Massachusetts: Revitalizing Industrial Cities through the Arts

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is collaborating with MassINC to use the arts to revitalize 11 industrial communities across the state. MassINC recently received a $125,000 grant from ArtPlace, a funding consortium combining federal funding and investments from 11 major foundations to promote creative placemaking. Each project supported by ArtPlace has been selected to demonstrate a new model of helping towns and cities thrive by integrating artists into transportation, housing, community development and job creation.

MassINC’s ArtPlace grant will be used for the Gateway Cities Innovation Network initiative, which is helping 11 older, industrialized cities in Massachusetts to develop new policies and practices to promote sustainable economic revitalization. Together, MCC and MassINC will create a leadership network around the role of the arts in the economic revitalization of all 11 gateway cities. The grant will be used to engage business, civic and policy leaders in the planning and promotion of creative placemaking initiatives custom-tailored for each community. For more information, contact MCC Communications Director Greg Liakos.