cultural mass.

GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES $7.4 MILLION IN MASS CULTURAL FACILITIES FUND GRANTS

2011-11-28T12:13:00.002-05:00

(Boylston, MA)—Governor Deval Patrick today announced $7.4 million in grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) to support building projects for nonprofit arts, heritage, and science organizations across the Commonwealth.

The new CFF investment will support repairs, improvements, and expansions for 54 cultural organizations that plan to invest nearly $275 million in their projects. Grants will range from $14,000 to $250,000. A full list of new grants can be found online.

“These grants will create new jobs in arts, culture, and tourism -- three pillars of our state’s creative economy,” said Governor Patrick. “These investments will support our cultural organizations and allow them to serve the public with quality programs that will enrich our communities for generations to come.”

CFF fuels a nonprofit creative sector that employs 27,100 people, spends $2.1 billion annually, and generates another $2.5 billion of economic activity across Massachusetts, according to a recent study by the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Organizations that received past CFF grants are spending more than $800 million on their building projects, and providing more than 11,000 building jobs, including architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers. They also plan to add more than 1,150 new permanent jobs after their capital projects are complete.

CFF grants have also helped restore many of our nation’s most historic landmarks and treasures, which in turn have brought more cultural tourists to Massachusetts. In 2008 and 2009, more than 14 million people visited organizations receiving these grants; nearly one third came from out-of-state.

State Senator Stephen Brewer of Barre spoke about the value of CFF investments for one of those organizations in his Central Mass. district. “Old Sturbridge Village has been a staple in the community for many years and is a driving force for visitors to the area,” said Brewer, who chairs the Senate Ways & Means Committee. “I applaud the Village for its hard work and the many improvements they have already made to make the visitor experience one to remember. The infrastructure improvements that will be made possible by this grant will ensure that the buildings, roads, and structures here will be preserved for generations of visitors to come.”

“We thank the Governor for his commitment to investing in our nonprofit cultural sector through CFF,” said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. “We are also grateful to Senator Brewer and his colleagues in the Legislature for providing the authority for these investments. Support for this program is strong because it is real economic stimulus for a sector that adds so much to our quality of life.”

“From Cape Cod to the Berkshires, investing in the Commonwealth’s cultural institutions makes economic sense,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “Working to maintain and improve these facilities will continue to draw visitors to Massachusetts and provide creative outlets and activities for residents. I thank Governor Patrick and the Legislature for their support of this program; MassDevelopment is pleased to partner with the Cultural Council on issuing these grants.”

About MCC
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. The MCC pursues this mission through of grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. Learn more at www.massculturalcouncil.org.

About MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development authority, works with businesses, nonprofits, and local, state, and federal officials and agencies to create jobs, increase the number of housing units, eliminate blight, and address the overarching challenges that limit economic growth, such as transportation, energy, and other infrastructure deficiencies. Learn more at www.massdevelopment.com.

Tourism U

2011-10-28T10:58:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism was in Northampton at the Hotel Northampton and presented Tourism U. Tourism U is a series of free presentation hosted around the state for the travel and tourism industry to increase its awareness of the programs that MOTT offers and encourage industry participation.

About 30 participants were in attendance for both or part of the two sessions offered by MOTT. The first, led by Betsy Larkin, MOTT's senior manager of international marketing, was a presentation on MOTT's international programs and an introduction to the agency's international partners. They included Julie Greenhill, Travel & Tourism Marketing, Ltd. (MOTT’s UK Travel Trade Rep) Doerte Buss, Buss Consulting (MOTT’s German Travel Trade & Press Rep) Sue Norrington-Davies, Managing Director, Discover New England. It was great for our area industry folks to learn just what our state tourism agency is doing on their behalf and how they can better get involved with MOTT and international programs. You can see some of the presentations online here.

The second presentation was by Lisa Strout, the director of the Massachusetts Film Office, who took the afternoon portion of the program. Lisa formerly led the New Mexico film office before coming to Massachusetts. It's clear the Commonwealth will have a strong champion in Lisa to bring more ever more film opportunities, in addition to helping MOTT create yet another tourism niche in film tourism. The Daily Hampshire Gazette had a below the fold cover story on Lisa's presentation in today's paper (subscription required).

I was encouraged to see many of our Hampshire RTC partners at the meeting. There certainly is great excitement around our increased tourism presence, which bodes well for future success.

High hopes for tourism

2011-10-17T15:05:00.001-04:00

originally published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette (October 10, 2011)

By Tony Maroulis and Suzanne Beck

On Sept. 16, the newly formed Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council hosted an event at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Betsy Wall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, was on hand to meet the region's hospitality and tourism industry and to announce the new council's first competitive grant award of $232,387 for the promotion of Hampshire County.

This exciting day for tourism in the upper Valley was made possible by the efforts of state Sen. Stan Rosenberg. In August 2010, Rosenberg successfully inserted a provision to create the Hampshire County RTC in Gov. Deval Patrick's economic development bill.

Over the past two decades, the senator has been a tireless promoter of the region's cultural tourism and attractions. Those of us in the business of marketing Hampshire County are excited for this moment and hope it will galvanize the industry and create real economic impact for our region. We thank Stan for his successful efforts on our behalf.

In the last fiscal year, the statewide Regional Tourism Council budget appropriation was increased to $6 million, up $3.5 million from the previous year. The commonwealth's increased investment in tourism is a wise move. Tourism marketing is one of the only state expenditures that generate revenue for state and local government. Through hotel and motel taxes and increased sales taxes, the visitor and tourism industry creates revenue to help those in need.

In the midst of the recession in 2009, the industry brought in over $900 million in revenue to the commonwealth. That same, regional tourism marketing drew millions of tourists who spent $14.4 billion - including $1.9 billion from international visitors - in Massachusetts.

And that was a year in which regional tourism promotion was cut 72 percent.

While the increased investment in tourism is heartening, the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council is now one of 16 agencies in the commonwealth, so the pie is ever more divided.

Both Rosenberg and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism are urging the new council to collaborate with the Pioneer Valley's other two tourism bureaus - the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. We hope to work smarter and more cooperatively than ever before to promote the entire region.

Recent data collected of tourist behavior to the Valley clearly demonstrates that visitors do not distinguish between county lines. Visitors staying in Hadley may very well visit Yankee Candle and the Basketball Hall of Fame while here for a lacrosse tournament at the University of Massachusetts. Families making a trip to Six Flags and staying in Springfield may very well visit the Eric Carle museum or Magic Wings in Deerfield during their stay.

Going forward, the work of the new council will include joint projects that we have committed to with our partners in Hampden and Franklin counties. But it will also include ideas and projects brought forth by our industry partners, many of whom have volunteered to be active on the council's board.

This group will have fiduciary oversight over grant activities and the responsibility that comes with that, including representing all 20 towns and cities in Hampshire County.

We look forward to the work of the next year, which is really the first truly cooperative regional project taken on by the Hampshire County Chambers.

It is our hope that this work will lead to more exposure and economic impact for our region.

Tony Maroulis is executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. Suzanne Beck is executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce.

Lots and lots of cultural news from this weekend

2011-10-17T08:48:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, while lunching at Amherst College after the inauguration ceremony of Carolyn "Biddy" Martin as the 19th Amherst College president, Amherst Select Board member Jim Wald asked me if I was still writing the Cultural Mass blog. I admitted, as I have more than a few times, I've not been posting much. But it's not for a lack of things to write about. It's a time management thing . . . But I better not talk about that too much.

Anyway, what's kind of interesting, is that the Daily Hampshire Gazette had a great editorial on the arts in the Valley today, and I had been thinking about writing on the same topic. After all, the Cultural Mass concept as a brand identity for Hampshire County, even before the recent creation of the Regional Tourism Council, came about largely due to the the sometimes overwhelming number events in an area of just over 200,000 residents. Adding that to the population of Hampden and Franklin counties and we're still at a population of only 775,000 or so. And yet, not only do we attract some of the greatest talent into our area for performances and exhibitions, we foster and create a whole lot of incredible work here, too.

There's talent in this Valley. Wicked good talent.

Where art knows no season was the title of today's editorial in the Gazette. Here's the lede and a few paragraphs as an excerpt.

Here in the Pioneer Valley, we're lucky to live in the midst of communities of artists who create and share their work at an astounding rate.

Pick a day, any day, and you'll find offerings in music - both classical and contemporary, exhibits of art in every medium, theater, dance, readings by authors, and films of the Hollywood and independent varieties.

It's no secret that the Valley has long been an artist's dreamscape, with its the plethora of art lovers and eager audiences, and endless opportunities to exhibit and perform. Thanks in part to the draw of the Five Colleges, local arts happenings expand even more in the fall, becoming as ubiquitous as falling leaves and political lawn signs.

Today, even with tough funding realities for artists and tighter pocketbooks for audiences, the local arts scene seems as vibrant as it was back in 2000, when Northampton was named "The Best Small Arts Town in America." Indeed, since then, the arts in other area communities have grown at such a rate that many of those towns could, no doubt, now give Northampton a run for its money in that regard.

The whole piece can be read here (Subscription required).

Just a few little shout-outs to what I had seen this weekend . . .

I do a little side gig as a critic for Artscope magazine, and while I haven't written for them in a while, I was assigned to cover an amazing exhibition of encaustic artists at the UMass Hampden Gallery. Shifting, curated by Amherst artist Sue Katz brought together 5 talented encaustic specialists in an exhibition that shifted from moody to exuberant. It's a terrific little show, and one of my favorite things this year. I love Sue Katz's work and the sense of fun that comes through in her constructs. It's really a must see.

Part of the splendid Idea Mill conference on Friday at Open Square in Holyoke was a scheduled art tour, and I checked out Matt Mitchell's haunting exhibition 100 Faces of War at the Canal Gallery. The exhibition is up through October. The faces of veterans - young and mature - and their moving first person accounts are heartbreaking, and Mitchell's sensitive treatment of the subject matter makes for the most moving anti-war statement that I've seen in some time. As for Idea Mill, I'll be writing more about that at the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce blog.

And finally, it's really too bad that the Brick + Mortar festival is only two days. Not only was the exhibition amazing, but the whole show was a love poem to Greenfield. Video art is challenging - one viewer I saw mentioned that in video art everything is ominous and scary, and that qualifies it as a legitimate form. She was being facetious. I happened to love this exhibition, except for the fact I had my two children in tow and not enough time to see everything. Hampshire College professor and Amherst resident Christoph Cox was curator of the fesitival, which featured an incredible sonic installation by Daniel Warner called Freeze-Frame. I sometimes struggle with video art myself, but this show was impeccably put together, with the one thread being sound and rhythm, which is Cox's thing, that bound and brought this show together. Even the ominous and scary video work had that quality and it freaked my kids out besides.

So, in all, a great weekend and the Gazette's piece was dead on. I'm hoping that I'll be able to provide a semi-regular recap of cool things around the Valley that I have seen. For my two or three readers out there . . . if you've got things to report, let me know. Send your reviews or ideas or feedback to me at tony@wunderarts.com.

Recent Opinion on the Formation of the Hampshire County RTC

2011-04-12T15:16:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Sen. Rosenberg and the efforts of many folks over the past two decades, the Hampshire County RTC is finally a reality. For those of us in the business of promoting Hampshire County, we're excited to galvanize the industry and create real economic impact for our region.

