Massachusetts Creative Economy Leaders Unite with Lawmakers to Address Support Gap

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 policy solutions.

Creative Entrepreneurs Fuel the Massachusetts Creative Economy

In my opening remarks, I emphasized a critical point framing our discussion: “Artists, makers, designers, and creative entrepreneurs are business owners within the Massachusetts creative economy. They manage finances, create jobs, and contribute significantly to our state’s economic vitality.”

Massachusetts ranks as the third most arts-vibrant state nationally, with our creative economy representing approximately 3% of the workforce—137,000 jobs generating $930 million in economic impact. Yet, many creative entrepreneurs in the Massachusetts creative economy operate in a “support gap”—too structured for individual artist grants but too small for traditional business programs.

These businesses create a significant cultural impact but lack the necessary targeted support mechanisms to survive, let alone thrive. As I shared with attendees, in these challenging times, creative professionals in the Massachusetts creative economy serve a function beyond economic value—they are essential guardians of free expression, creating spaces where difficult conversations happen through the universal languages of creativity and belonging.

Why the Massachusetts Creative Economy Matters Now

This convening couldn’t have been more necessary during unprecedented challenges to arts funding and cultural institutions across Massachusetts. As Senator Edward Markey pointedly shared in his video remarks, “The arts and humanities are under direct attack by the Trump administration… I’m going to vote no on any funding package that does not protect funding for the arts, museums, and for the humanities.” He referenced that just last week, “the entire staff at the Institute of Museum and Library Services was placed on administrative leave”—a concrete example of the current threats to the Massachusetts creative economy.

These are not abstract political decisions—they directly threaten our sector’s vital economic and cultural contributions. Beyond economics, what became clear throughout our discussion is that cultural spaces serve as essential “third spaces” for community connection and dialogue. As I noted in my remarks, “The communities that thrive in times of division invest in cultural infrastructure—the studios, venues, and creative spaces that become our common ground in the Massachusetts creative economy.”

Strengthening the Massachusetts Creative Economy Through Cross-Sector Collaboration

The strength of yesterday’s event was in the diversity of voices present. From Congressman Seth Moulton and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll to Mayor Dominick Pangallo and Representative Manny Cruz, our panel represented multiple levels of government engaging directly with Massachusetts creative economy leaders.

A powerful call emerged to reimagine partnerships between Massachusetts’s government and creative sector. As Representative Cruz eloquently put it, “I firmly believe as someone who grew up in a house filled with creatives, I’ve seen the magic that when you give an artist their tools, what they can create, we need to be working side by side.”

Congressman Moulton emphasized that arts funding is fundamentally about equal opportunity for all participants in the Massachusetts creative economy: “If there wasn’t federal funding for the arts, the rich would still have art. What this federal funding does is it makes sure that those opportunities are available to all.”

Addressing the Support Gap in the Massachusetts Creative Economy

Much of our discussion centered on what Senator Joan Lovely called “the support gap” for creative entrepreneurs in Massachusetts. While our flagship institutions like PEM receive vital support, the thousands of micro-businesses that form the backbone of our creative economy often struggle to access basic resources.

Senator Lovely highlighted: “We’re gonna talk about the small entrepreneurs, too, who don’t have access to funding, frankly. People who really do want us to grow their businesses, their cultural and artistic businesses, but how do they get that start? What about health insurance? What about disability insurance?” These questions are critical to sustaining the Massachusetts creative economy.

Mayor Pangallo highlighted how Salem has built relationships with creatives during “normal times” that proved invaluable during crises like COVID-19: “When you build those relationships before there are times that are challenging, when the challenging times arrive, there’s mutual trust and there’s the ability to move forward with alignment around where you want to go.” This model demonstrates effective local support for the Massachusetts creative economy.

Massachusetts Creative Economy as Community Connector

Lieutenant Governor Driscoll shared a powerful personal reflection on how art creates empathy: “I see this opportunity that we’re in, where sometimes we do shut down and don’t speak to others, as bringing people together in a space that we have a shared origin around… I see our creative community being the one that is typically in the best position possible to help lead us through some of those efforts.”

She illustrated this point with her experience viewing an exhibit at Mass MoCA about melting Icelandic glaciers that created immediate empathy and a call to action: “I don’t know these villagers where this glacier is melting, but I feel connected to them through this exhibit.” This exemplifies how the Massachusetts creative economy builds bridges between communities.

Action Steps Forward

As advocates for the creative economy, we left yesterday’s breakfast with clear action items:

1. Join Mass Creative’s Advocacy Week (April 28-May 2) to demonstrate the strength and necessity of the creative sector at the State House
2. Center creative voices in policy development through appointments to boards, commissions, and advisory councils
3. Support micro-business initiatives like the new tax credits championed in recent economic development legislation
4. Enhance storytelling efforts that communicate both personal impact and community-wide benefits of creative investment
5. Consider public service roles for creative professionals who can bring new perspectives to governance

As Representative Cruz challenged us: “The creative economy and the folks that are in it, you’re the storytellers, you’re the people that have given us hope and inspiration in the darkest of times… As we think about what day one needs to look like, my invitation is, paint the picture.”

The Future of the Massachusetts Creative Economy

The path forward requires resistance against funding cuts and a proactive vision for how the Massachusetts creative economy can heal and transform our communities. As I emphasized in my closing remarks, we need to recognize creative professionals not just for their artistic contributions and “the way they make us feel” but engage with them as legitimate business owners and critical partners in shaping a more innovative, inclusive, and welcoming Essex County.

Mayor Pangallo reminded us why this work matters beyond economics: “The arts have intrinsic value, even if it didn’t create a job or generate any revenue… It’s about challenging our preconceived biases, about exposing us to new ideas, about telling stories that we need to hear and it’s also about challenging those in power with new ideas.”

When conventional approaches to systemic issues fall short, creative thinkers in the Massachusetts creative economy offer alternative pathways. This is why cross-sectoral partnerships like the one demonstrated at yesterday’s event are crucial. Representative Cruz challenged the creative community to help envision what comes next: “The creative economy and the folks that are in it, you’re the storytellers, you’re the people that have given us hope and inspiration in the darkest of times… As we think about what day one needs to look like, my invitation is, paint the picture.”

Creative Collective is committed to defending the institutions and individuals that make our region’s creative economy vibrant and collaboratively building new opportunities for creative expression and economic sustainability. We’re deeply grateful to all who participated, especially our hosts at PEM, and look forward to continuing this essential work to strengthen the Massachusetts creative economy.

Creative Collective is a community-focused organization empowering the creative economy across Essex County and beyond. Through our business program and combined projects, we engage over 500 creative professionals and small business owners, driving regional cultural and economic growth. To learn more about our membership opportunities or upcoming events, visit creativecollectivema.com.

The Peabody Essex Museum is one of North America’s oldest and fastest-growing museums. Founded in 1799, PEM’s mission is to enrich and transform people’s lives by broadening their perspectives, attitudes, and knowledge of themselves and the wider world. As Executive Director Lynda Roscoe Hartigan noted at the event, “Bringing people together to build community and celebrate creativity, curiosity, and human spirit is very much part of PEM’s DNA.” The museum celebrates outstanding artistic and cultural creativity through exhibitions, programming, and community events that emphasize cross-cultural connections, integrate past and present, and underscore the vital importance of creative expression. Learn more at pem.org.