Connecting with Mass Municipal Association

Lisa Simmons, Program Manager

Cultural Districts | Local Cultural Council Program

Mass Municipal Association (MMA) held its annual meeting, Connect 351, last month in Boston’s Seaport District. Mass Cultural Council’s Communities Team set up at booth #711 on ‘Government Row’ to talk about the incredible work of Local Cultural Councils and Cultural Districts, and to share information about our grant programs and initiatives that are of interest to local officials and municipalities.

MMA is a nonprofit that brings municipal officials together to:

• Articulate a clear and united municipal message to the Massachusetts Legislature
• Develop and advocate for unified policies
• Share information and work together

to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal service delivery.

Our Communities Team has tabled at MMA’s conference for the past 4 years, and we always look forward to meeting new people and catching up with old friends who work tirelessly to bring arts and culture to their communities across Massachusetts.

One person we spoke to was Amy Heidebrecht, Assistant to the Town Manager of Andover. She shared with us about the town’s mascot, a life-size yellow cow sculpture that had been created as part of CowParade, a statewide public art event where cow sculptures were painted and transformed by local artists, displayed in pastures throughout cities for residents and tourists to visit, and sold for the benefit of local nonprofit organizations.

“Arts and culture has really become part of the branding of Andover. The cow was so popular with the town that after CowParade was over we purchased our cow, found the original artist to paint ‘Welcome to Andover’ on one side and made sure she stayed right where she belonged.”

In addition to tabling at Connect 351, Mass Cultural Council has also recently contributed to the arts and culture conversations at MMA through a series of webinars held for their members:

• Embracing Culture in the Commonwealth – slide deck
  A discussion on how communities can support and promote the arts by appointing staff to a Local Cultural Council, and how they can build Cultural Districts through community initiatives, such as planning and zoning.
• Building Vibrant and Creative Communities – slide deck
  Officials from municipalities with thriving cultural communities discuss how to build public support for arts, culture and tourism; celebrate different traditions and talents; and promote economic opportunity within cities and towns.
• Advancing Community Arts, Culture, and Economic Development: Best Practices for Select Boards  – slide deck
  Representatives from Mass Cultural Council discuss how select boards can support arts and culture initiatives and advance economic development in their communities, while local officials from Orleans and Carlisle present local case studies.

We had a blast speaking to municipal leaders about the power of culture at Connect 351, and look forward to our continued work and growing partnership with MMA!

Cultural Districts | Local Cultural Council Program