The Amplifying Voices Film Festival 2026 returns to The Cabot in Beverly, MA on March 12–13 with two days of free film screenings celebrating stories by and about people of color. Now in its fourth year, the festival has quickly become one of the North Shore’s most meaningful cultural traditions. Additionally, this year’s lineup features powerful documentaries, an international shorts

  A little blue heron stands perfectly still, its eyes locked on a tiny froglet just below the waterline. In that split second, Gloucester photographer Joyce Wood pressed the shutter — and captured the grand prize of the Essex Heritage Photo Contest 2025. Her image, “Little Blue Heron and Froglet,” is one of fifteen winning photographs that remind us why

Salem and East Budleigh Celebrate 400 Years of Transatlantic Connection A 400-Year-Old Bond Becomes Official Four centuries after Roger Conant left his Devon village to establish what would become Salem, Massachusetts, the two communities he connects are making their bond official. In February 2026, Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo and East Budleigh Parish Council Chair John Tresidder formalized a Sister City

Mayor Pangallo begins second term at PEM ceremony as poets and performers frame the moment—and the creative sector speaks without being named. On a Monday morning in January, just days before Salem’s official 400+ anniversary kickoff, the city inaugurated its 2026 leadership the way this city does so many things: surrounded by art, grounded in history, and looking resolutely forward.

  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.

Creative Collective was honored to attend The Salem Pantry‘s 2nd Annual Impact Breakfast on June 25th, where we witnessed firsthand how one organization is transforming North Shore food security across our region. Community-Powered Impact: The Power of Partnership The Salem Pantry’s success isn’t just about professional staff—an incredible community of supporters powers it. 1,103 volunteers contributed over 10,010 hours in

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

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

Photo courtesy of John Collins Photography. Essex County’s rich Revolutionary War heritage takes center stage next summer as Gloucester prepares to host a national commemoration event that will bring history dramatically to life. Battle of Bunker Hill 250th Anniversary One of the American Revolution’s most significant battles will be commemorated spectacularly when the 250th-anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Bunker