IN THE NEWS: ACE ACT PRESS CONFERENCE
GREAT BARRINGTON (8/3/23) - On Friday, July 28th, 2023, the MASSCreative Action Network joined Sen. Paul Mark and Rep. Dan Donahue for a public press conference announcing their legislative efforts to improve accessibility in the Massachusetts creative sector. The event took place at Community Access to the Arts (CATA) in Great Barrington with speakers including the lead sponsors, Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, Margaret Keller (Executive Director, CATA), Rus Peotter (MASSCreative Board Member), and written remarks from Nicole Agois (Managing Director, Open Door Arts).
H.151/S.113, An Act improving accessibility in the creative economy, referred to as the “ACE Act”, would establish a grant program intended for organizations focused on the arts, culture, humanities, and interpretive sciences to remove barriers encountered by people with disabilities. Grants would be administered through the Massachusetts Office on Disability and grant eligibility would be determined by a board consisting of a majority of individuals with disabilities and individuals with experience advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities.
The bill was inspired by a 2022 report published by Open Door Arts and the Mass Cultural Council, titled, “Towards a Culture of Access: Findings From the Massachusetts Arts & Culture Access Survey,” in which survey respondents expressed that funding, staffing, facilities, skills, and training all impacted their capacity to make venues and programs more accessible.
"Through a series of regional community meetings, surveys, and conversations, MASSCreative got direct feedback on what policies and state investments are needed most for a more inclusive and equitable creative sector," said Emily Ruddock, Executive Director of MASSCreative. "The ACE Act is the result of direct community feedback and data from our trusted partners. I am proud that our Creative Sector Agenda addresses the most pressing needs of the creative community and includes universal participation."
People with disabilities constitute 1 in 4 adults, 1 in 2 adults over the age of 65, and approximately 20% of school-aged children. The community also represents the 3rd largest market segment in the US, as well as every racial, gender, socio-economic, and religious group. Even so, people with disabilities continue to experience significant attitudinal, physical, and programmatic barriers keeping them from fully participating in opportunities offered by arts and culture organizations.
"The creative sector is an important driver of economic activity throughout our Commonwealth and especially in western Massachusetts. Ensuring that all people have access to these activities, as both creators and patrons of the arts, opens the doors to economic opportunities and sustainability. I am honored to work alongside Rep. Donahue and MASSCreative in support of the ACE Act to achieve these goals," said Sen. Paul Mark, lead Senate sponsor of the ACE Act.
Rep. Dan Donahue, the lead House sponsor of the ACE Act, shared examples of how this funding could be administered in the City of Worcester and the need for statewide investment.
“It was wonderful being able to discuss the ACE Act with legislators and community partners who have long been working towards accessibility within the arts. Thank you to Community Access to the Arts for hosting and thank you to MASSCreative for making this important bill a priority. I will continue to advocate for this bill as it moves forward through the legislative process,” said Rep. Dan Donahue.
Based in Great Barrington, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) collaborates with more than 50 partner organizations to bring visual and performing arts programs to 950 people with disabilities across Berkshire County and Columbia County, New York.
“As an advocate for our artists, partners, caregivers, and families: I am here to tell you we have a long way to go to make arts and culture programs, buildings, galleries, theaters, and yes, backstages more accessible for people with disabilities. And as an organization that partners regularly with cultural organizations, I will also tell you that there is a hunger to address this now,” said Margaret Keller, Executive Director of CATA. “We’re missing out on the perspectives of people with disabilities as art-lovers and artists.”
Keller also underscored the significance of promoting universal access to the creative economy during Disability Pride Month and days after the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, who is co-sponsoring both the House and Senate bills, reinforced this sentiment.
"CATA is a living example of how important promoting accessibility in the arts is. When our communities work together to create spaces where everyone can thrive, wonderful things can happen. It was great to be with Sen. Mark, Rep. Donahue, and MASSCreative here in the Berkshires to promote this legislation and uplift the work of organizations like CATA," said Rep. Smitty Pignatelli.
Nicole Agois of Open Door Arts shared her written remarks that were read by Ruddock. Open Door Arts co-authored the “Towards a Culture of Access” report.
“Access is, first and foremost, a human practice,” said Nicole Agois. “It takes both committed people and dedicated funding for access to become a reality, but the costs can be prohibitive for many organizations, especially smaller under-resourced ones. The ACE Act has the potential of providing much needed resources for organizations to make accessibility improvements to their facilities and services, to provide training to their teams, and to turn Massachusetts into the state with the most accessible creative sector in the country.”
Open Door Arts and Abilities Dance Boston are both endorsing the bill. Abilities Dance Boston attended the press conference virtually and shared, “as a performing company that continuously advocates for disability justice and the dismantling of antiquated and ableist barriers, we are excited that the ACE Act will push the arts and culture sector to a more just and accessible creative economy.”
The lead sponsors anticipate this bill will have a hearing before the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities in the Fall. The MASSCreative Action Network encourages interested organizations to endorse the bill or contact them directly to discuss the policy.
Visit our 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda page for additional information about the ACE Act and the MASSCreative Action Network’s policy priorities.
Sign up your organization to endorse the bill and read about other ways to advocate by visiting our How You Can Support the ACE Act page.
MEDIA HITS:
State Officials Promote Act for Accessible Creative Economy (iBerkshires.com)
