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Youth advocates at 2026 Creative Sector Day at the State House. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.

Thanks to the participation of more than 600 arts advocates, Creative Sector Day 2026 was a memorable day of celebration and casemaking for the Massachusetts creative sector.

The Mass Cultural Council generously provided a grant allowing nearly 50 artists and creatives to perform and exhibit their work at the State House. Support from the Mass Cultural Council allowed us to feature a temporary exhibit at the State House called “Creative Solutions to Community Challenges.” Curated in partnership with Mass Humanities, this exhibit featured stories demonstrating how everyday community leaders are using creativity to strengthen communities and promotes a healthy, connected, and inspired Massachusetts. You can learn more about the Create 508 Youth Program in Worcester, Elevated Thought’s partnership with MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative in Lawrence, and more below.

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS EXHIBIT

The “Creative Solutions” exhibit featured artwork from activist and Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduate Michaelann Ferro, who also designed custom posters and buttons for this year’s Creative Sector Day.

Creative Sector Day attendees, including Mass Cultural Council’s Acting Executive Director David T. Slatery (right), hold a sign designed by Michaelann Ferro. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.

Throughout the day, advocates met with their legislators and legislative staff to introduce themselves, share their stories, and to urge them to strengthen their support for the creative sector and economy in Massachusetts.

Creative Sector Advocacy Week 2026 was organized in collaboration with this year’s planning committee, which included #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition, AAPI Arts and Culture Collaborative at The Boston Foundation, Abilities Dance, Amanda Shea, Artists for Humanity, Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, Assets for Artists, Berkshire Cultural Asset Network, Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Building Creative Power MA, Clark Art Institute, Community Music School of Springfield, Elevated Thought, Embrace Boston, Essex Arts Center, FRACC, Fitchburg Cultural Alliance, Global Arts Live, LaunchSpace, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, MASS MoCA, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Monkeyhouse, Mosaic Lowell, New Bedford Creative, New England Foundation for the Arts, New England Museum Association, Raw Art Works, Springfield Creative City Collective, Springfield Cultural Partnership, Worcester Cultural Coalition, ZUMIX, and Regie Gibson.

In addition to the Mass Cultural Council, Creative Sector Day 2026 was possible thanks to sponsorships from Bloom Arts Strategy, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, CreativeGround, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, Philanthropy Massachusetts, SouthCoast Community Foundation, The Boston Foundation, and Third Sector New England. Special thanks to the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and Greater Worcester Community Foundation for sponsoring buses to the State House from Northampton, Springfield, and Worcester.

Thank you for celebrating this year’s Creative Sector Advocacy Week. Please join us again in 2027 as we continue our collective advocacy for a stronger, equitable, and inclusive creative sector for all.

Enjoy these highlights from Creative Sector Day 2026. All images are by Steph Craig Studios.