For those of you who missed the most recent Amherst Bulletin or are not in the subscription area, here are two recent pieces about the new Hampshire County RTC.

The first is from the Daily Hampshire Gazette Editorial staff: "A needed push on area tourism," reprinted in the Amherst Bulletin.

The second piece, also run last Friday, was from my monthly The Business of Amherst column: "Ready to roll on area tourism."
The title is courtesy of Gazette editor Larry Parnass, I think.

Amherst Ballet

2011-04-12T15:01:00.002-04:00

Forgive some local boosterism on a site where regionalism abounds. Amherst Ballet, our esteemed company founded in 1971, has recently received a Gold Star award from the Mass Cultural Council.

This from an email from Jane Wald, Executive Director of The Emily Dickinson Museum, and my former boss:

Just so you can see what a terrific impact this is having for Amherst, take a look at this opening page for Local Cultural Councils on the MCC website.

I suggest you do!

Coverage of the new Hampshire County RTC

2011-04-04T09:53:00.003-04:00

It has been some time since we've blogged in this space, but that's not for a lack of activity. I'll have more postings in the coming days and weeks, but, in brief, the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council was publicly launched in the past few weeks. Here's a little from the Gazette on the happening:

Daily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, MA)

March 28, 2011
Section: Local News

Towns, institutions team up to sell county

SCOTT MERZBACH Staff Writer

AMHERST - Like the rest of the Pioneer Valley, Hampshire County has a lot going for it: arts, culture, agriculture, hiking, biking, dining choices, and interesting people. A newly-formed tourism council aims to market those strengths. Just how to get the most from this council, known as the Hampshire County Tourism and Visitors Bureau, is the challenge confronting representatives of the local chambers of commerce in Amherst, Northampton and Easthampton who are taking the lead on the project.

State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, who did the legwork in Boston to create the council, said he has been hearing from constituents for close to 25 years about the need to have one in the county.

"This is an opportunity to start thinking regionally," said Suzanne Beck, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce.

She was one of about 75 people from the county's business community, including owners of hotels and restaurants, people affiliated with art museums and the University of Massachusetts, as well as local town officials, who gathered Friday to brainstorm how to market the county. The forum convened at the Campus Center Hotel at the University of Massachusetts.

"This is about finding those connections that the visitor is struggling to find," said Beck.

Tony Maroulis, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, noted that marketing the region as one entity is critical to getting visitors to take multiple trips to the county.

"The tourism council opens up much larger opportunities as a whole if we're speaking with one voice and working together this way," Maroulis said.

He said local efforts are supplemented and enhanced through regional promotion. For every dollar of money invested in promoting tourism, he said, there is an estimated $40 in revenue returned.

The Connecticut River, the Norwottuck Rail Trail, the numerous farms and locally grown food, the array of restaurants and the culture that includes movies, theater and concerts would be marketed to visitors.

Beck suggested that Hampshire County has strong links to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered travel market and to the so-called "foodie" market that could be strengthened more. Currently, there is only a minimal amount of the marketing share because it is difficult to get anyone's attention when chambers act in isolation.

"With so much fragmentation there's a lot of inefficiency," Beck said. "We're presenting a confusing picture to the traveler."

For the rest of the article, click here

Ballot questions: Question 3

2010-10-27T11:00:00.003-04:00

With the election coming up, the MCC has has sent out an email with their recommendation on Massachusetts Ballot Question 3, which would lower the state's income tax from 6.5 to 3%.

Dear Colleagues,

Despite their differences, all four candidates for Massachusetts Governor oppose Question 3 on the November 2 ballot. Opposition to this initiative has also united groups as diverse as the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

Question 3 would reduce the state's sales tax from 6.25 to 3 percent. Its passage will have an impact not only on arts and culture, of course, but on public education, housing and community development, health care, and many other core services for Massachusetts residents.

As such, the cultural community has a big stake in whether this question passes or fails at the polls.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council urges everyone who cares about the health and vitality of our communities to learn more about Question 3 as well as the other two ballot questions between now and Election Day. We recommend the independent Mass. Taxpayers Foundation at http://www.masstaxpayers.org/ for reliable information and thoughtful analysis on the impact of Question 3.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Anita Walker
Executive Director
Massachusetts Cultural Council

Easthampton and the Creative Economy

2010-07-15T10:59:00.003-04:00

There's a great profile of Easthampton in the July 5 version of Business West. The town - a real gem - and its creative economy get the treatment in the piece by Dan Chase.

A few years ago, my wife and I considered a move to Easthampton, for its burgeoning arts scene and affordablity. We stayed on our side of the Connecticut River because we had established some firm roots and we were closer to more of the institutional arts organizations that employed us at the time - the Emily Dickinson Museum and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. But I've often thought it would be fun to live in town and work in Easthampton's energetic mills.

Easthampton is an awesome little city, and some terrific tourist-y activity has been happening in the last few years, notably last year's Bearfest, which we blogged on. Easthampton City Arts coordinated by Brianna Taylor has done a great job in coordinating these efforts and getting needed grant funding from the Mass Cultural Council (and following that up with pivotal local matching funds).

Finally, the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, led by Eric Snyder, whose dapper visage graces the print version of the article, has been an important partner in the town's creative economy initiatives. The city, like Northampton before it, proves that the arts are a vital mechanism for smart growth and better living. From the easel comes a number of opportunities - the refurbishment of unused space, cultural activity, diverse investment, and desirability.

Casino Gambling Near Gettysburg

2010-07-15T10:51:00.002-04:00

From Preservation magazine, a profile on Gettysburg, PA, also struggling with the issue of Casinos and their impact:

Roll of the Dice
Gettysburg, Pa., the site of the bloodiest battle in the American Civil War, is once again embroiled in controversy.

At issue is a new casino proposed for a location just half a mile from the site where Union troops pushed back Confederate forces and turned the tide of war. In 2005, preservationists and residents led a grassroots effort to defeat a similar casino proposal.

More

Legislature Approves Cultural Districts, Index to Measure Creativity in Schools

2010-07-12T12:10:00.000-04:00

Legislature Approves Cultural Districts, Index to Measure Creativity in Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2010

Contact: Gregory Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343

(Boston, MA)—The Massachusetts House of Representatives joined the Senate on Wednesday in passing measures to establish state-sponsored cultural districts and explore ways to measure how schools foster student creativity. The provisions were part of broader legislation designed to advance economic development in Massachusetts and reorganize state government agencies.

Differences remain between the House and Senate versions of the bill that must be reconciled through a conference committee before it goes to the Governor for his approval. The legislative session ends July 31.

The House bill would establish a program to create state-sponsored cultural districts, distinctive areas of a community in which a high concentration of cultural facilities and programs serve as an anchor for activity and commerce. The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) would manage the program and set guidelines with input from the public and other state agencies.

The cultural districts provision was spearheaded by Rep. John Keenan of Salem, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, with support from Reps. Steve Walsh of Lynn, Ann-Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester, and Kay Khan and Ruth Balser of Newton. It had the backing of House Economic Development Committee Chair Brian Dempsey of Haverhill and Speaker Robert DeLeo of Winthrop. A similar measure filed by Senator Stan Rosenberg of Amherst passed the Senate earlier this spring.

The House bill would also establish a commission to study how schools foster student creativity. Entitled the Creative Challenge Index, the measure would set up a commission to develop an index that would “rate every public school in the Commonwealth on teaching, encouraging, and fostering creativity in students.” The MCC would have a seat on the commission along with representatives from organizations involved in education, business, advocacy, and public policy.

That provision was spearheaded by Rep. Martha Walz of Boston, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, and cosponsored by Reps. Keenan, Walsh, and Dan Bosley of North Adams. The Creative Challenge Index has been a central advocacy goal of the Mass. Advocates for Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (MAASH) and Arts|Learning.

"This is great news," said MCC Executive Director Anita Walker. "The strong support shown for these measures demonstrates that the Legislature truly views arts and culture as key to the state's economic recovery.

“Cultural districts will give cities and towns new tools to expand participation in cultural activities, revitalize commercial districts, and draw new visitors to arts venues. And the creative challenge index has the potential to reinforce the importance of arts education and creative learning in our schools."

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. The MCC pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more go to www.massculturalcouncil.org.

Senate Gambling Bill Includes Provisions for Arts & Culture

2010-07-12T12:02:00.001-04:00

More on this in another post with some commentary . . .

Senate Gambling Bill Includes Provisions for Arts & Culture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2010

Contact: Gregory Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343

(Boston, MA)—Last week the state Senate approved provisions to mitigate the impact of casinos on the nonprofit cultural sector as part of its bill to expand gambling in Massachusetts.

The Senate bill must now be reconciled with the House version through a conference committee that was established today. A final bill must then pass both chambers and then go to the Governor, who can sign or veto it before the legislative session ends July 31.

Please watch for an advisory from the Massachusetts Advocates for Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (MAASH) for instructions on how to advocate to ensure that the final legislation sent to the Governor has the most benefit for the nonprofit cultural sector.

The Senate gambling legislation would:

Establish a cultural mitigation fund that could generate an estimated $6 million to $10 million annually, beginning in several years when casinos are officially licensed and operating. That represents 2% of the proposed tax on gross gaming revenues. Separate mitigation funds are designated for other purposes, including gambling addiction treatment and other community needs. The amount set aside for the cultural sector is roughly twice that proposed in the House bill.
Establish a subcommittee on cultural facilities as part of a broader gaming advisory board that would recommend regulations to mitigate casinos' impact on nonprofit performing arts centers.
Ensure that performances in casino entertainment venues with more than 1,000 seats be reviewed and approved by that subcommittee, which would include representation from the MCC and the nonprofit performing arts community.
The MCC has worked closely with advocates from the Hanover Theatre in Worcester and other nonprofit performing arts centers to ensure that those centers are protected from unfair competition from casino entertainment. We also believe a portion of future revenues from casinos should support the broader, nonprofit cultural sector.

State Senate President Pro Tempore Stan Rosenberg of Amherst was among the chief architects of the bill, and was vocal in his support for arts and culture. The amendments supporting the arts were filed by Senator Harriette Chandler of Worcester and co-sponsored by Senators Stephen Brewer of Barre, Benjamin Downing of Pittsfield, Michael Moore of Millbury, and Jennifer Flanagan of Leominster. Senators Steven Panagiotakos of Lowell and Karen Spilka of Framingham were also leading voices on behalf of the cultural sector.

The Senate also approved a separate amendment filed by Senator Jack Hart of Boston that would require the gaming industry to annually report to the Legislature on the effects of gambling on the Commonwealth’s tourism industry.

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. The MCC pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more go to www.massculturalcouncil.org.

Governor Signs State Budget with $9.1 Million for Arts & Culture through MCC

2010-07-12T11:05:00.002-04:00

Governor Signs State Budget with $9.1 Million for Arts & Culture through MCC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2010

Contact: Gregory Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343

(Boston, MA) Governor Deval Patrick signed a state budget for the new fiscal year today that allocates $9.1 million to support the arts, humanities, and sciences through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).

