Paul Mark Appointed to Cultural Economy Advisory Council

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BOSTON — The Healey Driscoll Administration appointed members of the Cultural Economy Advisory Council.
 
The group is comprised of public and private sector stakeholders charged with exploring policies that support artists and cultural organizations, examining ways to create economic opportunities in the arts and culture sector, and promoting cultural equity in the arts. Governor Healey established the council earlier this year to bolster Massachusetts' creative economy, which adds $27 billion to the state economy each year and supports 135,000 jobs across the state. 
 
"We are excited to kick off this effort to support our cultural economy, particularly as Massachusetts cultural and arts organizations host festivities celebrating the 250th anniversary of America's founding as part of our Massachusetts 250 initiative over the next two years,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Thank you to these council members who will help our administration identify ways to support artists and drive economic opportunity for this important sector." 
 
The council consists of representatives of the creative tourism community, performing arts sector, and state and local government and is co-chaired by Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Executive Director Kate Fox. The Council will work in close partnership with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the state's arts agency charged with bolstering the creative and cultural sector and will present recommendations for cultural development and jobs growth to Governor Healey.  
 
Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council Members: 
  • Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao (Co-Chair) 
  • Kate Fox, Executive Director, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (Co-Chair) 
  • Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council 
  • Tiffancy Allecia, Executive Director, Springfield Creative City Collective 
  • Luke Blackadar, Deputy Director, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston 
  • Representative Mindy Domb, House Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development 
  • Magie Gaipo-Scott, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Legal Affairs, Museum of Fine Arts Boston 
  • Deborah Hall, Executive Director, YWCA of Central Massachusetts 
  • Candace "Lee" Heald, AHA! New Bedford 
  • Joyce Linehan, Assistant to the President for Special Projects, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 
  • Senator Paul Mark, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development 
  • Ming Min Hui, Executive Director, Boston Ballet 
  • Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peabody Essex Museum 
  • Emily Ruddock, Executive Director, MassCreative  
  • Lindsey Schmid, Director of Marketing, 1Berkshire 
  • Annis Sengupta, Director of Arts and Culture, Metropolitan Area Planning Council  
  • Chad Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boston Symphony Orchestra 
  • Julie Wake, Executive Director at Arts Foundation of Cape Cod 

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Berkshire Mall Owners Press for Road District Dissolution

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Berkshire Mall owner JMJ RE Holdings says without a dissolution of the Baker Hill Road District, the potential sale and redevelopment with the mall would fall through.
 
The Select Board last week authorized two of its members to work on a compromise between the JMJ and the road district. The two entities have been at loggerheads over assessments to the district — and the district's purpose.
 
Tim Grogan, development consultant for JMJ RE Holdings, recently responded to iBerkshires' coverage of the meeting, during which the board discussed mediation but took no comments from the public or the mall owners. 
 
Grogan said JMJ has been under purchase contract with real estate developer Cypress Equities since May and has an intention to close in the fall.
 
"We are contractually obligated to deliver the property with the BHRD dissolved. If that does not happen, the mall will not get redeveloped. If the BHRD is not dissolved, the transaction with Cypress cannot close," said Grogan over email. "That is not a position JMJ adopted as leverage. It is the express term of a fully executed purchase and sale agreement. Should the town proceed in a manner that departs from the existing settlement framework, JMJ will evaluate all available claims to protect its contractual rights."
 
The town had initially agreed to seek the dissolution of the district through the Legislature based on JMJ paying $1.1 million to resolve all tax disputes. But that article was pulled from the annual town meeting when town officials said the mall's owners failed to make payment by the deadline. 
 
The road district was established 40 years ago to maintain the Connector Road between Routes 7 and 8 and assess the mall for fire and police protection. The mall closed in 2019 and its various owners since then have sought to redevelop the property. 
 
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