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.

We always seek folks interested in helping others deepen their knowledge and advocacy skills. If you are interested in collaborating as a panelist for future sessions, assisting in training, or providing mentorship to other creative sector advocates, we want to talk with you more!

In this webinar, we reviewed MASSCreative’s guide to the FY23 budget, the state Economic Development Bond Bill under consideration, and previewed the August 3rd Create the Vote forum.

In this webinar, we reviewed the House FY23 budget, the federal Advancing Equity Through the Arts & Humanities Act, Mayor Wu’s proposed FY23 budget for the City of Boston, and Create the Vote updates.

In this webinar, we reviewed the NEA and NEH budgets, FY22 earmarks to the MA creative sector, FY23 budget updates, and HIRENOW.