Category: Arts & Creativity

Announcing Catalyzing Vitality: New Grantmaking from the Arts & Creativity Program

Jamilah Bradshaw art headshot 2024

Jamilah Bradshaw

Program Officer, Arts & Creativity

Francisco Torres art headshot 2024

Francisco Torres

Program Officer, Arts & Creativity

Fifty-five grassroots arts organizations across Massachusetts receive a total of $7 million in flexible multi-year funding.

February 20, 2025 | Category: Arts & Creativity

From Data to Development: Empowering how we Define the Creative Economy

Margo Saulnier

Margo Saulnier

Guest Author · Director of Creative Strategies and Arts-Based Initiatives, New Bedford Economic Development Council

Laurie Zapalac

Laurie Zapalac

Guest Author · Principal, Zapalac Advisors

Quantifying the true scale and impact of the creative economy as a vital part of communities across Massachusetts has historically been a challenge. Until now.

January 29, 2025 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Announcing Cultural Evolution: Supporting Organizations through Business Model Transformations, a new initiative from the Arts & Creativity program

SueEllen Kroll art headshot 2024

SueEllen Kroll

Senior Program Officer, Arts & Creativity

Over $3.3 million will be invested in eight leading arts organizations over three years as they transform their business models.

January 28, 2025 | Category: Arts & Creativity

In New Bedford, An Inside-Out Makeover

Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is renovating its theater, but also revamping its policies on racial equity and community engagement.

December 09, 2024 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Arts Leaders Team Up to Address Shared Challenges

san san wong brick headshot 2019

E. San San Wong

Director of Arts & Creativity

Jamilah Bradshaw art headshot 2024

Jamilah Bradshaw

Program Officer, Arts & Creativity

With new funds for collaboration, four pairs of grantee partners in Barr’s ArtsAmplified initiative pursue solutions to benefit their communities and the broader arts and nonprofit sectors.

October 11, 2024 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Exploring Arts Vibrancy in Massachusetts: Strengths and Opportunities

Jen Benoit- Bryan

Jen Benoit-Bryan

Guest Author · Director , SMU DataArts

Katie Ingersoll

Katie Ingersoll

Guest Author · Director of Communications, SMU DataArts

A new report and map produced by SMU DataArts for the Barr Foundation documents high levels of arts vibrancy across the state of Massachusetts and prompts an important conversation about who is included in arts datasets.

September 12, 2024 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Paying Arts Workers Equitably Improves Life for Everyone

Paying arts workers equitably improves life for everyone. It’s not only the right thing to do for art workers, but also the right thing to do for communities and art itself.

September 11, 2024 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Announcing the 2024 Live Arts Boston Grantees

Jamilah Bradshaw art headshot 2024

Jamilah Bradshaw

Program Officer, Arts & Creativity

Catherine T. Morris

Catherine Morris

Director, Arts + Creativity, The Boston Foundation

Seeding futures for the performing arts—over $1 million in new grants to 30 individual artists in Greater Boston

August 08, 2024 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Three New Community Foundations Join “Creative Commonwealth” Partnership – Cambridge, Greater Lowell, and MetroWest

san san wong brick headshot 2019

E. San San Wong

Director of Arts & Creativity

SueEllen Kroll art headshot 2024

SueEllen Kroll

Senior Program Officer, Arts & Creativity

Expanded initiative now includes eight community foundations. Next three years to feature new and deepened investments, experiments, and learning to advance more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable arts and creativity in communities across Massachusetts.

November 15, 2023 | Category: Arts & Creativity

Embracing Risk and Adapting to Change During the Pandemic

How at the height of the pandemic, a Berkshire County arts organization defied the odds, expanding its services for people with disabilities.

October 03, 2023 | Category: Arts & Creativity