The budget reduces state support for arts and culture by $600,000 for fiscal year 2011, which begins tomorrow. The Governor vetoed $151,000 in contingency funding that would have been available to MCC and its grant programs only if the state is reimbursed by the federal government for Medicaid expenses. In all the Governor vetoed $457 million in this contingency spending across state government. The Legislature may choose to override those vetoes.

“Funding cuts are never good news, especially at a time when many of our nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, and communities are still feeling the effects of the recession,” said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. “Nevertheless, state government faced tremendous financial pressure this year, and there were very few public programs that were spared cutbacks.

“On behalf of the MCC and its Board, I extend our thanks to the many cultural leaders, artists, educators, and individual citizens who advocated on our behalf during the budget debate.”

State support for arts and culture is less than half of levels reached a decade ago. The MCC is working with the Boston Foundation, the Mass. Advocates for Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (MAASH), and a coalition of cultural leaders from across the state, to build a strong advocacy network to reverse these cuts and position the cultural sector for greater support in future years. We will share more information on this effort in the coming months.

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. The MCC pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more go to www.massculturalcouncil.org.

Take This Survey (read on!)

2010-07-12T10:53:00.001-04:00

Greetings,

Please help us strengthen arts and culture in Massachusetts by filling out this brief survey. It should take no more than 10 minutes. You are also welcome to forward this survey to friends and colleagues.

http://www.tbf.org/SelectSurvey/TakeSurvey.asp?SurveyID=7LJ684435n31G

Our state's arts and cultural life has never been so important. Arts and cultural organizations educate our children, fuel our economy and give us precious moments of beauty, insight and community. To assure that our arts and cultural life remains vibrant and productive, the Boston Foundation and the board of MAASH (Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Science and Humanities) have joined with cultural leaders and interested residents across our state to describe and develop a strong and sustainable advocacy organization. Your views about what statewide arts and cultural advocacy should look like in Massachusetts is very important to the future vitality of the state's arts and cultural life.

Thank you for your time and attention to this brief survey. We look forward to your response. We will release our findings in the fall.

Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO, The Boston Foundation
Celeste Wilson, Chair of the Board, MAASH

Legislature Budgets $9.25 Million for Arts & Cultural Funding through MCC

2010-06-28T11:49:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2010

Contact: Gregory Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343

(Boston, MA) The Legislature voted last night to approve a state budget for the coming fiscal year that calls for $9.25 million to support the arts, humanities, and sciences through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).

A small portion of that amount—about $150,000—would be available only if the state is reimbursed by the federal government for Medicaid expenses.

The Legislature’s budget for fiscal year 2011 thus represents a cut of either $450,000 or $600,000 to state cultural funding through the MCC.

The Governor has up to ten days to sign, veto, or amend the budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. The MCC pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. For more go to www.massculturalcouncil.org.

Some good links to check out

2010-06-28T10:48:00.002-04:00

It's been some time since I've been able to write or post on the blog, and I apologize for that. Much going on in the area, including a very successful Taste of Amherst, which is a different kind of tourist event than what's mentioned here, normally. That said, it was quite good from the Amherst Area Chamber's perspective to have the partnership and/or participation of Museums10, WGBY, and Hampshire Shakespeare. Museums10 was able to highlight the upcoming Table for 10 exhibition in a food related venue. Good stuff.

Anyway . . . a few good links to read below. I had been meaning to post on the Emily Dickinson Museum's recent press in the NY Times, but there's another Emily link about a new biography postulating that the poet suffered epilepsy. Finally, famed Amherst-resident, Ken Burns mentor, and Dickinson property photographer Jerome Leibling had a recent show in New Hampshire and the review can be read here.

While none of the links directly touches on the cultural tourist life of the upper Valley's Five College Area, it still seems to me to be relevant from our area's marketing perspective. We're pretty darn great (Amherst especially - ha!)and well known to the rest of the world for the great residents who live, work and create here. This is the Cultural Mass brand that we're hoping to send out to the world.

Creative Cities Event, June 11, 2010.

2010-05-24T10:32:00.004-04:00

More great goodness from the MCC, in partnership with MassINC, the MCC, the City of Pittsfield’s Office of Cultural Development, and Berkshire Creative.

Save the date! Please join us on Friday, June 11, 2010 for the third Gateway Cities creative economy roundtable Creative Placemaking: On Stage @ the Colonial Theatre. Our discussion will focus on how arts and culture has helped the city of Pittsfield and Berkshire County build a stronger regional identity and nurture the growth of the creative economy in western Mass. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., with a networking lunch at noon, served on stage at the historic Colonial Theater in downtown Pittsfield. A discussion follows from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15p.m., with tours of the city’s art and cultural offerings after that.

Please rsvp to jschneider@massinc.org.

Senate Panel Calls for $9.25 Million for Massachusetts Cultural Council

2010-05-24T10:24:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2010

Contact: Gregory Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343

(Boston, MA) The Senate Ways & Means Committee released a proposed state budget for the coming fiscal year today that calls for $9.25 million to fund arts and culture through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).

The Senate panel's fiscal year 2011 recommendation for the MCC would represent a cut of $443,000, or 4.6 percent, from the agency's current budget. The full Senate will debate the state budget starting Monday, May 24. The Senate Ways & Means proposal is slightly higher than the $9.1 million proposed by the House of Representatives in the budget it passed last month.

The House and Senate must agree on a final spending plan before sending it back to the Governor for final approval. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

"We thank Senate President Therese Murray, Committee Chairman Steve Panagiotakos and the other members of the Ways & Means Committee for their support," said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. "They recognize that investing in the nonprofit cultural sector benefits our communities, our economy, and the education of our young people—even in these difficult times.

"Still, state funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences remains half of what it was a decade ago. The cultural community must continue to speak with one voice in this difficult budget year and remind the Legislature of the tremendous impact this funding has for our quality of life in Massachusetts."

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.

The MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists.

Arts Pioneer Valley

2010-04-27T14:57:00.004-04:00

Over a year ago, The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau led by Cultural Mass member, and bureau president, Mary Kay Wydra created this very attractive subsite to www.valleyvisitor.com. Arts Pioneer Valley is meant to be a comprehensive calendar of all arts related event in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin Counties.

Check out the site. It is very attractive and well-thought out with a simple calendar and sorting option and is not restricted to Bureau members.

Plea for Action (part 2)

2010-04-20T15:34:00.001-04:00

This from Anita Walker of the MCC:

Let Your Reps Know You Support an Increase in MCC Funding

Dear Friends,

The House Ways and Means budget recommendation for fiscal year 2011 was released last Wednesday. Last Friday, two amendments were filed that call for increases in the general fund appropriation for the MCC. The amendments, #658 and #803, were filed by Representative Kay Khan of Newton and Representative Mark Falzone of Saugus. Co-sponsors included Representatives Guyer of Dalton, Creedon of Brockton, Puppolo of Springfield, Smizik of Brookline, Hecht of Watertown, Fox of Boston, Grant of Beverly, Coakley-Rivera of Springfield, Ferrante of Gloucester, Sannicandro of Ashland, Madden of Nantucket, and Fallon of Malden.

We are very grateful to all of the sponsors above and to all of our other allies in the House of Representatives for their support of arts and culture through the MCC in a very tough budget year.

Debate on the House budget will commence next Monday, April 26. This week is the time to call or e-mail your own Representative, to let them know that you support the amendments filed by Representative Khan (#658) and Representative Falzone (#803). You should be hearing from MAASH soon with more information on how to communicate with your own Representative.

Best regards,
Anita Walker
Executive Director
Massachusetts Cultural Council

Plea for Action (part 1)

2010-04-20T15:30:00.003-04:00

It's budget time and the arts (and tourism) are threatened. Recent legislation by Rep. DeLeo has tied tourism and the arts up with controversial gaming measures. However one feels about that issue aside, the call for action below and in the next post are important if you are concerned about arts funding in the Commonwealth. Read on:

Contact Your House Representative Today! Take Action!

Support Budget Amendments for the Arts

As you know, last Wednesday the House Ways & Means Committee released a proposed budget for the coming fiscal year that calls for $9.1 million in arts and cultural funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). This recommendation would represent a cut of approximately $600,000 or six percent from the agency's current budget.

Thanks to your help, two amendments were filed that call for restoration of the general fund appropriation for the MCC. The amendments, #658 and #803, were filed by Representative Kay Khan of Newton and Representative Mark Falzone of Saugus. Co-sponsors included Representatives Guyer of Dalton, Creedon of Brockton, Puppolo of Springfield, Smizik of Brookline, Hecht of Watertown, Fox of Boston, Grant of Beverly, Coakley-Rivera of Springfield, Ferrante of Gloucester, Sannicandro of Ashland, Madden of Nantucket, and Fallon of Malden.

Next Monday, the full House of Representatives will debate and vote on the proposed budget and the amendments. We need your help once again. Please contact your Representative and urge them to support the amendments filed by Representative Khan and Representative Falzone.

As we all know, the Commonwealth is facing significant economic challenges and difficult choices will need to be made. However, the MCC's budget for the current year is significantly less than what it was ten years ago and follows a budget cut of nearly 25 percent last year. More than ever, organizations in the arts, humanities and sciences need the support of the Commonwealth.

Please contact your State Representative NOW. Your actions helped in getting amendments filed. Now we need your help to get them passed. Please stand up for the public value of arts, sciences and humanities.

Thank you,

Celeste Wilson
Chairman, Board of Directors
Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences & Humanities

Ford Foundation Grants Nuture Arts Spaces and Housing

2010-04-07T15:11:00.005-04:00

As part of an effort to increase the impact of its giving, the Ford Foundation is to announce a plan on Monday to dedicate $100 million to the development of arts spaces nationwide over the next decade. The plan is by far the largest commitment the foundation has ever made to the construction, maintenance and enhancement of arts facilities.- NY Times

Tons of material to post today after a terrific dry spell. I feel like I need to post as much as possible before I forget to do so. The past week or so has been busy with switching domain names from our old blogspot address. My hope is that among the few followers that the blog has our dry spell and then the few days we were down will not affect our slight readership.

Anyway . . . Of the cultural opportunities lacking in the Valley, one most glaring are real substantial opportunities for artists. There are only a few successful, long term galleries in the area, most notably WM Baczek and R.Michaelson, both of Northampton. Among the non-profits and collectives that have stayed alive for a good period are the Oxbow, A3, and APE, Ltd.

I know for one the gallery business is a hard one. Long hours, few walk-ins, and dismal profit margins - and that's in good times. As a director of my own gallery, I would never have traded the experience for the world. Despite critical success, we weren't able to keep it going.

That's why this bit of news forwarded to me by Michael Kusek is a potentially a bit of good news for our local artists. The Ford Foundation is planning to set aside $100 million in grant money for arts institutions and housing.

While the goals of the Cultural Mass project are centered on cultural tourism as a driver of the local economy, there has always been the unstated and ancillary goal of creating opportunities for local artists through enhanced tourist traffic. There had always been hope among our members that more galleries and art spaces would emerge with the continued and growing successes of our local cultural institutions. In the Valley, one only need to look to North Adams for an example of how relationships between institutions and galleries grow organically. The Ford Foundation's goal with this grant fits snuggly with current thinking on the arts as it relates to the local economy.

