Massachusetts is home to one of the most diverse and innovative Creative Economy clusters in the nation. Massachusetts’ revolutionary spirit has created a number of innovative programs and collaborations to support the over 100,000 people employed in this important industry. To learn more about how to grow your creative business in Massachusetts.

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The Governor signed the Creative Economy Council Bill into law in October of 2008. The Council is responsible for delivering to the legislature yearly reports on the best policies to support the growth of the Creative Economy. It has has completed its first report to the legislature.

Finding Jobs in the Creative Economy

Click to find websites which list Creative Economy Jobs. MORE

Support for NonProfits and Artists

The Massachusetts Cultural Council

A state agency that promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. They provide: organizational support grants for non-profit cultural organizations and grants for individual artists, the Adams Arts Program for the Creative Economy,and the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund. MORE

ArtistLink

Works with artists, artist groups, arts-minded organizations, real estate developers, municipalities, and other proponents to develop artist spaces. Also check out their page on ‘other artists resources’ for links to websites with information on grants, healthcare, and other resources. MORE

Matchbook.org

New England’s online marketplace which sparks connections between artists, presenters and communities. MORE

Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s and Regional Tourism Councils' extensive work to grow and market the tourism industry in Massachusetts assists the growth in non-profits and artists audience. MORE

The Cultural Data Project 

A powerful online financial management and reporting tool for arts and cultural organizations in Massachusetts. MORE

Regional and/or Local State-Funded Creative Economy Initiatives

BerkshireCreative 

The mission of Berkshire Creative is to stimulate new job growth and economic opportunity in the region by sparking innovative collaborations between artists, designers, cultural institutions and businesses in the Berkshires. MORE

CreateBoston 

Create Boston is focused on the simple fact that creativity is fuel for Boston’s economic engine. This is an economic development initiative of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, designed to help businesses rooted in creativity achieve their potential for success. MORE

The Creative Economy Association of the North Shore 

CEANS is an advocacy organization promoting creative economy development on the North Shore. MORE

Worcester Cultural Coalition 

The Worcester Cultural Coalition is the unified voice of Worcester's cultural community whose members are the leaders of the City's sixty-plus arts and cultural institutions and organizations. MORE

Support for For-Profit Creative Industries

Creative Economy Industry Director 

Under Governor Patrick, the Commonwealth has launched a Creative Economy Initiative and appointed the nation’s first Creative Economy Industry Director (Creative.Economy@state.ma.us, twitter @CreateMA) in the Massachusetts Office of Business Development to work one-on-one with businesses.

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Film, TV and Digital Media 

Massachusetts has a rapidly growing film, TV and digital media sector, with over 21 major film productions filmed and planned production studios. We also have a highly competitive tax incentive for film production and digital media companies.

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Design 

Design talent comes to Massachusetts for a world-class design education and stays on to work as design professionals in a range of innovation industries, joining the 44,500 other designers in the state. Recently the state has invested in the creation of a new organization, DIGMA - Design Industry Group of Massachusetts, that connects the multidisciplinary design community with state policymakers and leading industries

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Videogames 

Massachusetts, home to the birth of the video game, has one of the largest digital game development communities in the world with 76 companies. Support includes Boston Post Mortem, PoweringUpBoston.com, New England Game SIG, and Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council Game Cluster.

Gain some insight into New England Game SIG here. 

Advertising and Digital Advertising

Massachusetts has a strong advertising sector and has one of the world’s leading clusters of digital advertising, support includes the AdClub,a trade organization for marketing, advertising and communications in New England; and the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange, the leading industry association in the country bringing together digital technology, marketing and media professionals, to engage in what is next for the web and how it impacts the marketing and business worlds.