June 29 Policy & Action Review

Last week, we launched Create the Vote 2020 in partnership with a steering committee of organizations from across the Commonwealth. This kind of coalition is new for the Create the Vote campaign, but we can’t help but feel that there’s no better time for this type of partnership. All over the country, we’re seeing the power of collective action in creating change within our communities. In a newly-isolated world, we at MASSCreative hope our actions and campaigns offer you the opportunity to get involved, connect with your network, and work together to make Massachusetts a more vibrant, creative place.

Virtual Policy & Action Updates

Thank you to the hundreds of advocates that have joined the MASSCreative team for our weekly Virtual Policy & Action Updates on Fridays from 9:45-10:00am.

Check out MASSCreative’s June 26 Policy & Action Update

Register for MASSCreative’s July 10 Policy & Action Update

Top Policy Update

MASSCreative continues to monitor and report on state and federal policy that supports equitable communities and a stronger, more inclusive creative sector.

Learn more in MASSCreative's Policy Update, including:

State Budgets
Economic Development Bond Bill
Reopening Plan
Federal Reserve

Top Action: Create the Vote

On Wednesday, June 24 we launched Create the Vote 2020 alongside the Create the Vote Steering Committee! This year, we’re asking partners to pledge to Create the Vote and increase voter participation through non-partisan voter registration, education and turnout. We have radical hope for the future of our community, and ask you to join us in building a more equitable, inclusive representative democracy for all. Will you pledge to #CreateTheVote?

Top Action: Arts Education

Right now, the Commonwealth and its cities and towns are grappling with major losses in tax revenue and increased sanitation costs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In facing these difficult decisions, several school districts have laid off educators, including art teachers. As schools plan to reopen in the fall, students will need more educators and resources that support their social and emotional learning, not less. Reach out to your MA legislators to advocate for the protection of Chapter 70 Education Funding and equitable access to quality education.

Top Action: Call for Testimony for Economic Development Bond Bill

The Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies scheduled a hearing last Friday for HB 4529, An Act enabling partnerships for growth. Currently, the bill does not include any relief funds, workforce development programs or other supports for the creative sector. We encourage members of the creative sector to submit written testimony stating the creative sector's role in the economic recovery of the Commonwealth and requesting that the committee include our sector in the bill by July 1.

Some Good News

Despite the isolation that the current public health emergency requires of all of us, the concept of community has never felt so important. Every day, we’re seeing the ways people are reaching out to one another — to connect, to comfort, to offer resources or support or gratitude. For those of us involved in arts & culture here in the Commonwealth, this emphasis on community is not new, but rather baked into the very nature of our work. And in some very special places, these strong community networks have long been in the making.

Image courtesy of Stewart Ikeda.

We want to note that there will not be a Virtual Policy & Action Update this Friday, July 3 as the MASSCreative staff will be taking a long weekend. Our next Policy & Action Update will be Friday, July 10 from 9:45-10am, and we hope to see you there!

If you’re looking for more COVID-19 resources, you can check out MASSCreative’s COVID-19 pages, including updates, resources, advocacy, policy recommendations, and policy & action updates.

Do you like this post?