Creative Sector Day at the State House | | Dr. Annis Sengupta, Lafayette Cruise, and Abbey Judd from MAPC’s Arts and Culture team joined Creative Sector Advocacy Day at the State House to support policy priorities for Massachusetts' creative economy | | |
On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, MAPC joined MASSCreative, the Mass Cultural Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, the New England Museum Association, Mass Humanities, and MassArt to host Creative Sector Advocacy Day at the State House. The event featured an inspirational speaking program, including remarks from Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, acrobatic and musical performances, art displays, and the release of the Governor’s Creative Economy Policy Advisory Council’s report and recommendations.
MAPC Executive Director, Marc Draisen closed out the speaking program for Creative Sector Advocacy Day at the State House with a call to action and instructions for how the artists and creatives in attendance can best advocate for the needs of the sector with their legislators. Director of Arts and Culture Annis Sengupta was also in attendance along with members of her team.
| | Community Foundation for MetroWest: ARTbuilds Community Conversations | | |
On May 9, 2025 MAPC and the Community Foundation for MetroWest kicked off a series community listening sessions. These dialogues explore aspects of the region’s art and culture ecosystem, strengths, challenges, and opportunities for investment. These discussions will help define arts and culture and support the work of the Community Foundation’s ARTbuilds MetroWest, a partnership with the Barr Foundation's Creative Commonwealth Initiative.
For more information and to register for upcoming listening sessions here
| | Connecting with Jenn Chang on Arts & Public Policy | | Members of the MAPC Arts and Culture team with Jenn Chang (third from left), and Dee Schneidman of NEFA (far right), following a rich conversation about arts leadership, public sector strategy, and creative sector support. | | On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Jenn Chang joined MAPC for a Lunch & Learn session with staff, including the Arts & Culture team. Formerly Chief of Staff at the National Endowment for the Arts under the Biden Administration, Jenn is now back in the Boston area. Her visit was a chance to exchange ideas and reflect on the role of public agencies in supporting the creative sector. We’re excited she’s here and we have the opportunity to actively learn from her experience and insight. | | Chinatown History Trail Highlights Community-Led Preservation | | Lydia Lowe, Executive Director of the Chinatown Community Land Trust, at the trail’s Row Houses marker at 29 Oak St. Photo by Ian MacLellan for Preservation Magazine. | | |
The Creative Sector Summit is an annual convening of cultural thought leaders, artists, creatives, policy advocates, educators, culture bearers, arts administrators, teaching artists, and public officials.
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
Location: Northampton Center for the Arts
Time: Doors will open at 10 AM for networking and a light breakfast. The formal program will run from 11 AM to 5 PM.
For more information and to register here.
| | | Call for Artists: Our Energy Future | | |
The City of Framingham and Town of Natick are seeking an artist or artist team to design and lead two participatory public art projects that inspire action on local energy goals.
Projects will connect to the theme Our Energy Future and engage residents and businesses around building decarbonization.
Application Deadline: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
View the full Call for Artists here.
| | Call for Artist: Town of Reading | | |
The town of Reading is launching an exciting initiative to bring creative and engaging public art to Downtown! The goal? To make the district more vibrant, eye-catching, and fun while encouraging visitors to explore and support the local community. The town seeks sculptures, models, casts, and other physical art installations across key downtown locations.
Funding amount: Up to $35,000
Application Deadline: June 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
For more information or to apply here
| | Herbert and Louise Whitney Fund Community Preservation Grants Program | | |
Historic New England seeks applications for inclusive preservation projects and initiatives that advance understanding of the full story of their community’s people, places, and history.
Funding amount: $1,250
Application Deadline: July 31, 2025
For more information or to apply here.
| | Bring Free Concerts to Your Community! | | |
Applications are now open nationwide for Levitt Music Series Grants to activate underused public spaces and build community through the power of free, live music.
Levitt Music Series Grants are an exciting, multi-year matching grant bringing the joy of free outdoor concerts to towns and cities across the country, creating vibrant, inclusive community destinations. For the 2026–2028 grant cycle, the Levitt Foundation will award U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits up to $40K per year, for a total grant award of up to $120K over three years, to present 7-10 free concerts per year.
Application deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025.
For more information or to apply here.
| | | | Looking to connect with like-minded practitioners across the country? Contact asengupta@mapc.org for more information. | | |
MAPC's Arts and Culture Department delivers technical assistance in emerging practice areas including cultural planning, creative placemaking, creative community development, arts and cultural data collection and analysis, and cultural policy.
We help cities and towns with policies, programs, and staffing that help arts and cultural assets grow and thrive by providing technical assistance with the full range of arts and culture planning issues – community development, economic development, public health, and the built and natural environment. The department's services include municipal and regional planning work, research projects, and the delivery of trainings that build planner expertise in arts, culture, and creativity.
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