BOSTON, August 29, 2013—Yesterday, MASSCreative re-confirmed the participation of seven candidates running for mayor of Boston in the Create the Vote Coalition’s long-planned Mayoral Candidate Forum on Arts, Culture, and Creativity. A second mayoral debate, announced last week and organized by the Boston Herald, NECN, and Suffolk University, would have conflicted with the arts forum. After candidates pledged to keep their commitment to the Mayoral Candidate Forum on Arts, Culture, and Creativity, the media organizations changed the time of their debate so that it no longer interfered with the Mayoral Candidate Forum on Arts, Culture, and Creativity.
Matt Wilson, Executive Director of MASSCreative, the organizer of the Create the Vote Coalition, offered the following statement in response:
“We are pleased that all of the candidates running for mayor who had originally pledged to participate in the Boston Mayoral Candidate Forum on Arts, Culture, and Creativity kept their promise. This action, along with what we are learning from the candidates during our individual meetings with them, shows a deep and growing political commitment to the issues of arts, culture and creativity.
“When the debate conflict was publicized, artists, cultural leaders, and their supporters called and emailed candidates and used social media to urge candidates to keep their promise to attend the arts forum. This advocacy showed what the creative community can do when it uses its collective voice to demonstrate the importance that arts and culture plays in the fabric of our city.
“The creative sector is vital to the economic health of the region. It is one of the ways Boston can retain young innovators, reduce youth violence, and help students learn. We are looking forward to a deeper discussion of these issues September 9.
“We are also looking forward to a broader discussion of other issues impacting the city during the Boston Herald, NECN, and Suffolk University televised debate that will take place next door to the Paramount later that evening. It will be a dynamic and politically-charged evening on Washington Street on September 9 and the entire city will benefit as a result.”
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NOTE FOR EDITORS:
Mayoral candidates Felix Arroyo, John Barros, Robert Consalvo, John Connolly, Charlotte Golar Richie, Mike Ross, Marty Walsh, and Bill Walzcak have confirmed their attendance at the Mayoral Candidate Forum on Arts, Culture, and Creativity. More than 400 residents have RSVP’d for the event, including most of the nearly 60 arts and cultural leaders who signed an open letter to the candidates inviting them to the discussion, which is to be moderated by Joyce Kulhawik, President of the Boston Theater Critics Association and JoycesChoices.com. The event will take place at the Paramount Theatre on Washington Street on Monday, September 9 from 6-7:30pm. All members of the public are invited to attend.
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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.
