At our recent Create the Vote coalition meeting at the Barrington Stage Company, executive director of MASSCreative Matt Wilson spoke to the community with the hopes of engaging them and garnering support to raise awareness about the arts before the upcoming gubernatorial election. In particular, he encouraged attendees to think about Massachusetts as a whole. What are our passions and what do we want? What do we want our future to be?

"'It’s time for us to take a step back and think about what our strengths are as a state,' Wilson said. 'What do we want the state to look like in five years? In 10 years? We need to show [politicians] that voters care about the arts.'"

So what do voters want from their state in regards to the arts? It's evident that people care and support the arts. It's evident that the arts inspire our communities, help students learn in school, and drive our economy. 

As the past has shown, arts funding is not something that is always guaranteed and must be fought for. Wilson is encouraging voters to make the arts an issue now. We need to pave the way for the future to get the arts funding back to where it needs to be. Our next challenge: the gubernatorial campaign. Help us keep up the buzz!

Read the full article here, originally posted by the Berkshire Eagle!