Candidate would increase public investment in the arts, and be a champion for the sector
BOSTON, September 4, 2014— Continuing its series of sit down meetings with candidates for governor of Massachusetts, members of the Create the Vote coalition have met with gubernatorial candidate Evan Falchuk to discuss his views on the arts and cultural community and the role it would play in his administration.
The Coalition—a collaboration of Massachusetts arts, cultural, and creative institutions convened by MASSCreative—have met with Falchuk at six regional meetings around the state. The most recent meeting took place July 21 at New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks! Representatives from AHA! New Bedford, the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Masssachusetts Dartmouth, RopeWorks, and New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks! attended. Other meetings have taken place at Easthampton City Arts+, Barrington Stage Company, Mechanics Hall, and Arts League of Lowell. To date, representatives of 29 arts and cultural organizations have met with Falchuk.
On May 22, arts leaders from ArtsFalmouth, Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cultural Center of Cape Cod, the Falmouth Historical Society, MassCreative, and Mid-Cape Cultural Council questioned Falchuk about his vision for the arts in the Commonwealth.
Falchuk said that he does not “separate arts and culture out” from the overall goals of his campaign. From tackling issues like the high cost of health care and housing to funding the arts, Massachusetts must go beyond simply looking at price tags when trying to create sound economic policy, said Falchuk.
“When I see what happens in the arts sector, you’re always forced to prove that it’s worth it with a return on investment,” said Falchuk. “We live in a world with finite resources, but they’re not that finite that you should be thinking about things in only those terms.”
Asked if he would consider creating an arts and culture cabinet position as governor, Falchuk said, “It makes sense. At the end of the day, it’s about having someone with a pretty senior position that’s able to act as a clearing house, to make sure things are coordinated. Whether that’s a cabinet level position doesn’t matter unless there’s a person who owns it.”
Falchuk said that arts education must be better integrated into school curricula and that it is important to ultimately helping students become “problem solvers and creative thinkers” who will contribute to the economy. “We should look at education in terms of what we want it to produce,” he said. “Right now it is focused on wanting students to do really well on standardized tests.”
“Arts matter in Massachusetts,” said MassCreative Executive Director Matt Wilson. “It increases economic activity, boosts educational opportunities for young people, and helps build strong communities. We look forward to collaborating with the next governor of Massachusetts to support the arts and cultural community in working to its fullest capacity.”
To date, the Coalition has interviewed Evan Falchuk, Donald Berwick, Steve Grossman, and Jeff McCormick.
The Create the Vote Coalition will continue to meet with candidates and share with the public what they learn. The Coalition looks forward to learning more details from candidates, including those with whom they have already met, about how their ideas and initiatives for the arts will be implemented from a policy and funding perspective. For more information about the coalition and the Create the Vote campaign, visit Mass-Creative.org.
On July 15, the Coalition hosted the historic Gubernatorial Forum on Arts, Culture, and Creativity, the first-ever gubernatorial debate about arts and culture. The Forum was held at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester and attended by 500 artists, cultural leaders, and members of the public. Candidates Don Berwick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Evan Falchuk, Mark Fisher, Treasurer Steve Grossman, and Jeff McCormick answered questions from moderator Joyce Kulhawik and arts leaders from around the state. A video of the Forum is available here.
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Founded in 2012, MASSCreative works with creative leaders and entrepreneurs, working artists, arts educators, and arts and cultural supporters to empower creative organizations and the public with a powerful voice to advocate for the resources and support necessary to build vibrant and connected communities.
