A SNAPSHOT OF OUR WORK IN 2025
Image from the AAPI Arts & Culture Legislative Briefing at the State House, hosted by The Asian Community Fund. Photography by Nicole Loeb Photography.
We need your help to sustain this power-building in 2026.
Make a year-end gift to MASSCreative today by visiting our give page.
MASSCREATIVE’S 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW: BUILDING POWER ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS’ CREATIVE SECTOR
In 2025, MASSCreative invested in the simple but powerful belief that when creatives are organized, informed, and supported, they can shape policy, strengthen communities, and protect the cultural ecosystem we all rely on.
This year, we worked across the state to reduce barriers to advocacy, respond to urgent federal challenges, and grow long-term civic power in the creative sector. Thanks to our partners, supporters, and thousands of creatives who showed up, 2025 marked one of our most impactful years yet.
A STATEWIDE MOVEMENT BY THE NUMBERS
Across Massachusetts, creatives, cultural workers, and allies engaged with MASSCreative at remarkable levels:
406+ registrants for Creative Sector Day at the State House
476 registrants for virtual Organizing Huddles in response to federal actions
901 FY26 budget advocacy letter signers
489 Creative Sector Agenda bill endorsers
944 total registrants for Create the Vote candidate forums
190 registrants for eight Artivist Town Halls
11 Advocacy & Organizing Fellows in the 2024–2025 cohort
37+ community members supported in testifying on Creative Sector Agenda bills
134+ registrants for the 2025 Creative Sector Summit in Northampton
Each number reflects a growing, connected advocacy network.
Check out our snapshots! Click to view the file for your region.
Don’t see your region listed above? We’d love to partner with you in 2026!
INSPIRING ACTIVISM THROUGH CREATIVE SECTOR ADVOCACY WEEK
Since 2024, MASSCreative has facilitated an annual Creative Sector Advocacy Week to raise visibility on the sector’s vibrancy and contributions to civic and economic vitality in Massachusetts. In 2025, the impact was clear:
69.4% of survey respondents reported feeling more confident advocating for issues they care about after participating
30.5% joined Advocacy Week trainings, with 72.7% reporting that they learned applicable advocacy skills
10 local activations, up from just two in 2024
112 participants in training webinars: a 49% increase year over year
We also launched a new sponsored bus and transportation program with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Essex County Community Foundation, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and SouthCoast Community Foundation. Together, they provided 94 advocates with free transportation to the State House for Creative Sector Day, removing a critical access barrier for participation.
Image of youth Circus Up performers at Creative Sector Day at the State House 2025. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
RESPONDING TO FEDERAL ACTIONS
In response to federal funding losses and policy shifts, MASSCreative quickly mobilized. We hosted three virtual organizing huddles, conducted an impact survey, facilitated direct conversations between creative sector leaders and state officials, and worked with committee chairs to organize an oversight hearing on lost federal funding to arts, culture, and humanities organizations.
476 individuals registered for one or more organizing huddles
Participants consistently described MASSCreative as a trusted convener for advocacy planning
Findings from our impact survey were cited in a New York Times article examining how museums nationwide are responding to these challenges
89 organizations throughout New England responded to the federal impact survey we conducted with Arts4NH, CT Arts Alliance, and the Cultural Alliance of Maine. We shared these findings at the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability and Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development oversight hearing.
This work ensures that Massachusetts creatives are not only supported, but heard during moments of national uncertainty.
Image of Emily Ruddock testifying at the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability oversight hearing.
THE CREATIVE SECTOR SUMMIT CONTINUES TO GROW
We held our second annual Creative Sector Summit in Northampton in June, bringing together nearly 134+ attendees and 17 community and event sponsors. This program continues to grow with each passing year.
Participants praised the Summit for featuring leaders “speaking from the ground,” sharing real-world experiences rooted in local communities. The Summit strengthened connections across disciplines and geographies while building the organizing capacity of cultural leaders statewide.
Image of organizers from Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition at the 2025 Creative Sector Summit. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
CREATE THE VOTE: STRENGTHENING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH CULTURE
Cultivating arts and culture champions in public office remains central to our mission. In 2025, MASSCreative organized and partnered on multiple Create the Vote candidate forums. We’re proud of the turnout we achieved this year:
750+ registrants for the Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture
194 registrants for the Somerville Mayoral Forum
A host committee of 29 creative businesses and organizations
Youth organizers participated through a partnership with Teen Empowerment
These forums helped candidates and voters alike engage deeply with arts and culture as essential public issues, not luxuries.
Image of a conversation between Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Jared Bowen, host of GBH’s The Culture Show, at the 2025 Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester. Photography by Lauren Miller Photography.
ONWARD TO 2026
None of this work happens in isolation. It’s made possible by a broad coalition of partners, donors, and community members who believe in a thriving creative sector for Massachusetts.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue building momentum together. Save the dates for:
Creative Sector Advocacy Week: March 2–6, 2026
Creative Sector Day at the State House: March 3, 2026
Creative Sector Summit: June 12, 2026, in New Bedford
Your support fuels this work and ensures that creatives across the Commonwealth have the tools, access, and power they need to shape our shared future. Thank you for taking action, showing up in your communities, and donating to advance this work.
Let’s keep it going.
