{"id":5187,"date":"2015-11-12T16:10:47","date_gmt":"2015-11-12T21:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artistsunderthedome.org\/malc\/?p=5187"},"modified":"2015-11-14T18:41:54","modified_gmt":"2015-11-14T23:41:54","slug":"artists-under-the-dome-2015-wrap-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/artistsunderthedome.org\/malc\/news\/artists-under-the-dome-2015-wrap-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Artists Under the Dome 2015 Wrap Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, artists of all disciplines (visual arts, literary, performing, crafts, new media, etc.) gathered in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House for the 9th Annual Artists Under the Dome Event. Held on Nov. 4, it is the only one of its kind in the country.\u00a0The 2015 event was brought to you by\u00a0The Massachusetts State Treasury<\/a>,\u00a0the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development<\/a>,\u00a0the Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition<\/a>,\u00a0the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development<\/a>,\u00a0the Massachusetts Cultural Council<\/a>, and the State House’s Cultural Caucus. Special thanks to\u00a0Future Boston Alliance<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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The annual group photo went off without a hitch, \u00a0thanks to the State House’s fine photographer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thank you to everyone who attended, planned, promoted, and\/or volunteered at the 9th\u00a0Annual Artists Under the Dome Event on Nov. 4. It was a great day that celebrated and highlighted the important place of all artists within the halls of state government and throughout our Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

There was great press coverage of the event by Andrea Shea of WBUR<\/strong>:
\nhttps:\/\/artery.wbur.org\/2015\/11\/04\/artists-under-the-dome-massachusetts<\/a><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Cultural Council’s (MCC) Executive Director Anita Walker<\/strong> and MALC Co-founder Kathleen Bitetti <\/strong>welcomed the audience of artists, elected officials, and political staffers. They highlighted the work of the MCC, MALC, and all those dedicated to giving artists a voice within government. Of note was Anita Walker’s highlighting the work of Mark Davy<\/strong> and FutureCity<\/strong>, which places artists at the beginning process of creative placemaking and planning \u00a0(http:\/\/futurecity.co.uk\/<\/a>)\u00a0 Kathleen Bitetti urged those attending to ask their elected officials to join the State House Cultural Caucus which is Co-chaired by Senator Wolf<\/strong> and Representative Pignatelli<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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L to R: Rep. Atkins, Rep. Fox, Sen. Donoghue, Anita Walker (MCC) &\u00a0Sen. Lesser. Images: Derek Lumpkins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many elected officials attended the event. \u00a0Those participating in the morning speaking program clearly voiced their support for the artists community and the creative sector.<\/p>\n

The order of the elected officials who spoke:<\/p>\n

State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg<\/a><\/p>\n

Chairman Senator Eric P. Lesser<\/a>\u00a0– Senate Chair\u00a0of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development (Co-host for this section of the event)<\/p>\n

Chairwoman Representative Cory Atkins<\/a>\u00a0– House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development (Co-host for this section of the event)<\/p>\n

Chairwoman Senator Eileen Donoghue<\/a>\u00a0– Senate Chair\u00a0of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies and former Senate Chair the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development Committee<\/p>\n

Representative Smitty Pignatelli<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0House Co-Chair of the Cultural Caucus\u00a0and House Vice Chair of\u00a0the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development Committee<\/p>\n

Representative Sarah Peake<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0Division Chair and former House Chair the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development Committee<\/p>\n

Representative Chris Walsh<\/a>\u00a0– Vice House Chair Joint Committee on Public Service & former member of\u00a0the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development<\/p>\n

Representative Gloria Fox<\/a>\u00a0– Vice House Chair Joint Committee on Elder Affairs<\/p>\n

Many other elected officials were spotted in the crowd: Senator Michael Rodrigues, Representative John Scibak, Representative Christine Barber, Representative Keiko Orrall<\/strong> to mention a few. Also spotted was Senator Chang-Diaz’s Legislative Aide\u00a0Anthony Thomas\u00a0<\/strong>– a poet and spoken word artist.<\/p>\n

From 11:00 – 12:00 am – Artists visited their Senator’s and Representative’s Offices<\/p>\n

The noon \u00a0Brown Bag Lunch \u00a0was a \u00a0Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Commonwealth’s\u00a0Artists Fellowship Program<\/a>\u00a0(a key program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council). A wonderful video was shown to highlight the fellowship program:<\/p>\n