This notion of the economic benefits of the arts has become increasingly popular lately among arts financers and administrators, who are keenly aware that in times of economic paucity spending on the arts is sometimes seen as frivolous. Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, has been on the road frequently in recent months for a project that involves collecting information and anecdotes to help make the case to Congress and the public that the arts pay. (“Art Works” is the official slogan of the endowment’s project.)

“From the foot traffic of people coming to studios and rehearsals to the influx of people looking for a place to eat or drink after an art opening or before a show,” Mr. Landesman said in an e-mail message, “these buildings attract new people and often expendable income to neighborhoods.” - NY Times

Once again, I have some experience with the notion of the above quote. Art spaces are valuable to the community, enhancing the value of neighborhoods and the experience of living in them.

Protect Funding for Arts and Culture in the State Budget

2010-04-07T15:05:00.001-04:00

This year, more than ever, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the hundreds of organizations, schools, communities, and artists that we support need to hear your voice on Beacon Hill.

The Massachusetts Legislature faces yet another season of difficult choices as the lingering effects of the recession on state revenues clash against growing demand for public services.

The MCC's budget this year is less than $10 million, after a cut of nearly 25 percent last year. Public investment in the arts, humanities, and sciences in Massachusetts this year is less than half its level a decade ago.

Over the next two weeks the House Ways & Means Committee will develop its proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. This is a pivotal time in the budget season for advocacy. The MCC is not asking for an increase in this difficult environment. We are simply asking that the Legislature maintain our funding at $9.7 million.

So what can you do?

ADVOCATE if you believe that nearly 400 outstanding arts, humanities, and science organizations deserve critical annual operating support grants to achieve their mission and leverage private sector support.

ADVOCATE if you believe that our unique network of 329 local cultural councils and their 2,500 volunteers play a vital role in fostering community and civic pride through arts and cultural programs in every city and town in Massachusetts.

ADVOCATE if you believe our Adams Arts Program for the Creative Economy builds effective partnerships between cultural organizations, businesses, and cities and towns to create jobs and generate commerce.

ADVOCATE if you believe the arts should be central to education and youth development. Our YouthReach Initiative is a national model for employing the arts, humanities, and sciences to help at-risk youth find new paths to success as adults. Nearly 60,000 Massachusetts students experienced field trips to arts and cultural destinations this school year thanks to the Big Yellow School Bus Program we run with Bank of America.

And finally, ADVOCATE if you believe in the central place of the artist in the health and well-being of our state. The MCC is one of only a handful of state agencies that still support individual artists with direct grants. These artists are the backbone of our creative economy and the wellspring of innovative new ideas to meet the challenges we face as a Commonwealth.

If you have not already, please sign up to receive calls to action from the Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH). Please follow MAASH's lead and call members of the House in advance of the Ways & Means budget proposal. And stay tuned to the process in the Senate and beyond.

We need your help. If we do not stand up for the public value of arts and culture, no one else will.

Thank you!

Anita Walker
Executive Director
Massachusetts Cultural Council

Cultural Mass Poised to take off

2010-04-07T14:55:00.002-04:00

Catching up after more than a month from writing in the blog. From a recent op-ed in the Amherst Bulletin.

The Business of Amherst: Cultural Mass poised to take off
By TONY MAROULIS
Published on February 19, 2010

In September 2008, inspired by the success of the Museums10 collaboration of which her institution was a part, Smith College President Carol T. Christ convened a summit that brought together more than 100 people to the Hotel Northampton from arts, hospitality and tourism organizations to discuss methods on how best to promote the region as a destination for cultural tourism. While much had been percolating for many years, President Christ's championing of this cause reignited serious work on this subject.

Since then, the Cultural Tourism and Travel Steering Committee, made up of a varied group of representatives, has defined three key components as potential drivers for cultural tourism in Hampshire County: arts, education and agriculture.

It is this Cultural Mass, as we have called our effort, which defines our area as a unique as a draw for tourists and residents alike. Just this week, the Cultural Mass committee made its recommendations available on its blog (www.culturalmass.blogspot.com) and has been awarded a $2,500 planning grant by the Massachusetts Cultural Council's John and Abigail Adams Program for the Creative Economy.

There has been much important work for many years that has led to this moment of urgency and cooperation by many different organizations and individuals, among them state Sen. Stan Rosenberg who has brought the phrase "creative economy" to the area's consciousness, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council's support for various area projects.

The presence of the Five Colleges, their affiliated museums, galleries, fine arts and humanities programs have contributed to a healthy cultural scene for many years prior to initiatives to promote the arts as an economic driver for the Valley's economy. There have long been regional efforts to promote arts and culture, with varying success. Northampton's arts and culture scene has long been the anchor with thriving music venues, galleries, museums and, since 1995, the Paradise City Arts Festival.

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture has seen a tremendous growth in agricultural events and interest on the part of our local farms. Over the last 15 years, CISA has helped ensure successfully agricultural events that are now thriving on their own. Some of the biggest events include the Three County Fair in Northampton, the Tomato Festival at Red Fire Farm in Granby and many smaller events that are held at individual farms.

Over the past decade there have been a number of arts walks (Northampton, Easthampton and Amherst) that have been established in the area, with the dual intention of highlighting local talent and driving traffic to downtown centers. In Amherst, we have benefited from the 2006 opening of the Amherst Cinema Arts Center, which brings in nearly 2,000 theatergoers per week, and contributes direct economic health to the downtown restaurants and shops.

Museums10 has been an increasingly successful collaboration since its 2005 launch. It's two collaborative initiatives, GoDutch! in 2006 and BookMarks in 2007, saw total increases in museum attendance of more than 22 percent from 2005. Combined, the efforts helped the museums reach new audiences, while reinforcing the importance of their marketing efforts and demonstrating - through audience surveys, attendance statistics, and economic models - that the arts bring millions to the region's economy.

Over the next year, Cultural Mass will further its efforts and study other successful collaborative enterprises, such as Easthampton City Arts and Museums10, whose Table for 10 initiative will merge the same critical ingredients identified as our region's strengths. Cooperation among area chambers of commerce and the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau to further promote tourism in the region will also be key to the success of the effort.

There's much to be confident about this initiative's future success and the recognition of our region as a cultural destination. It's already happening, and the statistics support that claim.

With our great number of resources, our proximity to New York and Boston, the reach of the educational institutions and their famous alumni, we are well positioned for future success.

Creative Communities Conference in Providence March 9-11

2010-03-01T12:35:00.003-05:00

Have you registered for Connecting Creative Communities yet?

The Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, City of Providence and NEFA (new England Foundation for the Arts) are co-sponsoring Connecting Creative Communities summit March 9-11, 2010 in Providence and we want you to be there for this groundbreaking conversation. Summit attendees will represent a broad slice of New Englanders including but not limited to: government officials, arts administrators, artists, business and civic leaders, creative entrepreneurs, funders, and researchers.

Registration is $60 per person.

The full program schedule is available online but here are a few highlights:

Cities, Bicycles and the Future of Getting Around

Join Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline for the City of Providence’s second annual Senator Claiborne Pell Lecture on Arts and Humanities about how bicycling can transform urban experience.

Beyond Our Borders: Planning, Policy, and Prosperity in New England

“Shovel-ready” projects made possible by having a creative economic development plans in place.

New Conduits for Creativity

Innovative pathways to foster collaborative community building.

Artist-Driven Solutions for Community Change

Artist-led initiatives stimulating creative responses to complex social and economic issues.

Finding and Engaging Unexpected Partners

Deepening partnerships to deliver an array of meaningful community benefits.

Facing Facts: Getting Results with Data

The sometimes surprising political and financial consequences of data collection.

Creative Incubators

Creative endeavors born within robust artistic communities.

Building Your Capacity: Creative Leadership in the Creative Sector

Day-to-day needs, cross-sector relationships, workforce development, regionalism, and the creativity at the heart of it all.

What’s next? Drafting a Regional Agenda

Key themes and actionable items for a New England-wide regional agenda for the creative sector.

New England is at the forefront of the creative community building movement. Leaders from across New England will meet in Providence to share strategies for engaging the creative sector and to begin to develop a regional network of creative communities. Participants will discuss a regional approach for collectively promoting our creative communities through policy, research, programming, and resource development. Sessions will begin with presentations and a facilitated dialogue by practitioners who have successfully implemented creative community strategies within their own communities. With this context summit participants are invited to share their own stories and work together to identify common themes and opportunities for future action.

Connecting Creative Communities is co-presented by: City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, David N. Cicilline, Mayor and the New England Foundation for the Arts in partnership with: Americans for the Arts Animating Democracy; Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire; Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism; COOL/Cultural Affairs & Special Events, City of Lowell; International Centre for Creativity and Imagination; The MacDowell Colony; Massachusetts Cultural Council; Massachusetts Office of Business Development; and the Worcester Cultural Coalition. Co-sponsored by Brown University’s John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage and the Providence Phoenix.

Cultural Mass Recommendations

2010-02-16T10:02:00.003-05:00

The Cultural Mass final recommendations are now available on the blog. Please click on the link on the right for the report.

We'd love to hear from you on our recommendations. As mentioned in last week's post, the project has received a planning grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council's John and Abigail Adams Program for the Creative Economy. Over the next year, the goals of the project will be to get as much information as we can to further our stated purpose of promoting Hampshire County as a premier destination for cultural tourism with a unique focus on arts, education, and agriculture.

MCC Announces Adams Grants for 2010: Cultural Mass One of 27 Recipients; M10 and Easthampton City Arts Also Among Grant Awardees

2010-02-10T15:10:00.003-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2010

Contact: Greg Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343
Rob Watson, Communications Coordinator 617-727-3668 x268

$700k in New MCC Funding Boosts Creative Economy
Innovative Projects Will Support Artists, Local Businesses

(Boston, MA) -- The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) today announced the release of more than $700,000 in grants that will stimulate new economic activity, create jobs, and revitalize communities through arts and cultural projects across the state.

The MCC's Adams Arts Program for the Creative Economy will invest in 27 projects in every region of Massachusetts. Adams is the oldest and most-far reaching program of its kind in the nation, supporting projects that harness the unique assets of the Commonwealth and the creativity of its residents. Adams grants fuel a creative sector that has a $4.2 billion total impact on the state’s economy and provides more than 109,000 jobs.

“I am delighted to see the results of our ongoing investments,” said Senate President Therese Murray of Plymouth at a State House announcement this morning. She cited Adams-funded projects such as Harbor Your Arts! in Hyannis, which “helped local artists generate $121,000 in sales in one year.”

“The creative sector is a proven engine for economic development and revitalization,” said Anita Walker, the MCC’s executive director. “This year’s Adams grants will generate real dollars for these communities at a time when innovative strategies to produce wealth and create jobs are sorely needed.”

