From Worcester to Duxbury: Arts Matter 
In celebration of the myriad of cultural happenings in Massachusetts, the MASSCreative team hit the road to see how arts organizations around the state were celebrating Arts Matter Day, their way.
Boston – On the eve of Arts Matter Day, MASSCreative joined Create the Vote coalition partner, ZUMIX, and other youth arts groups for Teen Night – an evening geared towards the teen crowd at the Institute of Contemporary Art. MASSCreative hung out with the young museum-goers, taking Arts Matter pictures and asking why arts matter to them. The ICA Teens groups provided free admittance to teens, and conducted interactive projects in the main lobby, including an especially popular activity: fort building. Later in the evening, teen groups performed, including some of ZUMIX’s talented crew, Miyagi and the Kids and Nick Shea.
Boston - The city was buzzing about Illuminus and the interactive light show happening in SoWa, and Saturday night, the MASSCreative team was there to round out celebration of Arts Matter Day. Illuminus featured spectacular light projections on buildings, live music, and interactive projects for festival-goers, all which had to be seen to be believed. Check our Instagram for videos and pictures to get a taste of the excitement. In between performances, MASSCreative took Arts Matter photos with many members of the engaged, arts-loving crowd. We were happy to see many familiar faces, including one of the key players in making the event happening, Ron Mallis of Boston APP/Lab. Thanks again to Jeff Gantz of Illuminus for working with us to celebrate Arts Matter Day!
Cambridge - In the evening we headed to the Central Square Theater in Cambridge for a performance of the highly praised "A Disappearing Number.” The Central Square theater is home to 2 award winning theater companies and has become a model of a community integrated arts and culture hub. Many in the crowd had already heard about the campaign - and proudly sported their #ArtsMatter buttons while patiently standing in line to take a picture with our "Arts Matter Because…” whiteboard. The Central Square Theater staff was great and the head usher put a passionate personal twist on the #ArtsMatter curtain speech before the show which got nearly everyone in the audience to text their support via our mobile #ArtsMatter Pledge number. Thank you to Executive Director Catherine Carr Kelly for inviting us and showing your support on #ArtsMatterDay!
Hingham and Duxbury—Kelsey Roggensack, Campaign Organizer at MASSCreative journeyed to the South Shore Conservatory of Music (SSC), where the staff celebrated Arts Matter Day on October 24th by reaching out to over 1,000 students and families at both locations. The age of students ranged from as young as infants to students over 100 years of age and everyone in-between. The SSC spread the message that Arts Matter through classes, workshops, music therapy programs, performances, and an open mic night, with a special emphasis on arts in education. The SCC engaged their networks statewide with Twitter, Facebook, the SSC website, and by posting photographs and Arts Matter messages throughout the Hingham and Duxbury locations.
Worcester – MASSCreative celebrated Arts Matter Day with Music Worcester at their opening night performance on Friday at the stunning Mechanics Hall. The Worcester Chorus and the Arcadia Players performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, known especially for its uplifting “Ode to Joy” movement. It was a festive community celebration with a full-capacity crowd. The program included a ‘Create the Vote’ insert and MASSCreative had a table at intermission. Most who visited the table were learning about MASSCreative for the first time. Midge Hamilton, Marketing Director with Music Worcester, took an ‘Arts Matter’ photo by responding to the question, “The Arts Matter because” with “What is life without Beethoven?” And, as usual, our campaign swag was a huge crowd-pleaser.
