Create The Vote
Connecting the creative community and candidates.
Since 2013, Create the Vote campaigns have engaged voters and candidates for office about the way that arts, culture, and creative expression build inclusive, connected, and more equitable communities. Through our past engagement, we have proven that our unified voices work in raising the profile of artists, creative workers, cultural nonprofits, and creative small businesses during elections.
Playing our part during election season.
In 2020, Create the Vote expanded efforts to use art and culture to develop creative strategies to register people to vote, educate voters about casting ballots by mail, encourage people to participate in the electoral process, and increase voter turnout.
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In 2013, MASSCreative developed Create the Vote, an advocacy campaign to elevate arts and culture in the Boston Mayoral Election. Through the support of the Barr Foundation and partnership with Boston arts stakeholders, the Create the Vote campaign successfully brought the needs of the creative sector front and center for candidates and voters. Through Intimate roundtable discussions, questionnaires and a town hall forum, candidates heard directly from the creative community on pressing needs of the sector. During the town hall forum, Mayor Walsh publicly committed to appointing a Chief of Arts and Culture for the City to his Cabinet.
Each year MASSCreative works with partners to elevate the creative sector during election season. In 2021 we worked on the Boston Mayoral election and in 2022 we prioritized the Statewide Gubernatorial election. In 2024 we will focus on open seats within the State Legislature. The new Create the Vote coalition campaign program will use a similar campaign activity model as before, but place priority on the development of local coalitions who work together long after the election ends for continued shared advocacy work.
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Our democracy depends on free and fair elections, where communities come together to decide who will represent them. Artists, creatives, and cultural organizations are trusted community leaders who have a responsibility to play their part in encouraging voter turnout.
To support voter accessibility, MASSCreative will work with artists, creative workers, and cultural organizations to increase voter registration during this election cycle. Through Let’s Get Registered, MASSCreative will work with partners to run registration drives, provide clarity around voter eligibility and timelines, and support Massachusetts residents with tangible resources to make a voting plan ahead of election day.
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In addition to the Presidential race, Massachusetts voters will decide who will represent them in the State Legislature this November. Members of the State House of Representatives and State Senate are crucial decision-makers for the creative sector, including annual state spending and legislation that affects our cities and towns.
Candidates and incumbents interested in running for the state legislature must file paperwork by Tuesday, May 28th.
As of late March, three state senators and 15 state representatives are not running for reelection. These open races present communities with the opportunity to consider new leadership. Open races are an excellent time for artists, creatives, and cultural leaders to lead community Create the Vote campaigns.
MASSCreative is excited to spearhead collaboration with community leaders across the Commonwealth, aiming to offer civic education opportunities and foster connections among candidates through dynamic forums. This initiative not only encourages candidates to explore innovative solutions to key issues facing the Creative Sector in the Commonwealth but also emphasizes the significance of incorporating the artists' perspectives into the broader narrative. By providing ample resources, Create the Vote creates a platform for artists, cultural organizations, and creative businesses to showcase their impact and contribute meaningfully to the discourse.