You might not even realize it’s happening! The mural you pass on your way to work. The live music drifting out of your favorite restaurant on a Thursday night. The handmade sign in the coffee shop window. The photographer who captured your kid’s first birthday. The designer who made your business feel real when they handed you that logo.

The energy in the Peabody Essex Museum‘s atrium on September 4 was unique. Furthermore, it was not the polite enthusiasm of typical morning panels, but the electric charge of people recognizing transformative change. As leaders gathered for Creative Capital: Investing in Community, organized by PEM in partnership with Creative Collective, they weren’t just discussing programs. Indeed, they were witnessing how

As creatives, community builders, and culture makers, we face a pivotal moment for our sector’s future. The Trump administration’s recent attacks on arts and humanities funding represent an existential threat to America’s vibrant cultural infrastructure. Recent developments—from mass cancellation of NEA grants to proposed elimination of major cultural agencies—demand that we stand together. [Sources: NPR, Seattle Times] The Unfolding Crisis

By Creative Collective | May 3, 2025 On Thursday, May 1, Creative Collective attended the Alliance Policymakers Series event featuring Senate President Karen E. Spilka, hosted by the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. The event brought together North Shore business and community leaders for an update on Senate priorities and an engaging

Standing Together: Why Creative Communities Must Unite and Speak Up in Challenging Times, and How You Can Help by John Andrews The Power of Creative Solidarity Against Authoritarianism In Essex County and beyond, we at Creative Collective are witnessing a pivotal moment that affects all our creative communities. As allies committed to amplifying diverse voices, we’ve observed how tensions between

“The Humanities are how we seek out the truth. About ourselves, about our ancestors, about our towns, and our cities, and our states, and our country,” declared Brian Boyles, Executive Director of Mass Humanities, setting the tone for the MASSCreative Creative Sector Day 2025. “We need funding. But the state needs us. They need us to keep the light in

Yesterday morning, Creative Collective had the honor of co-hosting a Legislative Networking Breakfast with the Peabody Essex Museum. The breakfast brought together cultural leaders and elected officials from across our region for a vital conversation about the creative economy in Massachusetts, focusing on community support and civic engagement. The Massachusetts creative economy faces unique challenges that require dedicated advocacy and

The creative sector faces unprecedented opportunities and significant threats in today’s challenging economic climate. With strained government budgets, making decisions about public investments is increasingly complex, and this year demands action. As community builders and economic drivers, creative professionals are essential to the vitality of Massachusetts communities, yet our sector often struggles for the recognition and support it deserves. That’s

By John Andrews In a recent Boston Globe article, reporter Janelle Nanos painted a vivid picture of New England businesses’ economic uncertainty. From car dealerships to farmers to ice cream shop owners, the unpredictable policy landscape creates what one business owner aptly called “its own kind of tax” on our regional economy. As advocates for our vibrant creative economy, we