At MASSCreative, we know that policy advocacy is strongest when it is rooted directly in the lived experiences of artists, cultural workers, creative business owners, and advocates across Massachusetts.

This fall, we are hitting the road for our biennial Community Conversations: a statewide series of regional and local gatherings designed to listen, learn, and organize for the upcoming legislative session. The insights, challenges, and solutions shared at these sessions will directly shape our collective 2027–2028 Creative Sector Agenda and legislative priorities.

Whether you are an independent artist, arts administrator, nonprofit board member, cultural planner, or a community advocate, these conversations are your platform to share what your local creative ecosystem needs to thrive.

WHAT WE’RE DISCUSSING THIS YEAR

At each convening, attendees will have focused discussions covering four key policy pillars:

Affordable Creative Space & Housing: Preserving work/live spaces, studios, and venues amidst rising real estate costs and pressures.

Creative Workforce Development: Ensuring fair compensation, benefits, and sustainable career pathways for cultural workers.

Arts & Education / Creative Youth Development: Expanding equitable access to arts education across public schools and youth-serving organizations.

Arts & Health: Integrating creative practices into community health, wellness, and municipal public health strategies.

These conversations will not be limited to these topics! There will be opportunities for participants to discuss other conditions that are impacting the health of the sector and possible solutions.