MCC’s Adams grants will:

•Promote cultural tourism in the Pioneer Valley through Museums 10, a cross-promotional effort by seven college museums and galleries and three independent museums in the region. The partners are collaborating on a joint themed exhibition, Table for 10: The Art, Science and History of Food, which will bring together several sectors of the local economy: artists and artisans, small farmers, restaurants and inns, food writers, and food aficionados.
•Invest in the Gateway Cities: New Bedford, Pittsfield, Fitchburg, Worcester, and Leominster through a range of strategies to generate new, arts-based commercial activity in downtown districts.
•Create opportunities for Massachusetts artists to compete in the global arena with Transcultural Exchange, which includes a biennial conference that has resulted in hundreds of local artists finding jobs and residencies worldwide, and draws visitors from as far away as Mongolia and Nigeria.
•Reinvest in the Cambridge Science Festival, a project of the MIT Museum that attracts 30,000 annually to the Greater Boston area, and estimates annual visitor spending at $652,000.
“These grants will help connect our region’s natural beauty with local businesses and tourist services,” said Senator Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), whose district is home to the North Quabbin Woods Arts and Culture Portal, which uses the work of local artisans to drive ecotourism in the North Quabbin Woods region. “I am proud to support these important cultural grants that will help increase economic sustainability for our district and promote the connection between ecotourism, arts, and culture.”

Full list of Adams grants.

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.

MCC is a state agency committed to building a central place for arts and culture in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. It pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities and artists. MCC receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources.

Adams-funded projects leverage the assets of the creative sector - artists, cultural organizations, and arts-related businesses - in Massachusetts' communities to generate real income. Communities as diverse as Provincetown, Lowell, Salem, New Bedford, and Pittsfield have used these funds to more fully realize these assets for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

SHEDDING LIGHT artist Erika Zekos

2009-12-01T15:58:00.004-05:00

SHEDDING LIGHT artist Erika Zekos spoke with the MCC's Art Sake about this weekend's SHEDDING LIGHT opening.

As with much of my work, the idea is to call attention to the environment (both built and unbuilt) and create a forum for the questions that arise as a result of the work. The more I’ve learned about the uniqueness, simplicity, and single-use design of the tobacco sheds the more intrigued I’ve become. It’s not my intention to celebrate smoking, but it’s certainly an interesting history. Believe it or not, Connecticut Valley shade-grown tobacco is among the best in the world and is used as the wrapper layer of fine cigars. In the peak growing years of the 1920’s to 50’s 30,000 acres were planted… now it’s more like 3,000 acres. It’s no surprise then that the sheds built to dry the crop are quickly vanishing as they fall down or the land is developed into shopping malls and housing. I wanted to do something that would highlight the distinctiveness of this architectural vernacular and the vision of the shed filled with light in a winter landscape was a clear idea from the very beginning.

It's a terrific interview. Check it out.

SHEDDING LIGHT

2009-11-30T13:09:00.004-05:00

Briefly, some editorial: The reason for the existence of Cultural Mass is the promotion of the riches that make our region unique: art, education, and agriculture. It is not often when all three of these attributes converge in one incredible project. If there is any reason that we need to promote of the Valley as an arts destination, it is projects like the one that follows.

SHEDDING LIGHT, a public art project conceived by artist/architect Erika Zekos in celebration of our region's history and future, and in exploration of the power of art to connect us to our landscapes, both cultural and physical, will be presented in honor of Amherst's 250th and in partnership with the Town of Amherst's Public Arts Commission. It will be on view each night from Dec 5 - 31.

The schedule of events is as follows:
@ the Nacul Center Gallery, 592 Main Street, Amherst
2:00 pm - Opening Talk by Darcy Purinton + Dale Cahill, coauthors of the new book, Tobacco Sheds of the Connecticut River Valley. Darcy and Dale will discuss their experiences and interest in tobacco sheds as well as show some of their beautiful photographs.

2:45 pm - "Living Green: From the Past to the Future". Join us in a discussion about the role of design excellence and ingenuity in creating sustainable environments. Moderated by SHEDDING LIGHT artist/architect Erika Zekos. Panel experts include Meg Vickery (architectural historian and curator of UMass Amherst University Gallery's "Greening the Valley" exhibit opening February 2010), practicing "green" architect Thomas RC Hartman AIA and Dr. David T. Damery (Umass Amherst professor Dept. of Natural Resources Conservation).

3:30 pm - Exhibit Opening Reception. On view, Shedding Light photographs, charcoal/pastel tobacco drawings by Scott Tulay and professor emeritus Arthur Mange.

@ Swartz Family Farm

5 pm - Lighting of the tobacco shed on the farm for SHEDDING LIGHT! Join Joe and Sarah Swartz for a special open house at the farm (starting at 3). Tour the greenhouses, enjoy a hot chocolate, learn about a farm share and see SHEDDING LIGHT! Special viewing area on route 116 just north of the Meadow Street traffic light or the Farm's 11 Meadow Street entrance on December 5 only.

For more information please go to:

SHEDDING LIGHT blog

and for more information on the project check out the following:

Article by Bonnie Wells of the Amherst Bulletin
and an op-ed by Terry Rooney of the Amherst Public Art Commission.

Rosenberg's cultural development bill is right recipe for region's art scene

2009-11-10T13:00:00.003-05:00

From the November 6, 2009 Daily Hampshire Gazette, Maren Brown of the UMass Arts Extension Service and Anita Walker of the Massachusetts Cultural Council make the case for Sen. Rosenberg's introduction of Senate bill 1878 to establish the Massachusetts Cultural Trust Fund.

A snippet:

The cultural sector already plays a vital role in the Valley's prosperity, providing more than 10,000 jobs and drawing visitors and their income to the region. Nonprofit arts, humanities and science organizations, along with creative industries like design and publishing, also make our communities attractive places in which to live, work and raise families. A recent study by the Arts Extension Service and UMass Donahue Institute shows a quarter billion dollar creative economic impact from graduates of the UMass College of Humanities and Fine Arts alone.

So how do we ensure that this sector has the support it needs to continue to grow, innovate and create new economic opportunities for the residents of the Pioneer Valley?

A bill recently introduced by state Sen. Stan Rosenberg of Amherst would go a long way toward realizing this vision. This bill, Senate 1878, was considered by the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development at a hearing at Amherst's Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art on Oct. 19. While unlikely to pass in the near term, the Rosenberg bill lays out a thoughful plan for long-term support for the cultural sector, as many supporters from the region attested.

You can read more online at gazettenet.com (subscription required).

Important Legislative Hearing on October 19 @ Eric Carle Museum

2009-10-16T15:35:00.006-04:00

Join the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development for a Legislative Hearing on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 11:00am at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst.

Five Bills will be heard:

S1863 - Senator Brewer - An Act Amending the Cultural Council Requirements
S1866 - Senator Downing - An Act Establishing Pilot Enterprise Zones
S1867 - Senator Downing - An Act Creating the Commonwealth Heritage Program
S1878 - Senator Rosenberg - An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Cultural Trust Fund
S3145 - Representative Kocut - An Act Relative to the Connecticut River River Rowing Facility

Come on out and show your support!

Jones Library Named Frost Literary Landmark

2009-10-15T22:32:00.002-04:00

From the October 16th edition of the Amherst Bulletin:

Literary landmark

This fall the library has been designated a literary landmark by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, a division of the American Library Association. The designation is given in recognition of the library's early relationship with Frost and the strength of its collection. Since 1986, the group has designated 160 literary landmark sites throughout the country. The next nearest site is the Dr. Seuss National Memorial in Springfield.

The Jones will mark the honor next week, starting with an evening event on Wednesday, Oct. 21, featuring a talk by William Pritchard of Amherst. Pritchard, a professor of English at Amherst College, is the author of a critical biography of Frost, the 1993 "Frost: A Literary Life Reconsidered," and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times Book Review. He will speak on "Frost's Mischievous Grip."

"Many of Frost's best moments are serious but also playful," Pritchard said. "The reader has to get involved with the play' to enter into the poem."

Preceding the talk, at 7 p.m., a group from Amherst Regional High School led by Tobias Thomas will perform chamber music in the special collections area on the third floor, and following, at a reception in the Burnett Gallery.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m., a bronze plaque will be unveiled at a ceremony on the library's front lawn, dedicating the Jones as a literary landmark. At 2:30 p.m., the festivities move inside to the atrium, where children's librarian Sondra Radosh will lead a group of Amherst young people in a Reader's Theater presentation of several of Frost's poems, with harp accompaniment by library trustee Sara McKee.

"It's fitting that we do this now," said Kimball. "It will be 50 years to the day that we dedicated the Robert Frost Room (now the Trustees Room) on the town's 200th anniversary," with Frost in attendance.

At the unveiling, in addition to library, town and state officials, Frost's grandaughter Lesley Lee Francis will be on hand to share her reflections and read a poem. Francis is co-honorary trustee of the Robert Frost Farm in Derry, N.H., and a member of the advisory board of The Robert Frost Review. She has written some 14 articles on her famous grandfather and family and is the author of the 1994 book "The Frost Family's Adventure: Sheer Morning Gladness at the Brim."

The full article can be read here.

The Jones Library in Amherst, a strong community center and driver of the town's downtown economic activity, brings in over 350,000 visitors each year, many hundreds who visit the Frost and Dickinson archives.

Paradise City Arts Festival

2009-10-15T22:11:00.003-04:00

While I had been unable to make this weekend's Paradise City Arts Festival this past weekend, from all of the accounts both from friends and family and the papers, the 15th season of the festival was yet again a success.

I couldn't make it last weekend because I was playing dad all weekend, while my wife was helping her brother who was exhibiting for the first time. The things I do for family. Sigh.

The founders of Paradise City, Geoffrey and Linda Post, have been champions of the arts in the Valley for many years, and our cultural landscape is so much better for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to them on another successful year and on reaching 15 years.

Agritourism and the Valley

2009-07-06T11:54:00.006-04:00

Throughout the 10 months or so that the Cultural Mass folks have been meeting, we have identified three major areas upon which to focus the efforts of marketing cultural tourism in our neck of the woods: art, education, and agriculture. On the blog, I've concerned myself mostly with the arts part because it's what I'm most familiar with (plus it's in the blood) and touched a little on the education piece. However, discussing the region's cultural economy without an in-depth on our agricultural treasures is not complete.

Phil Korman, Executive Director of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), has been a valuable member of the Cultural Mass steering committee. Phil's and CISA's role in our local economy can not be understated. For years, CISA was instrumental in keeping the Buy Local message at the forefront with the "Local Hero" campaign. That message is more important than ever, as Phil himself states in a June 30 Daily Hampshire Gazette article (subscription required).

Where does agriculture fit in the cultural tourism picture? Agritourism is a growing industry. In the past, people taking trips to Napa or Sonoma or passing through a cornfield maze might have thought that they were going to a singular or regional destination without even considering the land that held the attraction. That's changing, as farmers, growers, and tourist agencies better market their product to a visiting audience. UC Davis even has a program (there are probably many more at other schools) dedicated to agritourism.

The Valley has great agritourism potential. From a tour of family farms or CSAs or Organic Farm Beds and Breakfasts, Hampshire county's rich agrarian past and fertile present not only supplies us with food, but may also account for a rise in heads in hotel beds and revenue to our local merchants.

Take a look at CISA's calendar of events here.

Lorna Peterson and Valley Arts

2009-06-24T10:07:00.004-04:00

I'm sorry that I can't post a link to Sarah Werthan Buttenwiser's nice interview in Preview magazine with the Lorna Peterson, the executive director of Five Colleges, Inc. and member of Cultural Mass. If you've clicked on the Preview link, you'll see that the site is still a work in progress.

