Senate approves Creative Economy Council

Bill does not guarantee representation of artists

Massachusetts would create a “first in the nation” statewide Creative Economy Council under a bill approved by the Massachusetts Senate on Tuesday. It’s a notable achievement, but in an outrageous omission the bill has no requirement that artists be included on the 23-member council. Nor is there any explicit requirement for representation on the committee of galleries, museums, theaters and the like.

The bill (full pdf text here) was approved by the state House of Representatives on July 16, and is expected to soon be signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick. The council, the bill says, will operate out of the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and “shall 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.”

Though the bill does not guarantee a place for artists on the council, it does require representation from the state Legislature; the Massachusetts Cultural Council; MassArt; Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities; the restaurant and tourism industries; and state agencies and executive offices devoted to these business sectors. (The relevant section from the bill is excerpted at bottom.)

The omission of artists in particular highlights a problem among creative economy advocates: they can be so focused on the economy part that they neglect the creative folks. The bill should be immediately amended.


Related:
An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Creative Economy Council
House Bill 4965, Section 1 (b):

“The council shall consist of 23 members 3 of whom shall be members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; 3 of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader; and 17 members to be appointed by the Governor, 1 of whom shall be the secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development, or his designee, who shall serve as chair of the council; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts office of travel and tourism, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the director of the Massachusetts office of business development, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the director of the John Adams Innovation Institute, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the chairman of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts College of Art, or her designee; 3 of whom shall be directors of a regional tourism councils; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Salem Partnership; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Salem State College Assistance Corporation; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Berkshire Creative Economy Initiative; and 1 of whom shall be an owner of a sole proprietorship in the creative economy.”