, we introduced our new Director of Organizing and Director of External Relations, reviewed our legislative accomplishments from last session, and updated attendees on our policy priorities for 2023-2024 and FY24 budget advocacy.