Arts and culture aren’t separate from tourism. Tourism isn’t separate from arts and culture. They are integrated, and in Massachusetts communities like Beverly, that integration is driving real economic growth – more visitors, more spending, more jobs, and a stronger local identity. I’ve been saying this for years. A few weeks ago, I got to make that case on stage

Author: John, Founder & Executive Director, Creative Collective I need to talk about what happened while watching the Super Bowl Halftime this year. (I had some feelings about last year, too!) This one got me all up in my feels.  If you watched Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, you saw more than a spectacle. The cameos and choreography amazed,

  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 North of Boston tourism awards Destination Excellence Summit gathered more than 200 professionals at Salem’s Hawthorne Hotel on November 19 to address a critical question: how does a region coordinate tourism strategy across 34 cities and towns while maintaining authentic local character? The timing proved symbolic—the Hawthorne Hotel celebrated its 100th birthday while hosting discussions about the next century

About the Podcast Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a Creative Collective podcast that goes beyond the brand and into the authentic journeys of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. Each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique path, what drives her, and where

About the Podcast Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a Creative Collective podcast that goes beyond the brand and into the authentic journeys of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. Each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique path, what drives her, and where

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