Lorna is retiring this month after 18 years as head of the consortium, and under her administration, Five Colleges, Inc. has had a major impact on cultural tourism. Lorna makes the link for the arts and the local economy here:

Sarah Werthan Buttenwieser: I'm curious about how the Five College consortium hs made an impact on Valley life.

Lorna Peterson: The arts are boltered by collaboration between institutions. Things occur that could not on each single campus . . .
The receptivity to arts and culture here means that many people stay on after college, including many artists. And because of this, galleries and shops and restaurants thrive. The Vallery's cultural offerings draw people - retirees, for example - to the area. In echange for warmth and sunshine, you can have rich culture - and a public transportation system.

Lorna then gets specific and gives our group a plug . . .

SWB: The colleges have become champions of cultural tourism.

LP: Yes. a group formed called Cultural Mass - Smith College President Carol Christ helped pull it together - with colleges, local chambers of commerce and arts groups. The group works to highlight all there is to see and do here. Between the visual art - very much including offerings at the colleges and university - there is a huge wealth here. We are also having great success with Museums10, a group promoting local museums, both the amazing offerings at campus museums, but also institutions like the National Yiddish Book Center and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, which are such incredible gems.

Lorna also cites the Fine Arts Center at UMass and the Amherst Cinema and Pleasant Street Theaters as among her personal favorite venues.

Lorna has had an amazing career. Just last month, the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce had the pleasure of honoring Lorna for her achievements. I was tired just reading her CV in preparation for the awards dinner. I think I speak for many, many people in the arts community by noting that Lorna has been an incredible advocate and cheerleader for the cause.

Having the privilege of promoting our cultural gems, I get to extol the virtues of our great institutions and organizations. But these organizations are great because of the people who make them run. They're the true gems. There's not one that shines brighter than Lorna Peterson.

Easthampton BearFest Gets Great Press

2009-06-15T17:18:00.003-04:00

I admit, when I had first heard of BearFest, my thoughts went to Sheeptacular!, Pittsfield's sculpture/public art project from a few years ago, and I kind of cringed. I actually have nothing against sheep or the idea of sheep all over Pittsfield. It was the strange, Lamar Alexander exclamation point that got me. That said, I like bears better anyway, and the organizers of BearFest stayed away from that dreaded punctuation mark.

BearFest is rockin, other than a stolen bear sculpture. And just one more good example of how the arts make life so terrific up here in these parts. Easthampton's fantastic scene continues to grow, led by Easthampton City Arts and the support of the community for the arts as an economic and cultural driver. There is an amazing group of artists contributing to a project that should bring people in for the duration of the summer and through the fall, and as this site has been positing, that means more traffic and business happening throughout the city.

For more TV coverage click here and here.

Ko Festival of Performance Kicks Off in July

2009-06-15T17:06:00.003-04:00

One of the enduring theater festivals in New England, Ko Festival of Performance returns to Amherst College in July and this year, I PROMISE myself I'll make it.

The press release is below:

Laughter really IS the Best Medicine!

The 18th Annual
KO FESTIVAL OF PERFORMANCE
four weeks of performances and workshops on the theme of

"THAT'S FUNNY" / "THAT'S NOT FUNNY"
Join us as we ask "So, why am I laughing? Why am I not laughing? Why are they laughing?"

July 10 - August 2, 2009, on the Amherst College campus in Amherst, MA
For FURTHER INFO visit www.kofest.com
For PHOTOS contact Kim Mancuso or Sabrina Hamilton

Press Contact Ko Festival Artistic Director
Kim Mancuso Sabrina Hamilton
(413) 628-3850/ (413) 427-6147
(413) 768-8764 (cell) sabrina@kofest.com
press@kofest.com

In a year when we all seem to need a really good laugh, the 18th Annual Ko Festival of Performance, invites its audiences to gather to contemplate humor. The season will start out gently with a clown, something that everyone agrees is funny - unless you're one of those people who runs screaming from the room. (But this guy REALLY is funny.) And then each week Ko will push the comedy further and further as the festival investigates what makes us laugh, and why, and also what goes too far (or not far enough).

This side-splitting feast of new work created by some America's most interesting comedic performers runs from July 10 through August 2, 2009, on the bucolic Amherst College campus. There are reasonably priced accommodations nearby, free parking, and the beautifully renovated theatre is air-conditioned and completely accessible

Each performance is accompanied by lobby displays that contextualize the work, and by facilitated, post-performance discussions that are a springboard for inter-audience/artist exchange and civic dialogue. Ashfield's Kermit Dunkelberg of Pilgrim Theatre, leads each discussion accompanied by artists and specialists. Belchertown resident Sabrina Hamilton, Artistic Director of the Ko Festival, notes that after performances, audiences are eager to discuss their experience. Topics that are sure to arise are "Are clowns really funny?" "In the heart of the 5-College area, are academics fair game?" "Are Middle East conflict and physical affliction are legitimate sources of humor! And "Just how far is too far?"

The 2009 KoFest opens on July 10 with HELP! HELP! I KNOW THIS TITLE IS LONG BUT SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO KILL ME!, an all ages event created and performed by Drew Richardson (aka Drew the Dramatic Fool), directed by Avner Eisenberg (aka Avner the Eccentric). All the performers in this vaudeville variety show have been murdered - except for Drew the Dramatic Fool. Unfortunately for him, the show must go on, or he's next. Drew attempts every act in the show, from juggling 36 balls to sawing a woman in half, in this comical examination of fears-fear of performing, fear of failure, and fear of death. When courage fails, the only answer is dramatic foolishness.

Drew the Dramatic Fool reinvents the ancient art of brilliant bumbling. Inspired by a thousands-of-years old tradition of royal jesters, vaudeville eccentrics, silent film comedians, animated cartoons, theatrical clowns, and imperfect humans everywhere, Drew offers amusement relevant for today's audiences by giving them laughter built on a range of human emotions, from joy to fear to despair and back to joy again. The Charleston Gazette notes "If you like Bill Irwin, you have to see Drew the Dramatic Fool. He's a world-class visual comedian."

In the heart of the 5-College area, are academics fair game? David Ferney a long time member of the famed Dell'Arte Company of Blue Lake, CA will help us hold a mirror up to the all the academics in the Valley and see if their behavior can be a source of humor. In this parody of an academic lecture, Ferney's masterful performance skills allow him to play both professor and his object of study THE MISUNDERSTOOD BADGER. An eccentric biologist goes off the deep end in his quest to explore the mysterious realm of the North American Badger (taxidea taxus). Ferney probes deep within one individual's struggle to balance his ties to the civilized world with his desire for the wild. Using live music, projections, and mask performance, Ferney take us on a comedic journey to find the badger within.

Our annual favorite, the Mettawee River Theatre Company, joins us for a delightful all-ages event presented out under the stars with exquisite puppets, masks and live performance. This year's offering, BEYOND THE HIGH VALLEY, is a Quechua story that features both humans and animals native to the highlands of Peru including llamas, a hummingbird, and a condor. A range of puppets and other visual elements, realized on many different scales, are used to evoke the vast distances, radiant sky and rugged, vertical thrust of fierce and beautiful Peruvian terrain. Performed out under the stars within a landscape permeated with music, song and a spirit of celebration.

Join the Ko Festival as we find out whether or not the Middle East conflict and physical affliction are legitimate sources of humor! Solo theater artist and world-class juggler, Sara Felder brings her unique brand of radical circus theater to Ko to explore generational differences and the art of seeing in her bold new play, OUT OF SIGHT. Felder tells and juggles the tale of a mother, nearly blind, and her adult lesbian daughter. The intimacy of the mother and daughter and their struggles over how they "see" each other and the world unfold as they try to bridge their differences. Felder's solo comedy combines circus, shadow puppets and a Jewish queer sensibility to question issues of family loyalty and the Israeli--Palestinian conflict. OUT OF SIGHT explores the pain and complexity of silence in our most cherished relationships through the healing power of laughter.

The culminating performance of the season brings the critically-acclaimed Bouffon show, RED BASTARD created and performed by Cirque du Soleil star, Eric Davis. This production is pure id, slapped with a coat of red and pumped full of hot air! This half man/half demon from the subconscious comes to take the piss out of the audience by disguising himself as an elitist movement teacher instructing us in the "theater of life". An incredible mover, master of improvisation, and self proclaimed "provocateur", the Red Bastard covers every inch of the stage, moving his enormous red belly and ass with the grace of a nymph. Audiences should be prepared for anything to happen in this interactive show, in which Red Bastard converses with the audience, uncovering ridiculous and disturbing truths.

Warning! If clown is complete vulnerability, the Red Bastard is its antithesis. With exquisite monstrosity, he employs charm and biting wit to playfully manipulate the audience. Lines will be crossed and laughs will be had. Davis's bold wit and physical prowess have been lauded by critics and audiences alike.

For the full schedule, click here.

And Now Some Good News . . .

2009-05-19T11:35:00.005-04:00

Amherst has been named by Katherine L. Cohen, Ph.D., founder and CEO of IvyWise LLC and ApplyWise.com as the best college town in America.

True dat.

And then - same weekend! - (my favorite paper for the sports and Page Six), the New York Post named Northampton a Top 100 Summer Destination:

NEW YORK POST, May 14, 2009
100 Summer Destinations: #19, Northampton, Massachusetts Multiple colleges in the immediate area - including Smith - make this bustling town a bastion of culture in Massachusetts's post-industrial Pioneer Valley.

State Tourism Funding In Budget Jeopardy

2009-05-19T11:15:00.005-04:00

If there wasn't enough bad economic news to deal with, here's a new and rather striking development for us to be aware of and lobby against. From our friends at the GSCVB:

THE GSCVB'S STATE FUNDING IS IN DANGER -- IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED!

The Senate Ways & Means Committee has released a budget that eliminates funding for the thirteen Regional Tourism Councils (RTCs). This is an unprecedented action and I am urging you to CONTACT YOUR SENATOR IMMEDIATELY and ask them to SUPPORT AMENDMENT No. 231 filed by Senator O'Leary. This amendment will reinstate the line item (#7007-1000) and allocate $6 million for the RTCs, which still represents a 33% reduction from FY09.

Here's a link to the Senators and the contact information for them.

When you phone or email, convey the following:
Urge them to support Amendment No. 231.
Explain that you are a member of the GSCVB and that regional tourism marketing drives visitors to the Pioneer Valley. If you participate with the GSCVB in co-op marketing initiatives, tell them that you leverage the state funds and there's a true public-private partnership.
State that you recognize the challenges they have in front of them and that measures might call for new tax revenues to be introduced.
Thank them for their support of tourism.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued support of the GSCVB.

Sincerely,

Mary Kay Wydra
President

This was the first of two alarming emails that have been making the rounds. The Senate's budget has also included a cut of 57% to the MCC's budget.

While it is clear that these are some of the most challenging budgetary times that lawmakers have seen, we need to look at tourism and the arts as investments that have real return. By pulling the plug on financing the promotion of our state we're impacting industries that provide revenue to the Commonwealth. Wouldn't the end result of divestment be even lower tax revenue?

