HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE CREATIVE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT
H.3241 / S.530: An Act to preserve space for the creative economy
Sponsored by Rep. Dan Cahill and Sen. Liz Miranda
ABOUT THE CREATIVE SPACE PRESERVATION ACT
Using successful conversation land and affordable housing preservation law as its model, the Creative Space Preservation Act would create a defined property restriction for creative maker space and performance or exhibition space. It would also allow cities and towns to establish trust funds to hold assets and property to create and preserve creative spaces, giving them more tools to keep artists in place.
LANDSCAPE
Throughout Massachusetts, we are experiencing an unsettling trend of artists and creatives losing their creative and rehearsal spaces to higher rents and developer acquisition. In the last five to seven years, at least 300 artists and creative workers in the City of Boston have been impacted by the loss of 100,000 square feet of cultural production space, including studios, rehearsal space, live music venues, gathering spaces and specialized retail venues. But this isn’t simply a Boston or region issue and without intervention the loss of access to affordable creative spaces will mean artists, creative workers, and artisans will leave and the vibrant creativity in downtowns and main streets across the Commonwealth will disappear.
Now is the time to act to disrupt further loss of creative spaces and ensure creative workers remain in our towns and cities for years to come.
WHAT THE BILL WOULD DO:
Adds “creative space restriction” as a defined land restriction category in the General Laws.
Defines “creative space” as space where the primary use is the creation and practice of art, culture, and creative expression, and the primary users are artists, creative workers or artisans in the fine, applied, or popular arts.
Defines “presentation space” as space where the primary use is showcasing, presentation and exhibition of art, culture and creative expression by artists, creative workers, artisans, and community members in the fine, applied or popular arts.
Allows cities and towns to establish a Municipal Creative Space Trust Fund for the creation and preservation of creative space and presentation space in municipalities.
Establishes a 5-person board of trustees for each municipal space trust fund responsible for, but not limited to, accepting and receiving property and funds; purchasing and retaining property; selling, leasing, exchanging or transferring property; executing and delivering deeds and other instruments for purposes of the trust; employing advisors and agents; participating in any reorganization; manage or improve property.
All designated funds would go directly into the trust.
JOIN OUR ADVOCACY COALITION
MASSCreative Action Network is building a coalition of artists, cultural organizations, creative businesses, and sector allies to advocate for this necessary bill. We know that united advocacy works and we invite you to join our coalition today.
For Organizations and Businesses, we ask coalition members to:
Formally endorse the bill and allow us to use their names/logos on our bill advocacy materials.
Join the MASSCreative Action Network and the bill's sponsors at a press event to amplify the bill’s importance and build public support.
Testify at committee hearings and submit written testimony in support of the legislation.
Work to engage more state and local lawmakers to support the bill through meetings and outreach.
Share news, calls to action, and other advocacy efforts via social media and communication platforms.
Share your feedback on ways to strengthen the legislation.
CAN MY NONPROFIT ENDORSE LEGISLATION? Yes! Check out our guide for nonprofits interested in advocacy.
For Artists, Creative Workers, Advocates, and Individual Supporters, we ask coalition members to:
Formally share your support for the bill and allow us to add your name to formal letters of support.
Testify - or submit written testimony - at committee hearings supporting the legislation.
Share your support for the bill with your elected officials through meetings and outreach.
Share updates, calls to action, and other advocacy efforts via social media with your networks.
Share your feedback on ways to strengthen the legislation.
