Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

MA Creates Key Rural Policy Advisory Commission

Daily Yonder screen capThe recently enacted Rural Policy Advisory Commission, introduced by Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, is an initiative created by the State Legislature as an outside section of the recently passed FY 2016 state budget. The goal for the Rural Policy Advisory Commission is to act as an equalizer on budget and policy matters for the rural communities.

So often the rural communities’ needs are not adequately addressed due to the majority of elected officials in the State Legislature being based in urban and suburban communities.  We hope the Commission will give much-needed voice to the under-represented but critical needs of rural Massachusetts, needs like high-speed internet access to improve both education and housing prices, and improving access and growth of the creative economy, among other important issues of equity.

We encourage you to learn more about how the Rural Policy Advisory Commission can help bridge the east-west economic divide across our state by reading this informative Daily Yonder interview with Matt Barron, a co-founder of Artistsunderthedome.org and an important adviser to MALC.