SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS IN MA: JOIN OUR 2026 COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
Image of participant at a 2024 South Coast Community Conversation. Photography by Colleen MacRamos, New Bedford Creative.
At MASSCreative, we know that policy advocacy is strongest when it is rooted directly in the lived experiences of artists, cultural workers, creative business owners, and advocates across Massachusetts.
This fall, we are hitting the road for our biannual Community Conversations: a statewide series of regional and local gatherings designed to listen, learn, and organize for the upcoming legislative session. The insights, challenges, and solutions shared at these sessions will directly shape our collective 2027–2028 Creative Sector Agenda and legislative priorities.
Whether you are an independent artist, arts administrator, nonprofit board member, cultural planner, or a community advocate, these conversations are your platform to share what your local creative ecosystem needs to thrive.
WHAT WE’RE DISCUSSING THIS YEAR
At each convening, attendees will have focused discussions covering four key policy pillars:
Affordable Creative Space & Housing: Preserving work/live spaces, studios, and venues amidst rising real estate costs and pressures.
Creative Workforce Development: Ensuring fair compensation, benefits, and sustainable career pathways for cultural workers.
Arts & Education / Creative Youth Development: Expanding equitable access to arts education across public schools and youth-serving organizations.
Arts & Health: Integrating creative practices into community health, wellness, and municipal public health strategies.
These conversations will not be limited to these topics! There will be opportunities for participants to discuss other conditions that are impacting the health of the sector and possible solutions.
FALL 2026 REGIONAL SCHEDULE
This community feedback process only works if there’s strong participation from the sector. Please plan to attend one of the in-person or virtual Community Conversations and share this opportunity with people in your networks who are committed to building a stronger arts and cultural ecosystem in Massachusetts.
Below are the scheduled 2026 Community Conversation dates. Stay tuned if you don’t see your region listed yet - additional regions and dates will be added to the calendar soon!
CONVENING DATES:
*In order of date
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
Date & Time: Thursday, October 29th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Location: The Colonial Theater, Pittsfield
GREATER BOSTON
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 4th from 6 - 8 PM
Location: The Foundry, Cambridge
GREATER MERRIMACK VALLEY
Date & Time: Thursday, November 12th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Location: Creative Haverhill Gallery, Haverhill
METROWEST
Date & Time: Saturday, November 14th from 2 - 4 PM
Location: GEMS @ The Arts, Framingham
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Register for an Event Near You: Attendance is free, but pre-registration helps us plan breakout groups and accessibility accommodations. Visit the individual event pages linked above or on our Events Calendar to sign up.
Spread the Word: Invite fellow artists, cultural leaders, Local Cultural Council members, and others in your network to join the discussion.
Keep an Eye Out for New Dates: We are continuing to schedule additional regional stops throughout the fall and early winter. Watch for emails and social media posts from MASSCreative for information about new locations and dates.
