MALC “Get Your Vote On” Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact:
John Weeks
Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition
508-769-2152
weeksjf@gmail.com
9/2/14
Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition’s “Get Your Vote On!” Series Draws Artists’ Attention To Statewide Political Races
Boston – The Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition (MALC) this summer has been keeping artists of all disciplines informed on the ins-and-outs of statewide and local political races through its Get Your Vote On! series. MALC has run pieces breaking down the Governor’s, federal, and state district primary races. MALC has also run pieces on the primary races for Attorney General, Treasurer, and Lt. Governor.
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**. MALC did not send questionnaires to the Republican or Democratic candidates for Governor. Instead, MALC reached out several times to the Republican and Democratic candidates for Governor to specifically ask them when their policy platforms for our sector will be posted on their websites. We urged the candidates to post them before the September 9 primary. MALC feels strongly that any candidate seeking to be Governor needs to have a specific policy platform for our sector.
“Historically, there is usually a low turn out in primary races,” says Kathleen Bitetti, Artist and MALC Co-Founder. “This in turn means that very important primary races are decided by a small number of people who are highly motivated to vote (remember this is the big secret the Tea Party has been leveraging). MALC’s Get Your Vote On! blog series hopes to inspire Massachusetts’ working artists of all disciplines to be one of those highly motivated populations that votes on September 9th for the candidates that support artists of all disciplines (the labor of the art world), the arts, culture, and the creative economy!”
A key component of the Get Your Vote On! series has been MALC’s questionnaires completed by candidates running for several statewide offices. On Friday, Aug. 22, MALC released responses from the Attorney General candidates running in the primary election. On Monday, Aug. 25, MALC released responses from the Treasurer candidates running in the primary election. And on Tuesday, Aug. 26, MALC released responses from the Lt. Governor candidates running in the primary election. Often, the policies of these elected officials do impact our sector. These questionnaires are another part of our work to focus the voters’ attention on the arts and culture views and policies of our politicians. MALC does not endorse candidates for office. We strive to ensure our community members have the information that will help them assess those running for public office.
“If you create intellectual property of any kind, whether it be visual arts, writing, gaming, dance – you name it – your participation in the September 9 primary could well be the most important election of your career,” says Don Schaefer, Photographer and MALC Steering Committee member. “Be there, please!”
*MALC Policy Recommendations for the next Governor:
**Candidates for Governor who met with MALC:
http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/massachusetts-governors-race-update/
Get Your Vote On! Blog posts (in the order they were posted):
Intro piece for the series: http://artistsunderthedome.
Attorney General primary race: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-attorney-general/
Treasurer primary race: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-state-treasurer/
Lt. Governor primary race: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-lt-governor/
State District primary races: http://artistsunderthedome.
Federal primary races: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-federal-elections/
Governor primary race: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/get-vote-governor-primary-candidates/
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.