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All images on this page are by Lauren Miller Photography.

BUILDING CHAMPIONS FOR ARTS & CULTURE IN PUBLIC OFFICE

Create the Vote builds a bridge between the creative sector in Massachusetts and candidates who are running for public office through roundtables, forums, voter education, and voter turnout. We mobilize the creative sector to actively participate in state and local elections to generate more public support for arts, culture, and creativity, and to elevate the sector’s stories of impact.

For more than a decade, Create the Vote has organized campaigns around local elections, including Boston mayoral races in 2013 and 2025, Massachusetts House and Senate races, and statewide such as the Gubernatorial race in 2014 and Lieutenant Governor’s race in 2022.

Together, we are demonstrating the electoral power of the creative sector in Massachusetts and using our voices to increase civic education, voter education, and turnout.

activate your community THIS ELECTION

There are many ways to organize your community during election seasons to convince candidates running for public office to prioritize the creative sector and champion cultural policy priorities. A couple of proven and effective ways of building legislative support for arts and culture are holding candidate roundtables and candidate forums.

Check out our toolkits to host your own Candidate Roundtable or Forum. These toolkits break down how to prepare for your event and how to build a coalition of support.

GET OUT THE VOTE

The other critical part about activating your community during elections is participating in, or leading, Get Out The Vote (GOTV) initiatives. It’s not enough to hold roundtables and forums - we need to hold candidates accountable by voting in every election and bringing others along with us. Artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and creative businesses have vital platforms they can use to provide essential voter education, including sharing election dates and voter registration deadlines.

Check out our GOTV toolkit to build your mobilizing strategy, read about best practices, and find additional resources for social media campaigns, tabling, and phonebanking.

You can also download our Massachusetts Voters’ Bill of Rights, Arts & Culture Voting Guide Template, and flier about making a plan to vote in 2026.