The Greater Boston Creative Economy Network (GBCEN) is part of the Massachusetts Creative Economy Network<\/a>, a regional effort to accelerate the economic growth of the Commonwealth\u2019s creative industries<\/a>*.<\/p>\n The City of Boston<\/a> and the Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition (MALC)<\/a> are the co-leads for the Greater Boston Creative Economy Network.<\/p>\n Due to the \u201cdensity of creative industries” in the Greater Boston area, the GBCEN is organized in two ways: (1) on a regional or macro level, (2) on a local or micro level.<\/p>\n Currently the GBCEN is comprised of five municipalities: Boston, Braintree, Cambridge, Quincy, and Somerville. Each city\/municipality is responsible for deciding how best to organize their creative economy within their geographic area. Representatives from each city meet with each other on a regular basis to coordinate their efforts.<\/p>\n These five municipalities approach the creative economy from different angles depending on their priorities and city structure. \u201cCreative economy\u201d may fall under an economic development office, an arts office, or both. Some municipalities are quantifying or surveying how much of their economy is \u201ccreative\u201d and how many people are part of the creative economy workforce in their region. This is the local or micro level way the GBCEN is organized.<\/p>\n For the regional or macro approach, the two leads of this network, the City of Boston and MALC, work directly with greater Boston businesses and nonprofits that serve two or more of the municipalities\u00a0currently in the network as well as those that serve cities\/municipalities that are located in the Greater Boston geographic area, but are not currently members of the GBCEN.<\/p>\n By coordinating through the Greater Boston Creative Economy Network, the participating cities, partners, and members strive to learn from each other, create effective policy, and work regionally.<\/p>\n If you are geographically based in or are interested in what a specific city\/municipality<\/strong>\u00a0of the GBCEN is doing around the Creative Economy please see the contact list below:<\/em><\/p>\n City of Boston:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Point of contact in Boston\u00a0for Creative Economy nonprofit organizations, arts organizations, and artists support\/services\/programs:<\/p>\n Kara Elliott-Ortega Point of contact in Boston\u00a0for Creative Economy businesses, for profit ventures, commercial sector, self employed** and business development:<\/p>\n Abby Furey Town\u00a0of Braintree:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Point of contact in Braintree\u00a0for Creative Economy nonprofit organizations, arts organizations, and artists support\/services\/programs, Creative Economy businesses, for profit ventures, commercial sector, self employed** and business development:<\/p>\n Christine Stickney <\/b>City of Cambridge<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n Point of contact in Cambridge for Creative Economy nonprofit organizations, arts organizations, and artists support\/services\/programs:<\/p>\n Jason Weeks Point of contact in Cambridge for Creative Economy businesses, for-profit ventures, commercial sector, self employed** and business development:<\/p>\n Pardis Saffari City of Qunicy:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Point of contact in\u00a0Quincy\u00a0for Creative Economy nonprofit organizations, arts organizations, and artists support\/services\/programs, Creative Economy businesses, for-profit ventures, commercial sector, self employed** and business development<\/p>\n Margaret Laforest City of Somerville:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Point of contact in Somerville for Creative Economy nonprofit organizations, arts organizations, and artists support\/services\/programs:<\/p>\n Gregory Jenkins Point of contact in Somerville for Creative Economy businesses, for-profit ventures, commercial sector, self employed** and business development:<\/p>\n Sunayana Thomas For Cities or Towns not currently part of the GBCEN:<\/strong><\/p>\n For Greater Boston cities or towns who are not currently part of the GBCEN and want join or learn more about the network, please\u00a0contact the GBCEN\u00a0by email: For Greater Boston Businesses or Nonprofits: <\/strong><\/p>\n For Greater Boston businesses or\u00a0nonprofits that serve two or more of the municipalities\u00a0currently in the GBCEN network\u00a0or<\/span>\u00a0are based in a Greater Boston city or municipality that is not currently part of the GBCEN and want to learn more about the GBCEN\u00a0please email: For Greater Boston businesses or nonprofits based in Boston, Braintree, Cambridge, Quincy or Somerville, please reach out directly to the contacts listed for that city\/town.<\/p>\n General information about the GBCEN:<\/strong><\/p>\n For general information about the MA Creative Economy Network: For general inquires about the Greater Boston Creative Economy Network: ————————————————–<\/p>\nHow to Connect:<\/h4>\n
\n<\/em><\/span>Director of Planning and Policy-\u00a0<\/em>Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture
\n<\/em>kara.elliott-ortega@boston.gov<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nCreative Economy Industry Manager & Neighborhood Business Manager
\nMayor’s Office of Economic Development
\n<\/span><\/em>abby.furey@boston.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
\nDirector, Office of Planning and Community Development
\nConservation Division
\n<\/em>cstickney@braintreema.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
\nExecutive Director, Cambridge Arts Council
\n<\/em>617-349-4383
\njweeks@cambridgema.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSenior Economic Development Specialist
\nEconomic Development Division\u00a0of Cambridge Community Development Department
\n<\/em>617-349-4654
\npsaffari@cambridgema.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
\nVice President of Tourism
\nDiscover Quincy
\n<\/a>Quincy Chamber of Commerce
\n<\/em>617-639-1117
\nmlaforest@thequincychamber.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nDirector of Arts Council<\/em>
\ngjenkins@somervillema.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSenior Planner, Economic Development, OSPCD
\n<\/em>sthomas@somervillema.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
\nGreaterBostonCEN@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nGreaterBostonCEN@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.mass.gov\/hed\/economic\/industries\/creative\/createmass.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nGreaterBostonCEN@gmail.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n