Download a pdf version of the letter and complete list of signers here.
Dear Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts,
We invite you to participate in a discussion and debate the evening of July 15th about the role arts, culture, and creativity play in the vibrancy and development of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
As 250 leaders representing the Massachusetts creative community through the Create the Vote coalition, we are eager to learn what role you believe the new Governor should play in driving arts and cultural policy and supporting the work of the sector.
The Create the Vote 2014 Gubernatorial Forum on Arts, Culture and Creativity will be held at 6:00 PM on July 15th at The Hanover Theatre of the Performing Arts in Worcester. We expect attendance from leaders and supporters from across the Commonwealth’s creative community.
Please RSVP to Matt Wilson, Executive Director of MASSCreative at [email protected] or 617-350-7610.
Thank you for your consideration and your engagement in what will be an exciting discussion.
Matt Wilson
Executive Director, MASSCreative
Writing for leaders of the Commonwealth’s arts, cultural, and creative community listed below.
The non-partisan, MASSCreative-led Create the Vote 2014 Coalition is 100+ creative organizations and leaders working together to make sure the next governor of Massachusetts is a champion of the arts. Through our programs and outreach, the Coalition works to educate candidates and voters on the impact that arts, culture and creativity have on communities across the Commonwealth.
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.
| Gregory Hutchins | David Zoffoli | Catalina Arrubla |
| Treasurer | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council | Creative Haverhill | Multi-Arts. Inc |
| Sara Stackhouse | Robert Nash | Shelley Neill |
| Executive Producer | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Actors' Shakespeare Project | Cultural Center of Cape Cod | Multicultural Arts Center |
| Megan Hinckley | Lauren Wolk | Beverly A. Morgan-Welch |
| Director of Development | Associate Director | Executive Director |
| American Repertory Theater | Cultural Center of Cape Cod | Museum of African American History |
| Anna Fitzloff | Susan Halter | Malcolm Rogers |
| Director of Marketing and Communications | Director | Ann and Graham Gund Director |
| American Repertory Theater | Cultural Organization of Lowell | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
| Robert Lynch | Megan Whilden | Maria Bentoti |
| President and CEO | Director | Artistic/Executive Director |
| Americans for the Arts | Cultural Pittsfield | Music at Eden's Edge |
| Joan Temkin | J Gustavo | Aziza Robinson-Goodnight |
| Acting Director | Board President | Managing Partner |
| Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce | Dorchester Arts Council | Musikavahnu Arts Gallery |
| Elaine Clements | Troy Thompson | Patrick Norton |
| Executive Director | CEO | Executive Director |
| Andover Historical Society | Daedal Creations, Inc. | Narrows Center for the Arts |
| Danielle Fauteux Jacques | Katherine French | Edmund Barry Gaither |
| Artistic Director | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Apollinaire Theatre Company | Danforth Art Museum | National Center of Afro-American Artists |
| Donna Blanchard | Sam Aquillano | Peter Nessen |
| Executive Director | Executive Director | President |
| Apple Tree Arts | Design Museum Boston | Nessen Associates, Ltd |
| Sarah Berry | Matthew Glassman | Noelle Foye |
| Program Manager | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Art Connection | Double Edge Theatre | New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks! |
| Susan Collings | Dr. Ricky S. Stern | Sara Bookin-Weiner |
| Executive Director | Executive Director | Manager of Outreach |
| Art Connection | "e" inc. | New Center for Arts and Culture |
| Stacey Frates | Joe Cox | Bud Ris |
| Executive Director | President | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| Art on Center | EcoTarium | New England Aquarium |
| Jo Ann Rothschild | Laura Perille | Dan Yaeger |
| Artist | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| EdVestors | New England Museum Association | |
| Susan Rodgerson | ||
| Executive/Artistic Director | Abigail Norman | Timothy D. Alexander |
| Artists for Humanity | Director | Treasurer |
| Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts | New England Philharmonic | |
| Liora Beer | ||
| Executive Director | Kelly Bates | Bridget O'Leary |
| Artmorpheus | Executive Director | Associate Artistic Director |
| Elma Lewis Center/Emerson College | New Repertory Theatre | |
| James Grace | ||
| Executive Director | Priscilla Kane Hellweg | Harriet Sheets |
| Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston | Executive Artistic Director | Managing Director |
| Enchanted Circle Theater | New Repertory Theatre | |
| Jean Butler | ||
| President | Don Packer | Debra J'Anthony |
| Arts Are Essential, Inc. | Owner/Partner | Executive Director |
| EngineRoomEdit | Northampton Academy of Music | |
| Barbara Schaffer Bacon | ||
| President | Alexandra Kennedy | Penny Burke |
| Arts Extension Institute, Inc. | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art | Northampton Center for the Arts | |
| Dee Boyle-Clapp | ||
| Director | Susan Bergmann | Jim Donahue |
| Arts Extension Service | Executive Director | President and CEO |
| Falmouth Artists Guild | Old Sturbridge Village | |
| Kevin Howard | ||
| President & CEO | Kelly Brilliant | Ted Cutler |
| Arts Foundation of Cape Cod | Executive Director | Chairman |
| Fenway Alliance | Outside The Box | |
| Steve Syverson | ||
| President | Mary Kelley | Christine McCarthy |
| Arts League of Lowell | Principal | Executive Director |
| Field Organization | Provincetown Art Association and Museum | |
| Catherine Peterson | ||
| Executive Director | Monica Hinojos | Sarah Smongeski |
| ArtsBoston | Creative Consultant | Executive Director |
| Fireseed Arts | Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester | |
| Bob Orchard | ||
| Executive Director | Eugene Finney | Dan Hogan |
| ArtsEmerson | Director of Marketing and Community Relations | Executive Director |
| Fitchburg Art Museum | Passim | |
| Juliet Feibel | ||
| Executive Director | William McSheehy | Julie Lichtenberg |
| ArtsWorcester | Vice President | Director |
| Fitchburg Cultural Alliance | Performance Project | |
| Jonathan Rappaport | ||
| Executive Director | Jennifer Jones | Ellie Donovan |
| Arts|Learning | President | Executive Director |
| Fitchburg Cultural Alliance | Plimoth Plantation | |
| Ellen S. Church | ||
| General Manager | Susan Navarre | Eugenia Ware |
| Assabet Valley Mastersingers, Inc. | Executive Director | Board Chair |
| Fitchburg Historical Society | Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra | |
| Jeff Poulos | Mariama White-Hammond | |
| Executive Director | James Bickford | Executive Director |
| Associated Grant Makers | Co-Founder | Project HIP-HOP |
| FluxMass | ||
| Mim Fawcett | Roxanna Myhrum | |
| Executive Director | Emily O’Neil | Artistic Director |
| Attleboro Arts Museum | Executive Director | Puppet Showplace Theatre |
| Fort Point Arts Community | ||
| Lisa Thompson | Gail Carberry | |
| Associate Director | Barbara Guertin | President |
| Available Potential Enterprises, Ltd. | Managing Director | Quinsigamond Community College |
| 4th Wall Stage Company | ||
| Tristan Wilson | Jennifer Montbach | |
| Managing Director | John Stagnone | Artistic Director |
| Barrington Stage Company | President | Radius Ensemble |
| Friends of the State Theatre | ||
| Debi Kennedy | Kit Jenkins | |
| President and CEO | Laura Cannata | Executive Director |
| Berkshire Chorale Festival | Development Manager, Institutional Giving | Raw Art Works |
| From the Top | ||
| Diane Pearlman | Steven Smith | |
| Executive Director | Jennifer Hurley-Wales | Executive Director |
| Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative | Co-CEO, Executive Producer | Revels, Inc |
| From the Top | ||
| Van W. Shields | Phil Sellers | |
| Executive Director | Malia Lazu | Owner |
| Berkshire Museum | Executive Director | River Hill Pottery |
| Future Boston Alliance | ||
| Laurie Werner | Tony Beadle | |
| Director of Advancement | Eve Bridburg | Executive Director |
| Berkshire Museum | Executive Director | Rockport Music |
| GrubStreet | ||
| Larry Murray | Matt Bruffee | |
| Editor/Publisher | Marie-Helene Bernard | President |
| Berkshire on Stage and Screen | Executive Director and CEO | Rogue Theatre Company, Inc. |
| Handel and Haydn Society | ||
| Susie Norris | Jesse Brackenbury | |
| Development Officer | Troy Siebels | Executive Director |
| Berkshire School | Executive Director | Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy |
| Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts | ||
| John Yannis | Gary LaParl | |
| President and General Manager | Mary Ryall | Managing Director |
| Blue Heron Renaissance Choir, Inc. | Executive Director | Salem Theatre Company |
| Happy Tonics, Inc. | ||
| Joanna Fink | Timothy Merton | |
| President | Matthew Pollock | Director |
| Boston Art Dealers Association | Executive Director | Sarasa Ensemble |
| HarborArts | ||
| Anne Clark | Dillon Bustin | Christopher Bratton |
| Headmaster | Artistic Director | President |
| Boston Arts Academy | Hibernian Hall | School of the Museum of Fine Arts |
| Rick Tagliaferri | Anne Thalheimer | Bert Snow |
