BOSTON, October 15, 2013—Create the Vote, a coalition of Boston arts, cultural, and creative institutions, announced today that it will host public meetings with Boston mayoral finalists John Connolly and Marty Walsh. Joyce Kulhawik, President of the Boston Theater Critics Association and JoycesChoices.com, will moderate both meetings. The public is invited to attend.
The Create the Vote Forum with Marty Walsh will be held Friday, October 18 at the African Meeting House of the Museum of African American History at 46 Joy Street on Beacon Hill. The event will run from 9-10AM. The public is invited to arrive by 8:30AM for breakfast.
The Create the Vote Forum with John Connolly will be held Friday, October 25 at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, 85 West Newton Street in the South End. Villa Victoria is a program of IBA-Inquilinos Boricuas En Acción. The event will run from 4:15-5:15 PM. The public is invited to arrive by 3:45.
“We have unprecedented commitments from both candidates to integrate arts and cultural policy plans into city planning and development,” said Matt Wilson, executive director of MASSCreative, the convening member of the Create the Vote Coalition. “Both candidates have also pledged to invest in arts and cultural initiatives and to lead by example by convening community leaders and attending events.”
“This is an exciting moment for our city,” said Beverly Morgan-Welch, executive director of the Museum of African American History. “Arts and cultural organizations are collaborating together as never before. We know we can play a critical role in solving some of the challenging issues facing the city, and we are excited to join the conversation.”
“Art builds community,” said Elizabeth Pabón-Szebeda, the Director of Arts at IBA–Inquilinos Boricas En Acción. “We know that arts and cultural activities increase learning among students from all backgrounds and can be critical tools for reducing youth violence. We are excited to join with the next mayor of Boston to create and implement a strategic vision to the city’s approach to arts and culture.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for the public to hear directly from the candidates about their vision for the arts in Boston,” said Catherine Peterson, executive director of ArtsBoston and a member of the MASSCreative Board of Directors.
With the mayoral race coming down to the last few weeks, the Create the Vote coalition wants the creative community to meet the next Mayor of Boston. To date, the work of the coalition has earned unprecedented commitments from both candidates to integrate arts and cultural policy plans into city planning and development. Both candidates have also pledged to invest in arts and cultural initiatives and to lead by example by convening community leaders and attending events. These two public meetings will allow the candidates to talk in more depth about their plans for the arts as the next Mayor of Boston.
For more information about the coalition and the Create the Vote campaign, visit Mass-Creative.org.
Follow @MassCreative on Twitter and Instagram
Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/MASSCreativeOrg
###
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.
