{"id":20109,"date":"2021-08-20T07:52:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T11:52:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/?p=20109"},"modified":"2021-08-20T10:16:20","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T14:16:20","slug":"boston-mayor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/2021\/08\/20\/boston-mayor\/","title":{"rendered":"What Boston Mayoral Candidates Propose For Arts And Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

What do the candidates running for mayor of Boston propose for arts and culture in the city? I reviewed the websites of the five major candidates seeking to be elected to mayor this fall following the appointment of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as U.S. Secretary of Labor. According to their own websites (as of Aug. 17) and in their own words, here is what the candidates (in alphabetical order) plan:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"John<\/a>
John Barros. (Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

John Barros<\/h3>\n

\u201cArts and Culture\u201d are highlighted on Barros\u2019s \u201cIssues\u201d<\/a> page, which links to a robust \u201cArts and Culture\u201d<\/a> webpage, which begins:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn knows the arts and artists are a fundamental element of the fabric of our city. Artists build bridges, tell our stories, and help us understand and describe the world around us. John pledges that, as Mayor of Boston, he will invest in the arts and culture in ways that make the city renowned for arts leadership. He will work to expand economic opportunity through the arts, reduce barriers to affordable work and live spaces for artists, and transform City government into an engine of arts growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn is an artist himself, and truly believes in nurturing creative talent in our young people to help build careers, celebrate our culture and diversity, and bolster our economy. As an undergraduate at Dartmouth College, John led the Black Underground Theatre Association and served as the editor of the Black Praxis, the Black student newspaper. And still today, John plays drums in his church band, is an audio engineer, and spends quality time with his children during piano and violin lessons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith John as Boston\u2019s mayor, the arts and artists will be celebrated, supported and treated as a valuable resource and a necessity. John knows the value of embedding arts in community building and placemaking, and will help build a more vibrant and inclusive Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n

The page lists his arts record and details priorities (see his website for full details<\/a>), including:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCreate and strengthen resources to embed arts and cultural space into our built environment,\u201d \u201cDesign new workforce development opportunities to diversify the sector and create career pathways,\u201d and \u201cProvide resources and build capacity for arts and culture organizations and creative businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on Barros\u2019s website, the \u201cNeighborhood Economic Development\u201d<\/a> page says:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAs Chief of Economic Development, John partnered with the community to create plans in different neighborhoods that captured the community\u2019s vision and desires for the future of their neighborhood, such as Plan Nubian Square and the Uphams Corner Arts and Innovation Implementation Plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Andrea<\/a>
Andrea Campbell. (Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andrea Campbell<\/h3>\n

Arts and culture are not listed on Campbell\u2019s \u201cVision\u201d<\/a> page. <\/em><\/p>\n

But her \u201cEconomy\u201d page<\/a> includes:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cProtect our creative economy. From artists and musicians to museums and concert halls, Boston is rich with talent and creativity. These individuals and institutions are an indispensable piece of the City\u2019s lifeblood and have helped establish Boston as a regional and national hub of creative energy. As one of the industries hardest hit, they deserve extra resources and support through the pandemic. But this is about more than protecting current artists and resources \u2014 it is about expanding Boston\u2019s arts and culture community throughout our neighborhoods and across creative mediums. In 2019, Andrea organized the launch of the first Mattapan Jazz & Unity Festival, bringing Boston\u2019s rich cultural resources to a neighborhood often overlooked. As Mayor, Andrea will support dedicated arts and cultural sub-districts in target neighborhoods to preserve and enhance our cultural community. She will prioritize and protect artist and performance spaces being threatened by displacement, promote the expansion of public art, and connect our arts and cultural institutions to our public schools, seniors, and business community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Annissa<\/a>
Annissa Essaibi George. (Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Annissa Essaibi George<\/h3>\n

Arts and culture are not listed among Essaibi George\u2019s \u201cOn the Issues.\u201d<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

But her page about \u201cEducation & Child Care\u201d<\/a> includes:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cEnsure that every school has … \u00a0arts programming.\u201d And \u201cIn addition to rigorous academics, we must ensure access to enrichment opportunities for lifelong success including … arts and music …\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cContinue to update the art education curriculum to teach students about systems of race, class, and gender and develop their critical-thinking skills with the goal to increase civic engagement and improve racial and cultural equity.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnsure equitable access to arts education and celebrate diversity through arts education by supporting art teachers with ample equipment and resources and partnering with non-profit organizations that promote youth in the arts and empowers traditionally underserved students\u201d<\/p>\n

On her webpage listing her accomplishments<\/a>, Essaibi George mentions:<\/em> \u201cBuilding and updating schools across the City \u2026. Recently the Council approved a new facility for the Boston Arts Academy to be constructed at the current site.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Kim<\/a>
Kim Janey. (Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kim Janey<\/h3>\n