A Million Apologies

2009-05-19T11:09:00.002-04:00

Sorry we haven't been around here - lots going on with Chamber activities and other arts related work (my own gallery in Amherst). I'm hoping to post much more in the upcoming weeks and months, particularly since we've announced in this space that we're going to reveal just what we've been doing. Dedication to the cause of promoting the area's resources is a job in and of itself and speaks to some of the needs of any concerted effort in the future. We need people power. That's another post, however, and one that I promise will be up in the near future.

Valley Art Share

2009-03-26T09:53:00.003-04:00

This is WAY cool. In today's Daily Hampshire Gazette

New web site serves Valley arts scene by Andrea Murray (subscription required)

Progress Toward Goals

2009-03-25T10:31:00.002-04:00

It has been some time since we've last posted in this space, and in most of the postings, not much mention in the way of the progress of the group known as Cultural Mass.

To recap for those reading this blog for the first time: Smith President Carol Christ convened a meeting of (mostly) Hampshire county arts, hospitality, and tourism types to discuss branding the region as a destination for cultural tourism. The model was based on the Museums10 collaboration, facilitated by Five Colleges, Incorporated, which, since its 2005 launch, has been increasingly successful in branding the region as a cultural destination.

So, really, what the large group was laying the foundation for was a Museums10 with bigger muscles - more arts organizations, more cultural organizations, and increased cooperation with established hospitality, convention, and tourism agencies.

The volunteer group formed from that first meeting in September (all named in this blog's first post), have been meeting regularly since then, and in the last several months have made important headway. It has:

*** a formal memorandum regarding the group's mandate
*** laid the groundwork for Chamber/RTC partnerships
*** begun the process for a Cultural Mass marketing plan

The group is getting closer to presenting its recommendations and marketing plan in June and we look forward to the feedback from the community.

Recent Museums Coverage in the Gazette

2009-03-04T08:29:00.003-05:00

The Daily Hampshire Gazette and its Friday magazine, Hampshire Life, recently devoted quite a bit of column space to the art museums of Museums10. The articles on the museums in the February 27th edition of Hampshire Life, and yesterday's editorial were responses to the Brandeis folly - the president of the university made the call to sell off and close the well-regarded collection of the Rose Art Museum - and a celebration of the Museums of the Five Colleges.

The Gazette has long been a friend to the cause of orgs like Cultural Mass, recognizing, as mentioned in yesterday's editorial, "The Brandeis art lesson," this passage below:

The schools' museums and galleries not only add richness to their campuses; they add richness to life in the Pioneer Valley, as visitor-friendly places to see an array of often exceptional work from around the globe. They are also a key component to cultural tourism, which is part of the Pioneer Valley economy.(emphasis mine)

There are a few reasons why I love being a part of Cultural Mass (and before that Museums10). Fundamentally, I am exited about the role that arts organizations and institutions play in our area's economy. What's true is that that was not often appreciated, nor embraced by arts organizations. The balkanization of missions kept the arts side from the marketing side from the business side. And to some degree the mistrust among the keepers of each of these roles still exists, though admittedly to a lesser degree than ever before. I'll spare readers (the 2 followers of the blog and others who may be dropping by) my aesthetic passions and real reasons for working in the arts (even while now heading up a Chamber of Commerce), which is an unrelated post, perhaps, and more suitable elsewhere.

Anyway, all this talk about Gazette coverage. Here is the link to "Valley Jewels" by Margot Cleary, featuring the University Gallery, Mead Art Museum, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, and Smith College Museum of Art. And to the Brandeis art lesson editorial. The Gazette is a subscription only site.

Museums10 Awarded 2009 MCC Adams Grant

2009-02-26T14:33:00.003-05:00

Two Hampshire County arts organizations Museums10my favorite museum collaboration and a catalyst for Cultural Mass was awarded $60,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council's John and Abigail Adams Arts Program. In addition, Easthampton City Arts was awarded $30,000. The full release from the MCC is below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2009

Contact: Gregory Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343
or Rob Watson, Communications Coordinator 617-727-3668 x268

$1.3 Million in MCC Funding Boosts Creative Economy
State Program Invests in Innovative Projects Across Massachusetts

(Boston, MA) - The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) today announced the release of more than $1.3 million in grants to stimulate new economic activity, create jobs, and revitalize communities by investing in arts and cultural projects across the state.

The grants come through MCC's Adams Arts Program for the Creative Economy, the oldest and most far-reaching program of its kind in the nation. This year, Adams grants will support 37 projects in every region of Massachusetts. These funds fuel a creative sector that has a $4.2 billion total impact on the state’s economy and provides more than 109,000 jobs.

“Creativity and innovation have been central to our success in Massachusetts, and they will be central to our economic recovery,” said MCC executive director Anita Walker. “These initiatives demonstrate that the creative sector remains one of our state’s strongest assets as we work to get our economy growing again.”

MCC's Adams grants will:

* Bolster a range of projects in Greater Boston that foster new discoveries and innovations through the intersection of the arts, sciences, and technology. These include the Boston Cyberarts Festival, which had a $2.3 million economic impact in 2007, the Cambridge Science Festival, and Art Technology New England.
* Reinvest in the Worcester Cultural Coalition as it expands cultural tourism to drive visitation to that city’s array of cultural attractions. Worcester’s cultural sector has a $40 million impact, attracts more than two million annual visitors, and employs 1,100 workers. The Worcester Cultural Coalition received the 2009 Commonwealth Award for Creative Economy Catalyst at a State House ceremony last month.
* Strengthen New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang’s plans to more fully integrate arts and culture into the city’s economic development agenda. New Bedford’s cultural organizations already have a $21 million economic impact annually, and the city’s long-running AHA! Festival has reignited activity and investment in the downtown.
* Support the new Orange-based North Quabbin Woods Arts and Culture Portal. The project will spur ecotourism by connecting the area's recreation, forests and farms, with its artists and cultural venues.

Full list of Adams grants.

###

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities and sciences, to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and contribute to the state’s economic vitality.

MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture in communities across the Commonwealth. It pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. MCC receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources.

Adams-funded projects leverage the assets of the creative sector - artists, cultural organizations, and arts-related businesses - in Massachusetts' communities to generate real income. Communities as diverse as Provincetown, Lowell, Salem, New Bedford, and Pittsfield have used these funds to more fully realize these assets for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

abo

Congratulations to worthy award winners.

Springfield Republican Talks Springfield/Easthampton/Valley Arts as Economic Driver

2009-02-17T12:31:00.005-05:00

This article from Anne-Gerard Flynn in The Republican's yearly business Outlook section, further making the case that the arts are an economic driver for our local communities.

The Washington Post Covers Noho

2009-02-17T12:09:00.004-05:00

Apparently, the folks in DC know a good thing. As often is the case, the writer of the piece spent time in school here.

The article by Andrea Sachs is here.

I don't want to say that this coverage is typical, but it happens often enough since I've been a Valley resident. My point, I guess, is that we're well known enough to garner media coverage, which in any strategy to gain notice needs to be seen as a plus. I'm quite sure from discussions that I've had over the past few years with people who stand to gain from cultural marketing and tourism dollars, that they are not aware that there is general awareness of who we are. Has the region stamped itself in the consciousness of ordinary Americans in the Midwest? Maybe not. Yet. However, due to the region's connection to its lifeblood - the Five Colleges - ink about our worthy cultural treasures is something that we can and regularly do achieve.

Pioneer Valley Arts Meet Berkshire Arts

2009-02-17T09:49:00.004-05:00

While not exactly what the Cultural Mass group is doing (we're focusing on the Five College Area and Hampshire County), the collaboration between the Northampton and Berkshires groups below is exciting and is one more way in which Western Massachusetts' rich cultural scene can become even larger and more profitable.

Pioneer Valley Arts Meet Berkshire Arts

A group of directors and representatives from arts organizations in the Pioneer Valley and Pittsfield and North Adams met at A.P.E. in Northampton on January 29 of this year to share information and explore ways to collaborate. Attending from Northampton were members of A.P.E., Commonwealth Center for Change,Northampton Center for the Arts, the Academy of Music, Smith College Museum of Art, New Century Theatre, Northampton Arts Council, Young at Heart Chorus and Iron Horse Entertainment Group. Attending from Pittsfield and N. Adams were members of Ferrin Gallery, Storefront Artist Project, Cultural Pittsfield, Berkshire Creative and MCLA Berkshire Cultural Resource Center.

Members of A.P.E. and the other Northampton Arts groups have been working together on a feasibility study awarded in 2007 by MCC’s Cultural Facilities Fund to create a downtown arts center in the historic Round House building behind Pulaski Park. This would provide both local artists and regional artists a central location in which to showcase work and expand audiences along the north-south and east-west corridors.

“Not only serving local artists in the area, a new centrally located arts center in Northampton would be the hub of artistic activity, would draw artists and audience from outside the region and increase the potential for exchange, collaborations and connections.”…Lisa Thompson, A.P.E.

The idea for this meeting came from Leslie Ferrin, co-owner with Donald Clark of Ferrin Gallery now located in Pittsfield, In 1979, Ferrin founded P!NCH Pottery which was then located in the basement ofThornes Market. Ferrin Gallery grew out of that location in 1987 whenthe business moved to Main Street.

"When APE relocated to a new space on Main Street, I saw the similarities to the use of that space, its mission and David Simpson’s organization C3 to what was taking place in Pittsfield, North Adams and the Berkshires. It was an amazing moment to see my two worlds assembled in a circle of seats - meeting one another for the first time, exchanging information and brainstorming about how we might bring art, artists and performers together with new opportunities and expanded audiences. If there is a silver lining to the economic pressure we are experiencing it is that we now have time and motivation to work together in a way that the robust economy may have prevented. With this set of minds and experience working together, great things arebound to happen - the energy is there to explore the potential and it will surely have results. Stay tuned…." Leslie Ferrin, Ferrin Gallery, Pittsfield, MA.

Plans to continue meeting are underway with a gathering in Pittsfield sometime this Spring. Other arts organizations in these respective areas have been invited and are welcome to join in the discussions. Ideas for possible art exchanges or collaborations have already begun.

For more information, contact:
Leslie Ferrin, Ferrin Gallery Lisa Thompson, A.P.E.
leslie@ferringallery.com lisathompson@apearts.org
413.443.1622 413.586.5553

Mary Kay Wydra Named to MA Creative Economy Council

2009-02-02T12:54:00.002-05:00

From the GSCVB's January Member Update:

Bureau President Mary Kay Wydra was named a new Creative Economy Council Member in Boston on January 29, 2009. The Council is tasked with measuring the creative sector's contributions to the state, developing a statewide strategy and promoting responsive public policies and innovative private sector practices.

The 25-member Council is chaired by Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Daniel O'Connell and includes Senate President Therese Murray, Senators Stan Rosenberg and Bruce Tarr, Representative Vinny DeMacedo and two additional members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House in the coming weeks. It also includes representative from the state's travel and tourism and business offices and leaders from academic, arts, technology, and travel and tourism organizations.

Mary Kay, a Governor's appointee, is one of three Regional Tourist Council (RTC) leaders asked to serve on this state legislated special committee.

Congratulations to MK.

