Creative Minds Out Loud

Patrice Maye, Executive Director of the South Shore Art Center and Scituate Harbor Cultural District, discusses creative placemaking across the South Shore, including Scituate’s Sister City Projects with West Cork, Ireland and Sucy-en-Brie, France. A non-profit executive with 20 years of experience in building resources and audiences for diverse mission-driven organizations, Patrice Maye joined South … Continue reading "Episode 75: South Shore Cultural Community on the Map, Here and Abroad"

There’s more to New Bedford than just whaling. Lee Blake, President of the New Bedford Historical Society, discusses how the city’s residents are pulling their history together to create a new conversation about what New Bedford did to end slavery, and how that history can inform and inspire a more progressive social agenda. As president … Continue reading "Episode 74: New Bedford Asks: What Would an Abolitionist Do Now?"

Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum that blends science, nature, and play, inspiring families to explore and learn together. Neil Gordon, CEO, discusses how universal design and User/Experts informed their recent expansion to a 16,000sf accessible building. He also shares their efforts to integrate parents into the exhibit experience. He says that in the museum’s … Continue reading "Episode 73: Hands-on Learning, Creating for Kids and Caregivers"

Catherine Allgor, President of Massachusetts Historical Society, shares her path to becoming an historian, and how the Society is expanding efforts to “get out” – by digitizing collections, expanding community partnerships, and more. (Also, don’t miss this conversation we had with Allgor last year about Mass History Day, a state affiliate of National History Day, … Continue reading "Episode 72: Mass Historical Society is “Getting Out”"

John Majercak is President of the Center for EcoTechnology, a nonprofit organization providing advice and resources for people and businesses to help them save energy and reduce waste. He shares ways cultural organizations can be more energy and cost efficient. John Majercak has overall responsibility for leading the Center for EcoTechnology including strategic planning, program development, … Continue reading "Episode 71: Green is Good"

The Theater Offensive presents the diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer lives in art so bold it breaks through personal isolation, challenges the status quo, and builds thriving communities. Evelyn Francis, Interim Artistic Director, discusses their youth program – a national model for creative youth development – where young people not only create … Continue reading "Episode 70: Out Youth Theater – Revelatory Experience for Performers and Audience"

Choreographer and Master Teacher Adrienne Hawkins discusses the field of dance – how the making of, and support for, the work has changed over time, its persistent challenges, and its inherent joys. Ms. Hawkins holds a BA in Education from Arizona State University and a MFA in Dance from Connecticut College. She was Artistic Director … Continue reading "Episode 69: Iconoclast of Dance"

Matthias Waschek, Executive Director of the Worcester Art Museum, says truly accessible museums create experiences that make visitors want to return. In doing so they must challenge institutional norms to welcome and engage more diverse populations. Matthias Waschek joined the Worcester Art Museum in 2011 as the C. Jean and Myles McDonough Director. German born, … Continue reading "Episode 68: Access Means Overcoming Psychological Barriers, Too"

The Berkshires are home to an array of arts and culture organizations, and 13 schools districts. Connecting these two worlds often means overcoming barriers of distance and transportation. Lisa Donovan, Professor of Arts Management at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, discusses efforts underway to create a regional, rural model for collaboration between arts education … Continue reading "Episode 67: Connecting Rural Schools to Arts Education"

Al Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Walls, discusses their work to create public art installations in Lynn, MA. He shares how perceptions were torn down as part of this process, bringing people into downtown and changing the image and ethos around this diverse and vibrant city. Al Wilson is the Founder and Executive … Continue reading "Episode 66: Lynn, Lynn, City of Murals"

The City of New Bedford wanted to increase its high school graduation rates. As their response, New Bedford Whaling Museum launched the High School Apprenticeship Program, which provides resources and support to students that deepen community engagement and cultivate college and career readiness. Director of Apprentices and Interns Christina Turner and then Vice President of … Continue reading "Episode 65: Museum Apprenticeships Transform Lives of New Bedford Youth"

Jay Calderin, Founder and Executive Director of Boston Fashion Week, discusses his work as a designer with the Fashion Accessibility Project and how it inspired new ways of thinking about designing for the body. The Boston Globe refers to Jay Calderin as “a budding designer’s best friend.” Calderin is the author of The Fashion Design Reference … Continue reading "Episode 64: Fashion Rolls Forward"

In 2014, Boston became the first American city to have a Literary Cultural District. Last year we spoke with Eve Bridburg, Executive Director of GrubStreet and Founder of the Boston Literary District, and Alysia Abbott, Director of the Boston Literary District. They discuss what it takes to support long-term collaboration between organizations of different sizes … Continue reading "Episode 63: Boston’s Literary District Engages Writers of Today with the City’s Rich Past"

Graham Wright, Founder of Opus Affair, discusses the perennial question of how do organizations take care of their established audience while leaving room to create emerging audiences. Graham Wright is an arts management consultant, classical singer, and founder of Opus Affair—an organization focused on connecting individuals with arts and culture events in their communities. Opus … Continue reading "Episode 62: When Growing Audiences, Going Too Fast is as Dangerous as Too Slow"

Kay Simpson, President of the Springfield Museums, speaks to the opening of the Dr. Seuss Museum, and what it means to Springfield, MA, Theodor Geisel’s hometown. Kay Simpson is President of the Springfield Museums. She received her B.A. from Smith College and a M.Ed. in educational administration from the University of Massachusetts. Ms. Simpson has … Continue reading "Episode 61: Oh, the Places Springfield Museums Will Go!"

Benjamin Forman, Director of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute at MassINC, says residential property values are higher in communities that have more arts and culture. He says municipal leaders should take stock of that when considering modest public investments in strategies such as Cultural Districts and the economic returns that they yield. Benjamin Forman has … Continue reading "Episode 60: Gateway Cities & Creative Placemaking"

David C. Howse, Executive Director of ArtsEmerson, shares how ‘curatorial listening’ leads to better community partnerships in developing programming and initiatives. He also discusses the benefits afforded institutions that shift their imagination in ways that allow them to see the world and ultimately benefit from the world in a much more magical way. David C. … Continue reading "Episode 59: Listen, Present, and Repeat"

Meg O’Brien, Interim Co-Director of Education at Huntington Theatre Company, discusses their long-standing commitment to universal participation. She shares how the Huntington makes productions accessible for patrons with hearing or vision difficulties, and how they’re expanding ways to integrate accessibility into performance models and schedules. Meg O’Brien is in her 10th season at the Huntington … Continue reading "Episode 58: Removing Barriers for Theatregoers"

Susan Wissler, Executive Director of The Mount, shares her experience of bringing an organization back from the precipice, and how retiring its $9M debt helped its community rethink what a historic home can be. Susan Wissler joined The Mount in 2001 as Vice President and became Executive Director in 2008. Ms. Wissler graduated from Brown … Continue reading "Episode 57: Mounting a Comeback for Edith Wharton’s Legacy"

Revolution 250 is a consortium of organizations working together to commemorate the 250th anniversaries of the events that led to American Revolution. Over the coming 10 years, they will explore the history of the American Revolution and the ways that this remarkable story still resonates today. Last fall, we spoke with Reverend Steve Ayres, Vicar … Continue reading "Episode 56: Reconnecting to America and What It Stands For"