Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

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

MALC “Get Your Vote On” Press Release

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Contact:
John Weeks
Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition
508-769-2152
weeksjf@gmail.com

Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition’s “Get Your Vote On!” Series Continues to Draw Artists’ Attention To Statewide Political Races

Boston – The Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition (MALC) has been working since November of 2013 to ensure that Massachusetts artists of all disciplines, art, culture, and the creative economy are part of the conversation during this year’s election cycle. In February, we released a policy recommendation paper* for the state’s gubernatorial candidates. MALC subsequently met with almost all of the candidates now running for governor in the November 4th election**.

Since the summer, (MALC) has kept artists of all disciplines informed on the ins-and-outs of statewide and local political races through its Get Your Vote On! series. We kept a constant focus on the September Primaries. A key component of the Get Your Vote On! series has been MALC’s questionnaires completed by candidates running for several statewide offices- Attorney General, State Treasurer, and Lt. Governor. ***

MALC has continued this work for the November 4th General Elections. We have posted pieces breaking down the federal and state district races, and the races for Attorney General, Treasurer, and Lt. Governor. We also discussed the Four Ballot Questions. The week of Oct 27th – 31st, MALC’s Get Your Vote On! blogs will focus on the Massachusetts Governor’s race.

MALC did not send questionnaires to the candidates for Governor. Instead, MALC invited them to write guest blogs. We also specifically asked them when their policy platforms for our sector will be posted on their websites. We urged the candidates to post them before the November 4th election. MALC feels strongly that any candidate seeking to be Governor needs to have a specific policy platform for our sector.

*MALC Policy Recommendations for the next Governor:
http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/the-malc-challenge-for-the-next-governor-be-a-champion-of-arts-culture-and-the-creative-economy/

**Candidates for Governor who met with MALC:
http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/massachusetts-governors-race-update/

***Get Your Vote On! Blog posts For Nov. 4th Election (in the order they were posted):
Attorney General race: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-november-4th-attorney-general-race/
Treasurer race: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-november-4th-treasurer-race/
Lt. Governor race: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-november-4th-lieutenant-governor-race/
State District races: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-november-4th-massachusetts-state-district-races/
Federal races: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-november-4th-general-election-federal-races/
Four Ballot Questions: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-statewide-ballot-questions/

Information about MALC
MALC Blog: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/
MALC Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/massartists
MALC was founded in July 2008 to bring together artists leaders of all disciplines and artist(s) run organizations, initiatives, and businesses around key issues facing Massachusetts artists working in all disciplines. MALC is committed to improving the social and economic position of all Massachusetts artists. The overall goal is to empower our community, support our artists leaders, and mentor new artist leaders. We want to ensure that artists are at the policy making table. MALC is the artist working group for our state’s Creative Economy Council (CEC). MALC does not endorse candidates for office and does not MALC take positions on the statewide ballot questions.