Cultural Tourism DC

2009-01-27T20:13:00.002-05:00

I'm intrigued with Kevin's comment about the necessity to define our focus on cultural tourism and NOT cultural economy. I've been browsing and writing on it for our draft and came across the following, not so attractive but informative, site. Anything useful to model? Here's their mission:

"Cultural Tourism DC (CTdc) strengthens the image and economy of Washington, DC, neighborhood by neighborhood, by linking more than 200 DC cultural and neighborhood organizations with partners in tourism, hospitality, government, and business. CTdc offers an innovative model for maximizing the economic impact of cultural tourism in urban neighborhoods and helps residents and tourists discover and experience Washington's authentic arts and culture."

http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/

Drill Down . . .

2009-01-23T16:14:00.004-05:00

For even more evidence of the area as a cultural draw, click on the Amherst link in the story about Leverett, mentioned in the previous post.

You've got to love the interwebs. It make proving a valid point so easy.

NY Times article - Evidence of the Valley as a Cultural Draw

2009-01-23T14:06:00.002-05:00

As forwarded to me by Laurie Fenlason, Smith's Executive Director of Public Affairs and Special Assistant to the President, this nice little article in today's NY Times.

Quoth Ms. Fenlason: "Yet more evidence of the Valley as a cultural draw."

Indeed.

Coverage of UMass Tourism Event

2009-01-20T09:32:00.002-05:00

The Daily Hampshire Gazette's Nick Grabbe (article here [subscription required]) and Springfield Republican's Diane Lederman (article here) were among the assembled for UMass' Economic Development Conversation on Tourism. All-in-all, the event was quite good, especially the more informal conversation that occurred after the speakers.

Some highlights, which are also covered in the articles above: Mary Kay Wydra reported that the GSCVB has once again made public its intention to rename the bureau to the Pioneer Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, echoing Greg Chiecko's statement at the Bureau's annual meeting in October. Ms. Wydra also spoke on a larger theme of promotional cooperation throughout the Valley, which should be greeted as very exciting news to any Hampshire County-based skeptics. The renaming of the bureau may very well go a long way to establishing what many in this conversation lament, which is a vague geographic sense among outsiders. A rebranding might allow the bureau to really define the sense of place for travelers, and that can only help the whole region.

WFCR Foundation Establishes the WFCR Arts and Humanities Award, Seeks Nominees

2009-01-09T12:13:00.002-05:00

For more information, click here.

UMass Amherst To Host Economic Development Conversation on Tourism with Amherst, Hadley and Northampton

2009-01-09T09:53:00.004-05:00

Dec. 29, 2008

Contact: Martha Patrick Nelson
413/545-2574

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst will host the fourth in a series of public conversations on economic development to discuss tourism in the communities of Amherst, Hadley and Northampton. The event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 3-5:30 p.m. in the Massachusetts Room of the Mullins Center.

The discussion will focus on how officials in Amherst, Hadley and Northampton can maximize their potential for bringing tourism dollars to the local economy.

Among those who will participate are:

• Tony Maroulis, executive director, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
• Suzanne Beck, executive director, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce
• Curt Shumway, president, Hampshire Hospitality Group
• Mary Kay Wydra, president, Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau
• John Mullin, Graduate School dean and director of the Center for Economic Development at UMass Amherst
• Rod Warnick, department chair, hospitality and tourism management, UMass Amherst
• Larry Shaffer, Amherst town manager
• David Nixon, Hadley town administrator
• Terry Anderson, Northampton economic development coordinator

The group will look at current visitor data, tourism trends, area assets and resources, and how the three communities fit into the regional tourism landscape.

Why Statistics Matter: The Case of Museums10.

2009-01-02T12:57:00.004-05:00

Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council's John and Abigail Adams Grant Program requirements, Museums10 was able to make a strong case for its value to the region because it had been, like all grant awards recipients, responsible for assessment of its program and impact on the larger community. The assessment process made a stats wonk out of me, and I know there are a few other numbers lovers among members of the Cultural Mass. group, as well, who might share their perspectives.

While there has some disagreement among Museums10 members about the collaboration's impact on audience, one aspect not in dispute is that the group gleaned useful information about its audience and its role as an economic driver for our region. The GoDutch! initiative from March - August 2006 (some exhibitions actually opened earlier, notably the Mead in January 2006), saw 105,000 visitors to all of the museums during the time frame of the exhibition season. While it had not been terribly difficult to compile and aggregate attendance stats, there had not been a call to do that before M10 was funded by the MCC.

Comparing attendance data, the 105,000 visitors to GoDutch! (aided also by interest in the new Natural History building at Amherst College), was a 15% increase over the corresponding year before. M10 also discovered that 35% who had responded to its surveys during GoDutch! were travelers staying overnight at area hotels, and that nearly 70% planned to shop during their trip to a museum. These were encouraging stats. M10 was making the case that people come to a museum and then avail themselves of what the area has to offer. These are not just visitors who come and go. They become active participants in our local economy. In all, 171,000 people attended area museums in 2006.

The 2007 BookMarks survey was improved, with a better sampling period and size, and questions that were refined by the good folks at the University of Massachusetts Student Assessment, Research & Evaluation Office (SAREO) led by Liz Williams, the Associate Director for Research. In this version of the audience intercept, M10 asked for spending data to augment standard demographic questions. Again, the results were quite encouraging, with over 1100 respondents, the survey sample had an accuracy of +/- 3 percent, and showed an average spending of over $100 by each visitor. Multiply the average by the 183,000 visitors to Museums10 sites in 2007, and you have quite a nice sum to the local economy. The impact to the local economy continues to increase when one factors in hotel stays, which stayed consistent from the year before at 35% of visitors.

Certainly statistics can be misinterpreted by non-statisticians like me; I've been accused by colleagues of being a bit too rosy with my conclusions. Perhaps. The main point, whether you figure a $4 million impact or a $35 million impact to the region from the museums in 2007, the investment in Cultural Marketing and Tourism in the Upper Valley is a smart one and one that can easily be increased in the coming years.

A Brief Introduction to Cultural Mass.

2008-12-29T13:50:00.002-05:00

Cultural Mass. is a blog and forum created to discuss cultural marketing and tourism trends, ideas, and happenings in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Hampshire County, rich in education, agriculture, music, and the visual arts, includes The Five College Area - mainly the communities of Amherst, Northampton, and South Hadley and their neighboring towns - and is a part of the Pioneer Valley, a three county area that borders Connecticut to the South and Vermont and New Hampshire to the North, Berkshire County to the West and Worcester County to the East.

This blog is a product of meetings by the Cultural Marketing and Tourism Steering Committee, a rather clunky name for our group launched by Smith College President Carol T. Christ, whose interest in the growth of the Cultural Marketing and Tourism of the Hampshire County and Five College Area was instrumental in bringing people together from various arts, hospitality, and tourism organizations to discuss methods on how best to promote the region as a destination for cultural tourism. While much has been percolating for many years, President Christ's championing of this cause has started serious conversation on these matters over the last six months, beginning inclusively in September 2008 at a gathering of nearly 100 people at the Hotel Northampton.

There has been much important work for many years that has led to this moment of urgency and cooperation by many different organizations and individuals, among them Massachusetts Senator Stan Rosenberg who has brought the phrase "creative economy" to the area's consciousness; Maren Brown, head of UMass' Arts Extention Service (founded by Sen. Rosenberg in 1973) and chair of the Western Massachusetts Arts Alliance; and the Massachusetts Cultural Council's support for various area projects. While not all individuals or groups can be noted or thanked in this first post, subsequent blog entries will note important past and continuing contributions.

The Cultural Marketing and Tourism Steering Committee is made up of nine members - Suzanne Beck, Executive Director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce; Mansour Ghalibaf, owner of the Hotel Northampton; Shawn Farley, Marketing Director, Fine Arts Center, UMass-Amherst; Laurie Fenlason, Executive Director of Public Affairs and Special Assistant to the President, Smith College; Rus Peotter, General Manager, WGBY-TV; Maryann Lombardi, Director for the Creative Economy, UMass-Amherst; Joan Grenier, owner, Odyssey Bookshop; Lorna Peterson, Executive Director, Five Colleges, Inc.; Mary Kay Wydra, President, Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Tony Maroulis, Executive Director, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and co-director, wünderarts. Each of the members of the committee will - as time allows - blog here.

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The presence of Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and their affiliated museums, galleries, fine arts and humanities programs have contributed to a healthy cultural scene for many years prior to initiatives to promote the arts as an economic driver for the Valley's economy. There have long been efforts to promote arts and culture regionally, with varying success. Northampton's arts and culture scene has long been the anchor with thriving music venues, galleries, museums, and since 1995, the Paradise City Arts Festival.

Over the past decade there have been a number of arts walks (Northampton, Easthampton, and Amherst) that have been established in the area, with the duel intention of highlighting local talent and driving traffic to downtown centers. The Amherst Cinema Arts Center in 2006 has helped rescue Amherst's downtown, bringing in nearly 2000 theatergoers per week, and contributing direct economic health to the downtown restaurants and shops. The Amherst Cinema has, within the last year, merged operations with Pleasant Street Theater, a Northampton art-film house, long-loved by movie lovers throughout the region.

Museums10, a program of seven college and university museums and galleries and three independent museums with a traditional affiliation with the Five Colleges, has been an increasingly successful collaboration since its 2005 launch. Spurred by a decade of collaborative conversation by museum directors about shared databases, in 2005 the group branded and launched a cooperative series of exhibitions in 2006 called GoDutch! In fall 2007, the group promoted its second initiative BookMarks. Combined, the efforts aided the museums to reach new audiences, while reinforcing the importance of marketing efforts by the museums and demonstrating, through audience surveys and attendance statistics, that the arts are an increasingly important piece of the region's economic puzzle (more on that, and statistics supporting this, in later posts).

The arts and artists have also spurred many area construction projects which have refurbished old building stock for artists. The local communities of Florence and Easthampton in Hampshire County, and Holyoke in Hampden County have benefited greatly from construction projects that have occurred around the need for work and gallery space by area artists in old mill buildings. While the goals of our committee will not address these construction projects, an indirect impact of a cultural scene that is thriving will have real brick and mortar examples.

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So . . . What are we doing? How we will succeed in the effort to call attention to our region's cultural riches? How broad is our definition of a cultural attraction? How broadly do we define our mission? What is our geographic focus and why must it be limited?

The members of our own committee represent different biases, desires, experiences, and constituencies. The nine members of the steering committee are a solid representation of the nearly one hundred people who met at President Christ's invitation in September 2008 at the Hotel Northampton. Because of our different perspectives, our first few monthly conversations on the matter have settled on few conclusions. By May 2009, we plan to present our recommendations on a marketing and business plan, target demographic, and a plan for funding.

As a veteran of these collaborative enterprises, I can promise that the results that we come up with will provide great satisfaction to some, gnashing of teeth by others, skepticism, claims that we weren't bold enough or that we were too aggressive in our approach. No one plan will appeal to all, no matter the measure of success.

Despite the above disclaimer, I am confident of the future success and recognition of our region as a cultural destination. It's already happening, and the statistics support that claim. With the density of resources - hence the title of this blog - our proximity to New York and Boston, the reach of the educational institutions and their famous alumni, we are quite well-positioned.