| Executive Director | Treasurer | Coordinator |
| Boston Arts Academy Foundation | Holyoke Cultural Council | Sculpture at Maudslay |
| Mikko Nissinen | Kelly Grill | Tony Simotes |
| Artistic Director | Executive Director | Artistic Director |
| Boston Ballet | Hopkinton Center for the Arts | Shakespeare & Company |
| Miguel A. Rodriguez | Jamie Gahlon | Julie Leven |
| Executive Director | Associate Director | Executive and Artistic Director |
| Boston Baroque | HowlRound | Shelter Music Boston |
| Veronique LeMelle | Lauren Elias | Karen Totman |
| President & CEO | Managing Director | Executive Director |
| Boston Center for the Arts | Hub Theatre Company of Boston | Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program |
| Ben Hires | Michael Maso | Beth Gerstein |
| Director of Programs | Managing Director | Executive Director |
| Boston Children's Chorus | Huntington Theatre Company | Society of Arts and Crafts |
| Charlayne Murrell-Smith | Vanessa Snow | Gregory Jenkins |
| VP External Relations | Manager of Organizing & Policy Initiatives | Director |
| Boston Children's Museum | Hyde Square Task Force | Somerville Arts Council |
| Kim Haack | Elizabeth Pabon-Szebeda | Wendy Blom |
| Director of External Relations | Director of Arts | Executive Director |
| Boston Conservatory | IBA - Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion | Somerville Community Access Television |
| Ruth Birnberg | Vanessa Calderon-Rosado | Amit Dixit |
| Executive Director | Chief Executive Officer | Executive Director |
| Boston Dance Alliance | IBA--Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion | South Asian Arts Council |
| Jay Calderin | Susan Randazzo | Sarah Hannan |
| Founder and Executive Director | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Boston Fashion Week | Indian Hill Music | South Shore Art Center |
| Craig Coogan | Linda White | Kathy Czerny |
| Executive Director | President | President and CEO |
| Boston Gay Men's Chorus | Inkberry, Inc. | South Shore Conservatory |
| Sam Potrykus | Jill Medvedow | Paul Daigneault |
| Co-Director | Ellen Matilda Poss Director | Producing Artistic Director |
| Boston Hassle Arts Organization | Institute of Contemporary Art | SpeakEasy Stage Company |
| Caitlin Kenney | Hope Sullivan | Julie Hennrikus |
| Managing Editor of Art Blast | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Boston Hassle Arts Organization | IS183, Art School of the Berkshires | StageSource |
| Jaymie Saks | Stephanie Burke | Sachiko Isihara |
| Executive Director | President Board of Directors | Executive Director |
| Boston Jewish Film Festival | Merrimack Valley Time Exchange | Suzuki School of Newton, Inc. |
| Joey Baron | Connie C. Chin | Allison Francis |
| Executive Director | General Manager | Executive Artistic Director |
| Boston Jewish Music Festival | Jacob's Pillow Dance | Theater Offensive |
| Harron Ellenson | Pauline Bilsky | Jerry Wedge |
| Executive Director | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Boston Landmark Orchestra | JazzBoston | The Umbrella |
| Esther Nelson | Jeffrey Ellis | Christina Piscitelli |
| General & Artistic Director | Principal | Owner |
| Boston Lyric Opera | Jeph Ellis Image Maker | Tina Telli Productions |
| Pat Hollenbeck | Jose Mateo | Cherie Mittenthal |
| President | Director & President | Executive Director |
| Boston Musicians’ Association | Jose Mateo Ballet theatre | Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill |
| Robert Couture | Rich Ardizzone | Lisa Davol |
| Vice President | Associate Director | Director |
| Boston Musicians' Association | Joy of Music | Turners Falls RiverCulture |
| Lynn Shane | Joyce Kulhawik | Debra A. Wise |
| Executive Director | Emmy Award winning A & E Critic | Artistic Director |
| Boston Singers' Resources | JoycesChoices | Underground Railway Theater |
| Ryan Losey | John Horan | Kippy Dewey |
| Director of Foundation and Government Relations | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra | Jubilate Chorale | Urban Improv |
| Joyce Kulhawik | Susan L. Smith | Betsi Graves |
| TV's Emmy Award Winning Arts and Entertainment Critic | Co-Founder | Executive Director |
| Boston Theater Critics Association, President | Kreisau Project | Urbanity Dance |
| Ty Furman | Karen Hasenfus | Stella McGregor |
| Managing Director, BU Arts Initiative | Operations and Events Manager | Executive and Artistic Director |
| Boston University | Larz Anderson Auto Museum | Urbano Project |
| Richard Maloney | Barbara Brown | Jason Turgeon |
| Assistant Director | Executive Director | Arts Organizer |
| Boston University Arts Administration Program | Lawrence History Center | USEPA |
| Cameron Sawzin | Polly Carpenter | Bronwen Hodgkinson |
