From Springfield to Salem: Arts Matter 
With over 200 groups participating in the Arts Matter Day festivities on October 24th, the creative community is positioned to prove that the arts matter here in Massachusetts.
The growing support for the “Arts Matter” movement sends a clear message that Massachusetts is serious about raising the profile of arts and culture during election season.
In the next week the community will be buzzing with activity: performing arts organizations will give curtain speeches before their shows, cultural institutions will host special Arts Matter Day events, artists will create original artwork, and the myriad of arts and cultural experiences in the Commonwealth will be highlighted as part of a statewide movement to show candidates that arts matter.
We’re looking forward to seeing these new groups celebrate Arts Matter Day their way:
Worcester, Friday, Oct 24 – Music Worcester is incorporating ‘Arts Matter Day’ into their opening night, a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, by making a curtain speech, inviting attendees to share their ‘Arts Matter Story’ on social media using the hashtag #ArtsMatter. MASSCreative will have a table at intermission where we will be taking Arts Matter photos.
Cambridge, Friday, Oct 24 - Central Square Theater is incorporating Arts Matter into their Oct 24th performance of A Disappearing Number. Executive Director Catherine Carr Kelly is working with staff to integrate Arts Matter into the show's curtain speech and work with MASSCreative to gather Arts Matter stories from audience members.
Lawrence, Friday, Oct 24 – Essex Art Center, John Budzyna plans to celebrate Arts Matter Day on October 24th by engaging kids from the community in hands-on art projects and creating a video recording of their participation along with stories about why art matters to them.
Hingham, Friday, Oct 24 — South Shore Conservatory of Music (SSC), Kathy Czerny is celebrating the week leading up to Arts Matter Day by reaching out to over 1,000 students at the SSC. She is also planning a video featuring the SSC to help spread the Arts Matter message. On Friday, October 24, the SSC will hold performances and workshops in celebration of Arts Matter Day. The performances will be shared through video recordings on social media.
Holyoke, Friday, Oct 24 – Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative and Berkshire Creative – The WMASS Film & Media Exchange: film, video and media professionals will interact with local businesses, depicting the value of incorporating quality film and video in their marketing efforts. They will be celebrating ‘Arts Matter Day’ by encouraging attendees to share why the arts matter to them with a short video clip.
Pembroke, Friday, Oct 24 - Pembroke Cultural Council, Linda McCollum plans to celebrate Arts Matter Day on October 24th by engaging youth members of the Pembroke community in arts awareness at the library through participation in visual and hands on art projects. In addition, she plans to send the Arts Matter message to the broader community through photographs of library visitors with Arts Matter posters.
Worcester, Friday, Oct 24 – Worcester Chamber Music Society and the Hanover Theatre: Tracy Kraus will be celebrating Arts Matter Day with the Neighborhood Strings program, which offers free music lessons in violin, viola and cello to youth from the Main South neighborhood. The focus is not just on the child as a musician, but the child as a citizen and a contributing member of society.
Boston, Friday Oct 24 - ZUMIX is helping to celebrate Arts Matter Day when they perform at the Institute of Contemporary Art's Teen Night at 6pm on Friday. MASSCreative will work with the ICA to capture the joy of the night, and spread the Arts Matter message.
Boston, Saturday, Oct 25 - MASSCreative is partnering with Jeff Grantz from Materials & Methods for Illuminus Boston on October 25. A free nighttime festival featuring large-scale projections and light installations, music, performances, and multimedia experiences, Illuminus will take over several blocks in the SoWa area of the South End. Arts Matter will have it's own projection area at the event.
Springfield, Saturday, Oct 25 - The Springfield Symphony - Kings, Angels & Lovers with Caroline Goulding, Violin: The Springfield Symphony will be doing an Arts Matter curtain speech and encouraging staff, performers, and attendees to take Arts Matter photos.
To our partnering groups: be on the lookout for Arts Matter Day packages, full of posters, palm cards, and buttons to help engage your audiences. Once your materials arrive, take a picture and tag @MASSCreative on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
