Family Day
A cloudy day with impending rain cleared up and welcome sun arrived along with families, children and a variety of art activities! Thanks to the following members for volunteering their time, energy and talent to represent CCIAEA, increase our visibility and provide children both 2D and 3D hands-on creative experiences: Craig Brodt (ceramic whistles) Ursula Coté (mural painting) Lee Connolly Weill (booth and setup) Lisa Fox (booth and take-down) Linda McNeill-Kemp (Family Day coodinator and Education Director) Kathy Meyers (booth and take-down) Nate Olin (computer generated expressive portraits) Dan Springer (booth and set up)
Kudos to Nate Olin who brought his laptop, printer, projector, paper, frames and button maker and gave the children a perspective of digital technology as a creative medium. Nate worked through some technical difficulties to ensure a great experience. Much appreciated,
especially with the "iffy" weather.
Family Day Photos
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An Update on Arts Advocacy in Massachusetts
Friends,
You know that when times get tough, the arts, sciences and humanities are even more important to your lives and to the vibrancy of Massachusetts. Arts and cultural organizations educate our children, fuel our economy and give us precious moments of beauty, insight and community. Culture creates real jobs and draws visitors to our state. The modest investments our state and our country makes in arts and culture are returned many times over. Yet today, arts and culture are under threat.
Over the last year, a coalition of cultural leaders and committed residents from across our state worked with the Boston Foundation and the board of MAASH (Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Science and Humanities) to develop a strong, sustainable grassroots advocacy organization with one goal: to amplify our voices as we make a strong case for culture.
Last summer, more than 1,300 of you—artists, audience members, employees of cultural organizations—responded to a survey designed to inform our work. The thoughts and ideas you shared gave us a strong framework for advocacy across the Commonwealth.
Here’s what you told us:
- Arts and cultural education for all children, both in and out of school, teaches the creativity that is central to 21st century jobs, making support for arts education an investment in everyone’s future;
- All residents—regardless of income, age, ability or geography—deserve opportunities to engage in arts and culture;
- By creating a positive business environment for artists and creative entrepreneurs, the entire economy will benefit; and
- Consistent funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council and ongoing support of the Cultural Facilities Fund are critical to maximize the positive impact of arts and culture on our communities.
You also urged us to build an advocacy organization that includes artists, nonprofits, community and educational organizations, as well as creative entrepreneurs and for-profit creative businesses. Our new advocacy organization must be broadly representative of the entire state and its diverse population, you said.
We listened. In the next few months, we will launch MassCreative. This member-driven organization will take up the work of MAASH and go even further to engage and serve a broader constituency of nonprofits, artists, audiences, creative entrepreneurs and for-profit cultural businesses—everyone who believes in the power of arts and culture to create a strong, vibrant Massachusetts.
You’ll hear more about how you can join MassCreative and make your voice heard. In the meantime, please continue to log on to www.MAASH.org and use the “Find Your Legislator & Take Action” tab to advocate that Congress and the State House continue to support arts and culture.
Thank you for your commitment to a creative Massachusetts.
Sincerely,
Barbara Schaffer Bacon
Co-Director, Animating Democracy, Americans for the Arts
Erin Callanan
Board, MAASH
Principal, Callanan & Klein Communications
Helena Fruscio
Director, Berkshire Creative Economy Council
Judith Hoglander
Board, MAASH
Nancy Johnsen, Esq.
Co-Chair of the Board, MAASH
Veronique LeMelle
Executive Director, Boston Center for the Arts
Greg Liakos
Communications Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council
Joyce Linehan
Owner, Ashmont Media
Keith Mahoney
Director of Public Affairs, The Boston Foundation
Ann McQueen
Consultant to MassCreative
Catherine Peterson
Executive Director, ArtsBoston
Jonathan Rappaport
Executive Director, Arts|Learning
Javier Torres
Director, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts
Member, Boston Cultural Council
Jason Weeks
Executive Director, Cambridge Arts Council
Erin Williams
Cultural Development Officer, City of Worcester
Celeste Wilson
Chair of the Board, MAASH |
