When lawmakers and their staff receive phone calls from constituents on important issues, it makes a difference. We've created a script you can use when calling your state elected officials to share your support for our legislative agenda. 

Before you call:

• Take a look at MASSCreative's 2023-204 Legislative Priorities. Note any of the bills that you are particularly excited about or you have a personal connection to. 
• Plan for each call to take between 3 - 5 minutes.
• Take a deep breath - you got this!
• Find your State Representative and State Senator and call their office. You can find your elected officials using this handy form.

Talking Points for your Call:

Hello Representative or Senator [name] / Hello [name of staffer in the office]

My name is [insert name], and I am a constituent living in [state representative/state senate district].

How are you today?

That’s great to hear, I am doing good as well.

I am reaching out to urge you to co-sponsor several bills that will strengthen the creative sector and support the Massachusetts creative workforce:

• HD.2340/SD.1306, An Act to preserve space for the creative economy, sponsored by Rep. Dan Cahill and Sen. Liz Miranda.
• HD.3136/SD.2000, An Act improving accessibility in the creative economy (ACE Act), sponsored by Rep. Dan Donahue and Sen. Paul Mark.
• HD.2788/SD.2007, An Act creating a program to increase cultural equity in tourism promotion, sponsored by Rep. Pat Duffy and Sen. Jake Oliveira.
• HD.3803/SD.2322, An Act to promote downtown vitality, sponsored by Rep. Tony Cabral and Sen. John Cronin.
• HD.3110/SD.2051, An Act establishing a program for local art and community engagement (PLACE Act), sponsored by Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. Steve Ultrino, Sen. Paul Mark, and Sen. Robyn Kennedy.

Are you familiar with these bills at all?

[if the answer is yes, they’re familiar]: that’s great, can we count on you to support the bill? [no matter what, make sure you get a yes or a no from them]

[if the answer is no, they are not familiar with the bill]: No, worries at all. I’m sure you have hundreds of legislation across your desk this session. I’d love the share a bit more about these bills:

HD.2340/SD.1306, An Act to preserve space for the creative economy, sponsored by Rep. Dan Cahill and Sen. Liz Miranda.
The creative space preservation bill would create a defined property restriction for creative maker space and performance or exhibition space. It would also incentivize cities and towns to establish trust funds to hold assets and property for the creation and preservation of creative spaces, giving them more tools to keep artists in their communities.

HD.3136/SD.2000, An Act improving accessibility in the creative economy (ACE Act), sponsored by Rep. Dan Donahue and Sen. Paul Mark.
The Accessibility in the Creative Economy (ACE) Fund would provide grants to organizations focused on the arts, culture, humanities, and interpretive sciences to remove barriers encountered by people with disabilities.

HD.2788/SD.2007, An Act creating a program to increase cultural equity in tourism promotion, sponsored by Rep. Pat Duffy and Sen. Jake Oliveira.
This would establish a grant program within the Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel to support tourism marketing and promotional expenses for arts and cultural organizations. The fund would prioritize arts and cultural organizations and events that seek to amplify the stories of historically marginalized or underrepresented cultures. By increasing local and regional tourism to more culturally diverse spaces and events, Massachusetts can support economic vitality for everyone.

HD.3803/SD.2322, An Act to promote downtown vitality, sponsored by Rep. Tony Cabral and Sen. John Cronin.
This would establish the Downtown Vitality Fund and allocate 5% of receipts from online sales originating in Massachusetts to support staffing and operations of business improvement districts, main street associations, cultural districts and parking benefit districts in Gateway Cities and other low-income communities.

HD.3110/SD.2051, An Act establishing a program for local art and community engagement (PLACE Act), sponsored by Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. Steve Ultrino, Sen. Paul Mark, and Sen. Robyn Kennedy.
The Program for Local Art and Community Engagement (PLACE) would allocate a percentage of construction costs on any state-owned property, or public funding granted to new construction projects exceeding $200K, towards a public art fund. The fund would be used to create and maintain public art in Massachusetts and would codify the process for commissioning public art, making it easier for cities and towns to engage their residents in developing relevant and inclusive public art for all.

As a constituent, I am excited to see legislation that will support the creative sector’s continued economic recovery. These bills will also ensure that everyone in Massachusetts benefits from a stronger and more equitable arts and cultural community.

Which is why I hope you can co-sponsor these bills.

[Pause to give them time to respond.]

[If they say, Yes they will support it.]:Thank you for your support and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to connect with you and appreciate all of the work you are doing on behalf of our community.

[If they say No]: no worries at all, thank you for taking the time to talk to me today, I hope you have a good rest of your day.

[If you feel comfortable, you can also feel free to ask them] is there part of the language that creates discomfort to vote in favor of the bill?

[Please end your call with]: thank you for taking the time to talk to me today, I hope you have a good rest of your day.

After Your Calls

• Pat yourself on the back - you've unlocked a new level as an advocate for arts and culture!
• Let us know how it went! Knowing which legislators are supporting our legislative priorities is an important part of our advocacy strategy. After you call email Richeline Cadet, our Director of Organizing, and let her know any details on why or why not they are supporting these bills.