| Chellist/ Executive Director | Program Director | Publisher |
| Boston Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra | Learning by Design | Valley Arts Newsletter |
| Jennifer Lecoq Mauch | Lisa Barr | Tom Saupe |
| Development Officer | Executive Director | Director |
| Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras | Longwood Symphony Orchestra | ValleyCAST |
| Chiara Marsoner | Spiro Veloudos | Nam Pham |
| Marketing Specialist | Producing Artistic Director | Executive Director |
| Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras | Lyric Stage Company | Viet Aid |
| Ron Mallis | LZ Nunn | Charles Washburn |
| Director | Principal | Executive Director |
| BostonAPP/Lab | LZ Nunn Consulting | VSA Massachusetts |
| Eileen Byrne | Deanna Elliot | Teri Bernert |
| Executive Director | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Brush Art Gallery & Studios | Marble Collection | Waterfront Historic Area League |
| Jason Weeks | David Nathans | Matthew Patrick |
| Executive Director | Executive Director | Executive Director |
| Cambridge Arts Council | Martha's Vineyard Museum | Westport River Watershed Alliance |
| Terry Byrne | Karen Heymann | Susan Newman |
| Director of Development | Legislative Director | Chair |
| Cambridge Center for Adult Education | Massachusetts Audubon Society | West Springfield Arts Council |
| Margaret Lazarus | David Tebaldi | Wendy Lement |
| Executive Director | Executive Director | Producer |
| Cambridge Documentary Films, Inc. | Mass Humanities | Wheelock Family Theatre |
| Elizabeth Bacon | William Belcher | Matthias Waschek |
| Founding Director, Worcester's Blackstone Canal Horse and Wagon Tours | Director of Development | Director |
| Canal District Alliance | MASS MoCA | Worcester Art Museum |
| Elaine Lipton | Laurin Macios | Honee Hess |
| Executive Director | Program Director | Executive Director |
| Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, Inc. | Mass Poetry | Worcester Center for Crafts |
| Gary Dunning | Robert Chambers | Tracy Kraus |
| President & Executive Director | Executive Director of Government and Community Relations | Executive Director |
| Celebrity Series of Boston | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Worcester Chamber Music Society |
| David Lavalley | Kay Sloan | Erin Williams |
| Executive Director | Board of Directors | Executive Director |
| Center for Arts in Natick | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Worcester Cultural Coalition |
| Catherine Carr-Kelly | Tracie Konopinski | Bill Wallace |
| Executive Director | Senior Campaign Organizer | Executive Director |
| Central Square Theater | MASSCreative | Worcester Historical Museum |
| Jennifer Johnson | Jonathan Secor | Mel Cobb |
| Co-Director | Director | Producing Artistic Director |
| Charlestown Working Theater | MCLA Berkshire Cultural Resource Center | Worcester Shakespeare Company |
| Donna Hassler | Elizabeth Barker | Robert Smyth |
| Executive Director | Director | President |
| Chesterwood | Mead Art Museum at Amherst College | Yellow Moon Press |
| Josiah Spaulding | Jean Mineo | Maryalice Sloan-Howitt |
| President & CEO | Chair | Executive Director |
| Citi Performing Arts Center | Medfield Cultural Council | Young Audiences |
| Larry Coen | Katherine DiMarca | Viraphanh Douangmany |
| Artistic Director | Interim General Humanities Chair | Board Co-chair |
| City Stage Co. Of Boston | Middlesex Community College | Youth Action Coalition |
| Steve Mailer | Sara M | John Linehan |
| Founding Artistic Director | Director of Marketing | President & CEO |
| Commonwealth Shakespeare Company | Midway Channel Gallery | Zoo New England |
| Eryn Johnson | Don Saunders | Madeleine Steczynski |
| Executive Director | Executive Artistic Director | Founder & Executive Director |
| Community Art Center | MIFA Victory Theatre | ZUMIX |
| Brent Parrish | MMK Litworks | Nina Eichner |
| Director of Development | Principal | Painter |
| Community Music Center of Boston | MMKLitworks | |
| Mark Hanson | ||
| Carol J. Sohn | Lisa Rafferty | Artist |
| Board President | Playwright-director-producer | |
| Concord Orchestra | MOMologues Productions | Andrea Humphrey |
| Arts Educator | ||
| Crispin Weinberg | Jo Broderick | |
| President | Dean of College Relations | June Krinsky-Rudder |
| Coolidge Corner Community Chorus | Montserrat College of Art | Artist/Art Educator |
| Suzan Redgate | Morocco Flowers | David Skillicorn |
| Executive Director | Artist | Artist/Art Educator |
| Copley Society of Art | Morocco Flowers Photographic Art | |
| Cecilia Yudin | ||
| David Kuehn | Lynn Gervens | Musician |
| Executive Director | Executive Director | |
| Cotuit Center for the Arts | Mudflat Pottery School | |
