Community Participation

Artists will often need community support for things such as zoning relief or designation as developers of surplus buildings when developing space or having space issues. Unfortunately, some pubic officials think that artists are "poor by choice," making it difficult for artists and creative businesses to compete for the subsidies made available to other groups in the form of affordable housing subsidies, tax breaks for new businesses, publically owned buildings, etc. While this viewpoint has changed a lot in recent years with many cities and towns trying to attract artists as a part of thier community or economic development strategy, it still persists.

Artists must continue to make the case to their communities that they are part of a healthy community’s success; artists offer positive contributions to the cultural, social and economic life of a community. However, your community can not and will not support you if you are a stranger. Now has never been a better time to get involved and be a visible part of your community.

Please see our section on Making the Case and its Artist Space advocacy toolkit.  

Take Action! Meet with your local councilman, mayor, planning director, chamber of commerce and state representatives. Remember, you hired those folks! They work for you, but can only understand you if you talk to them. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call or letter. Invite them to your openings!

Two local organizations are making it eay to get involved.  Check them out and participate!

Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities  

The Artist Foundation's Creative Alliance