Arts and culture are not listed on Janey\u2019s \u201cOn the Issues\u201d<\/a> webpage.<\/em><\/p>\n

But her \u201cEconomic Development\u201d tab, includes:<\/em> \u201cWe have institutions in higher education and health care, in finance and consulting, in the arts and technology, that are setting the standards in their fields. \u2026 As Mayor, I have already \u2026 Provided 152 arts and cultural organizations with grants totaling $487,000 through the Boston Cultural Council.”<\/p>\n

And some news announcements address arts and culture:<\/em><\/p>\n

June 26<\/a>: \u201cActing Mayor Kim Janey on Tuesday announced plans to use a sizable chunk of federal COVID-19 relief funding earmarked for Boston on a number of key priorities as the city works to recover from the pandemic. \u2026 $14.5 million that Janey said will address \u2018the economic impact of the pandemic on food access, tourism, arts and culture and housing,\u2019 plus $15.5 million earmarked for small businesses hurt by the crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also on June 26<\/a>: \u201cArtists can apply for city\u2019s \u2018Joy Agenda\u2019 opportunities\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Michelle<\/a>
Michelle Wu. (Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Michelle Wu<\/h3>\n

\u201cArts & Culture\u201d are highlighted on Wu\u2019s \u201cIssues\u201d \/ \u201cPolicy Platform\u201d<\/a> webpage, which says:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, the arts were central to Michelle\u2019s immigrant family, grounding her in culture, heritage, and community. In her time as City Councilor, Michelle has served as Chair of the Arts, Culture & Special Events committee and helped oversee the formation of several of Boston\u2019s cultural districts, as well as the Boston Creates plan. As Mayor, Michelle will be a champion for Boston\u2019s diverse, vibrant arts and cultural sector that stretches across each of our city\u2019s neighborhoods. Michelle will lead a coordinated approach to center Boston\u2019s arts and culture sector for community connection, racial reconciliation, and civic meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n

This links to a robust \u201cArts & Culture\u201d<\/a> webpage, which begins:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLong before the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our local artists and arts institutions\u2014from Boston\u2019s world renowned museums to grassroots nonprofit organizations\u2014have struggled to survive, often cobbling together resources from the city, state, and private partners to sustain local jobs and create meaningful cultural experiences for Boston residents and tourists alike. The challenges cut across the entire city: a lack of affordable rehearsal, studio and performance space; unstable labor conditions for artists in the gig economy or employed in contract work; racial segregation that perpetuates inequities; and a siloed approach to public policy that fails to build on artists\u2019 contributions to civic life. As Boston emerges from the pandemic, Michelle will invest in our arts and culture sector, recognizing that arts are central not only to our economic recovery, but also our psychological and emotional healing.<\/p>\n

The webpage identifies<\/em> \u201cwhat we\u2019ve done together so far\u201d for the arts, and details priorities (see her website for full details)<\/a>, including: \u201cEmpowering artists to help communities heal,\u201d \u201cImplementing a sustainable, equitable revenue source for the arts,\u201d \u201cReforming PILOT to stabilize arts and cultural institutions,\u201d \u201cExpanding access to cultural institutions through a Boston Municipal ID,\u201d \u201cCreating space for arts and culture,\u201d \u201cInfusing arts leadership across City government,\u201d and \u201cGuaranteeing arts funding as foundational school funding,\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in Wu\u2019s site, her \u201cA Community Vision for Boston’s Students and Families\u201d<\/a> says:<\/p>\n

“Universal access to robust arts education, athletic programming, and other enrichment opportunities is a critical component of a holistic approach to child development.\u201d And proposes: \u201cMore resources for extracurricular programs, with foundational arts funding for programming through graduation and an increased BPS athletics budget to expand the number of sports offered.\u201d<\/p>\n

And a news announcement from May 25<\/a> says:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMichelle Wu Calls for Summer of Play: Wu calls for arts and culture focus with open play streets, block parties and investment in placemaking for a joyful, healing summer\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

If this is the kind of coverage of arts, nature, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And sign up for our free, (hopefully) weekly newsletter<\/a> so that you don’t miss any of our reporting. (All content \u00a9Greg Cook 2021 or the respective creators.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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What do the candidates running for mayor of Boston propose for arts and culture in the city? I reviewed the websites of the five major candidates seeking to be elected to mayor this fall following the appointment of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as U.S. Secretary of Labor. According to their own websites (as of Aug. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20122,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[923,924,922,925,926],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20109"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20109"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20129,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20109\/revisions\/20129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}