October 27, 2014—MASSCreative announced today that leaders and supporters of arts and culture met with Candidate for State Rep. Marty Green in Northbridge to discuss the candidate’s vision for the creative community in the 9th Worcester district.
The candidate described how the arts not only bring quality of life to the Blackstone Valley, but also economic value. In founding the Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival, Green said he saw how these types of events bring the community together and help drive people to the Blackstone Valley.
The candidate also described how his personal experience with the arts began when he was young, in attending Drum Corp International Competitions and seeing his father drum in the Drum and Bugle Corps. He added that as Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, he saw how arts and culture helped to drive tourism in the Blackstone Valley.
The candidate said he supports growing the Massachusetts Cultural Council budget and the Cultural Facilities Fund, and emphasized the importance of funding organizations and projects of varying size and geographic scope.
Tom Saupe, Director of Community Outreach at Alternatives, who attended the meeting, spoke about how important the Cultural Facilities Fund has been to Alternatives in acquiring and restoring the Whitin Mill, a once out of work mill. Now, Whitin Mill houses the Singh Performance Center and the Aldrich Heritage Art Gallery and allows Alternatives to offer residential, employment, day and outpatient counseling services to people with developmental or psychiatric disabilities throughout Central Massachusetts.
“Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Massachusetts support more than 45,000 jobs, spend $2.1 billion annually, and generate another $2.5 billion of economic activity,” said Matt Wilson, Executive Director of MASSCreative. “We see the impact of the arts locally here in Grafton, Northbridge, and Upton through the work of the local cultural councils, which make the arts accessible to young children, students, families, and older adults. They also help support working artists. We look forward to working with lawmakers in the next legislative session to ensure that the Commonwealth is getting the most out of its investment in the arts.”
Arts leaders met with Green at Alternatives in Whitinsville on Friday, October 17. MASSCreative is meeting with candidates through the Create the Vote Coalition—a collaboration of Massachusetts arts, cultural, and creative institutions convened by MASSCreative. The Create the Vote Coalition is also asking candidates for governor and state legislative office to fill out an arts questionnaire. You can read Green’s answers to the Create the Vote candidate questionnaire here.
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.
