PAST ACTION: ADVOCATE FOR THE CREATIVE SPACE PRESERVATION AND DOWNTOWN VITALITY ACTs IN THE house’s ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL
Picture features Ashley Occhino, Executive Director of Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition, speaking in support of the Downtown Vitality Act at a town hall in New Bedford in November 2023.
THIS ACTION HAS ENDED. CONTINUE READING FOR AN ARCHIVE OF THE CALL TO ADVOCATE.
Earlier on Monday, the House Ways and Means Committee released their version of the Economic Development Bond Bill, referred to as the Mass Leads Act (H.4789). Their $3.5 billion economic development plan prioritizes investments in life sciences, climate tech, and other industries - including the creative sector. The House Committee’s version of the Mass Leads Act includes $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund and a live theater tax credit pilot program.
Representative Dan Cahill (D-Lynn) filed Amendment #104, “Stabilizing Space for the Creative Economy,” to include the Creative Space Preservation Act in the final economic development package. H.3241/S.530, An Act to preserve space for the creative economy or the “Creative Space Preservation Act,” is one of five bills included in the 2023-2024 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. This bill 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 for the creation and preservation of creative spaces, giving them more tools to keep artists in their communities. The Creative Space Preservation Act was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development earlier this year.
Additionally, Representative Tony Cabral (D-New Bedford) filed Amendment #321, “Downtown Vitality,” to include the Downtown Vitality Act in the House’s final version of the Mass Leads Act. H.228/S.130, An Act to promote downtown vitality, is another legislative priority in this session’s Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The Downtown Vitality Act would establish a fund to allocate 1% of revenues from online sales originating in Massachusetts to support staffing and operations of cultural districts, business improvement districts, main street associations, and parking benefit districts in Gateway Cities and other low-income communities. The Downtown Vitality Act received a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses.
NOW’S OUR TIME TO TAKE ACTION
The House is debating their Economic Development Bond Bill during formal session this Thursday and we have work to do before then to get support from House members. The 2023-2024 legislative session is nearly over and this could be our best opportunity to pass the Creative Space Preservation Act and Downtown Vitality Act this year.
HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR AMENDMENTS #104 AND #321:
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Find your state representative here.
1) Elected offices receive a lot of communications every day. Keep your call brief, pleasant, and respectful.
2) Leave a message if you get a voicemail - staff always check messages!
3) If you are asked a question but don’t know the answer, that’s okay! Ask for their email and you can follow up afterward. Contact Team MASSCreative so we can help you find the answers you need.
Script:
Hello, Rep. X. My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent in your district. I live at [ADDRESS].
I am calling today to urge you to co-sponsor two amendments to the House’s Economic Development Bond Bill that will support the creative sector: Amendment #104, filed by Rep. Cahill, and Amendment #321, filed by Rep. Cabral.
Amendment #104 will create a definition for creative maker and performance spaces and it would establish a trust fund for cities and towns to preserve creative spaces. This would help prevent further cultural displacement.
Amendment #321 will create the Downtown Vitality Fund to seed and support cultural districts, main street associations, and business improvement districts in Massachusetts. These amendments will support a more inclusive and equitable creative sector for Massachusetts.
Other things to include:
Share a sentence about your relationship to the creative sector.
Share a sentence about the role of arts and culture in your community.
Share with them how these bills would support your community.
Thank them for their time. If you want them to respond, repeat your name, phone number, and email address.
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The emails that stand out are the personalized ones. When you write to your state representative and their staff, please modify the outline below so they’re hearing your voice.
Find your state representative here.
Dear Rep. X,
Include a greeting. State your address and that you are a constituent.
State why you are contacting them:
I am writing today to urge you to co-sponsor two amendments to the House’s Economic Development Bond Bill that would support the creative sector: Amendment #104, filed by Rep. Cahill, and Amendment #321, filed by Rep. Cabral.
Amendment #104 will create a definition for creative maker and performance spaces and it would establish a trust fund for cities and towns to preserve creative spaces. This would help prevent further cultural displacement.
Amendment #321 will create the Downtown Vitality Fund to seed and support cultural districts, main street associations, and business improvement districts in Massachusetts. These amendments will support a more inclusive and equitable creative sector for Massachusetts.
Ask your state representative to co-sponsor Amendments #104 and #321.
Other things to include:
Share a sentence about your relationship to the creative sector.
Share a sentence about the role of arts and culture in your community.
Share with them how these bills would support your community.
Include your name, address, and phone number (optional) in your signature.
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We get it - sometimes you just don't have the time to write out a personalized message, but still want to advocate. You can send a quick note of support to your state representative using the tool below.
Use this tool to send a quick note to your state representative.
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Advocacy and organizing are about building community. When you take action on an issue, it’s meaningful, but when you get three folks in your network to join you in advocacy - that’s a movement.
Think of three people you know who live in Massachusetts and want to do something about preventing cultural displacement and improving downtown vibrancy. These are the folks you can organize into arts advocates.
Use this email template to share our advocacy campaign today.
Dear [Friend],
As you know, I care deeply about the creative community in Massachusetts and I want to share an opportunity to take action to advocate for increased state support. Right now, the House is debating its version of the Mass Leads Act, their Economic Development Bond Bill. This proposal includes important investments for the creative sector such as $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund and a live theater tax credit pilot program.
I’m joining MASSCreative and advocates across the Commonwealth to urge the House to include two amendments that would help prevent cultural displacement and give cultural districts more resources to enhance the vibrancy of our downtowns. Amendment #104, filed by Rep. Dan Cahill, would include the Creative Space Preservation Act to create a definition for creative maker and performance spaces, as well as establish a trust fund for cities and towns to preserve creative spaces. Amendment #321, filed by Rep. Tony Cabral, would include the Downtown Vitality Act to establish a fund to seed and support cultural districts, main street associations, and business improvement districts in Massachusetts.
These amendments will support a more inclusive and equitable creative sector for Massachusetts. Both of these amendments were proposed as bills in the 2023-2024 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda, had public hearings, are endorsed by nearly 300 individuals and cultural organizations, and received favorable reports from their committees.
This could be our best chance at passing these policies this session. Will you join us by contacting your state representative and asking them to co-sponsor Amendments #104 and #321?
Use this tool to send a quick note to your state representative.
I’m happy to tell you more about this work. Thank you for considering!
