MA House approves 1st in nation Creative Economy Council

Wednesday the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a bill that would create a “first in the nation” statewide Creative Economy Council. The proposal now moves to the state Senate.

This follows Governor Deval Patrick’s appointment in June of Jason Schupbach as the state’s first "creative economy industry director," which was also billed as a “first in the nation.”

Dan Hunter, executive director of Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, & Humanities, reports:

"The council will work with the Office of Economic Development to ‘develop a statewide strategy for the enhancement, encouragement, and growth of the creative economy in the commonwealth, and to promote through public and private means responsive public policies and innovative private sector practices.’ … The council will consist of 23 members including legislators, the director of MAASH, the director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and other leaders in the creative economy movement.”

The bill was proposed by Rep. Dan Bosley (D-North Adams), House chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.