By Fei Wu | May 15, 2025 | Reading Time: 3 minutes
On May 14, 2025, I had the privilege of attending the Worcester County State of the Arts Convening at the beautiful Chocksett Inn in Sterling, MA. The event was hosted by the Worcester Cultural Coalition, led by Executive Director Fabian Barracks, and Fitchburg Cultural Alliance led by Jessie Olson with the kind support of Greater Worcester Community Foundation. Featured speakers were Michael Bobbitt, the Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council, and Emily Ruddock, Executive Director from MASSCreative.
This gathering brought together visual artists, fashion designers, visual artists, dancers, singers, curators, arts administrators, organizational leaders, and policy makers—all united by the belief that art is for all.
From feeling lost to feeling empowered
Before attending, I often found the world of cultural funding, creative policy, and arts advocacy to be confusing, full of unfamiliar acronyms and disconnected organizations. Today changed that for me. Hearing directly from the people doing the work and sitting alongside other creatives helped me understand the powerful ecosystem that exists to support us.
This event was completely free and welcoming, an important reminder that these spaces are meant for everyone.
The Cultural Asset Inventory: A game-changing tool
One of the highlights of the day was the launch of the 2024 Massachusetts Cultural Asset Inventory, a groundbreaking study conducted by the Mass Cultural Council and Diversity North Group.
- 112,190 individuals work in creative roles (3% of the MA workforce).
- The median income for creators is $49,200, compared to a Massachusetts living wage of $58,000 for a single adult.
- The inventory also includes 15,063 arts, humanities, and sciences organizations.
- 18% BIPOC representation and 8% people with disabilities.
Download the 2024 Massachusetts Cultural Asset Inventory.
The creative sector is an economic powerhouse
- Contributes $29.7 billion to the Massachusetts economy.
- Accounts for 4% of the state’s GDP (greater than education or transportation sectors).
- Supports 130,263 jobs across the state.
- Massachusetts ranks 3rd most arts-vibrant state in the U.S. as of 2024.
Who supports us? A list of partners and funders
This is where I used to get lost, so I want to make it easy for you:
The people and organizations who help fund, advocate, and grow the arts include:
- Mass Cultural Council (MCC) – state arts agency for Massachusetts
- Worcester Cultural Coalition – the lead organizer of this event
- MASSCreative – grassroots advocacy network for creative equity and policy change
- Mass Humanities
- CreativeGround
Spotlight on MASSCreative
MASSCreative deserves a special mention. They work alongside artists, arts organizations, and community leaders to:
- Host advocacy campaigns for increased arts funding
Lead virtual learning and organizing spaces - Push for state-level legislation to support creative spaces and fair access
- Connect creatives with opportunities to take action and speak to legislators
I highly recommend visiting mass-creative.org and joining their Creative Action Network.
My takeaway: We are stronger together
Today felt vibrant, inclusive, and hopeful. The power of culture was visible in every conversation—from policy makers to performers. As a working artist and small business owner, I left with the deep understanding that I am not alone. There are entire systems, coalitions, and communities working behind the scenes to ensure that art remains a vital part of everyday life for all Massachusetts residents.
Get involved!
If you’re a creator, educator, organizer, or simply someone who cares about the arts:
- Follow Worcester Cultural Coalition on Instagram @worcesterculturalcoalition and sign up for their newsletter.
- Visit mass-creative.org to learn how you can advocate for creative sector policies.
- Join a local arts network or cultural council. You belong in these rooms.
The message today was clear: Data is only half the work. Story is the other half.
And your story matters.
