The Creative Advocacy Institute is a statewide convening presented by and for the Massachusetts creative sector to increase advocacy learning, cultural policy leadership, and coalition-building towards a more inclusive and equitable creative sector for all residents. The convening will feature insightful conversations and workshops to strengthen cultural community organizing efforts and advocacy leadership across the Commonwealth.

The inaugural Creative Advocacy Institute will be held in Lowell, MA, on Friday, May 17, 2024, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The theme of this year’s convening is Movement Building: Learning, Organizing, and Realizing a Creative Massachusetts for All. Offerings will focus on expanding the Create the Vote program; a decade-long nonpartisan organizing effort to elevate the impact of the creative community during election season, acquaint candidates running for office with members of the creative sector, and increase voter registration and participation. Thanks to local leaders, Create the Vote campaigns have engaged with candidates seeking office across the Commonwealth into elected officials who champion the creative sector. Workshops and panels will feature local Create the Vote leaders and community organizers.

MASSCreative will launch the Create the Vote 2024 campaign during the Creative Advocacy Institute.

If you are a member of the creative sector, a supporter of arts, culture, and creativity, or a cultural community organizer - this Institute is for you!

We welcome new and seasoned advocates, as well as emerging, midcareer, and established arts and culture professionals

We are delighted to hold our inaugural Creative Advocacy Institute in Lowell, MA, with our hosts Merrimack Repertory Theatre and UTEC. The breakout workshop sessions will be held within an 8-minute walk of each other.

“Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is the official City motto of Lowell. Lowell is a Gateway City with a long history of creativity and vibrant cultural life. It is accessible via car and the MTBA commuter rail.

The full cost to attend the Creative Advocacy Institute is $75. This includes access to breakout sessions, networking opportunities, breakfast, and lunch.

There are a variety of discounted admission offers for our inaugural event:

Early Bird Registration (April 1 - April 17th): Register before April 17th and receive a $10 discount on all tiers.

Emerging Career Professionals: Participants 25 or younger receive a $40 discount on full-price admission.

MASSCreative Action Network Members and donors to MASSCreative: If you or your organization are current members of the MASSCreative Action Network or have made a gift to MASSCreative in the past year, you can receive a $25 discount on full-price admission.

Ticket Packages: purchase five tickets and receive a $5 discount on each ticket.

Scholarships and Volunteer Opportunities: We recognize that even with discounted admission offerings, attending can be prohibitive. We offer limited scholarships for those who cannot afford to attend. We also offer complimentary registration for all workshop presenters and volunteers.

Can’t attend the Institute but want to support? Consider underwriting a scholarship for someone else to attend.

To learn more about scholarships, email info@mass-creative.org.

If you want to submit a proposal to present, check our Call for Proposals.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our volunteer interest form.

REGISTER TODAY

Friday, May 17, 2024

9:30 AM: Registration and Light Breakfast

10:00 AM: Welcome Remarks

10:45 AM: Workshop Breakout Session I*

11:45 AM: Workshop Breakout Session II*

12:45 PM: Lunch

2:00 PM: Workshop Breakout Session III*

3:00 PM: Workshop Breakout Session IV*

4:00 PM: Keynote Speaker and Moderated Discussion

5:30 PM: Networking Reception

(Optional) 8:00 PM: Spiritus / Virgil’s Dance

Written and Performed by Dael Orlandersmith at Merrimack Repertory Theatre. Institute participants are eligible for a $10 discount on tickets for this performance.

*A full listing of session offerings will be made available after April 17, 2024

There are several opportunities to volunteer at the Creative Advocacy Institute. All volunteers will receive complimentary registration to the event.

Click here to express your interest in volunteering.

The Creative Advocacy Institute’s strength depends on our community’s contributions, expertise, and insight. We are eager to feature workshops and panel discussions that celebrate local leaders’ efforts in the following areas:

• Community organizing and mobilizing for change

• Creative activism and being an artivist

• Civic leadership to protect democracy

• Advocating for the creative sector

• Coalition building

• Voter registration and turnout

Request for proposals closed April 10, 2024.

Support for presenters:

• Each workshop leader will receive an honorarium of $300 and complimentary admission to the Creative Advocacy Institute.

• Panel discussion organizers/moderators will receive an honorarium of $200 and complimentary admission to the Creative Advocacy Institute.

• Panelists will receive an honorarium of $100 and complimentary admission to the Creative Advocacy Institute.

Deadline to submit a proposal: April 10th, 5:00 pm

We are grateful to Steward Cultural Development Group for sponsoring the Creative Advocacy Institute.

If you are interested in sponsoring the Institute, please contact Kelsey Rode at krode@mass-creative.org for more information.