24-Hour Livestream Kick Off Schedule

Creative Sector Advocacy Week 2026 will begin with a 24-Hour Live virtual experience bringing together artists, cultural leaders, creative entrepreneurs, and policymakers from across Massachusetts for a full day of conversation, reflection, and collaboration. This dynamic livestream will explore how the creative sector shapes our communities, drives economic growth, and contributes to civic life through panels, interviews, performances, and open dialogue. From discussions on sustaining creative work beyond traditional hours and strengthening our collective cultural economic identity, to exploring research, funding pathways, and ecosystem-building strategies, each hour highlights the diverse roles creatives play in shaping the Commonwealth’s future. Join us as we celebrate creative talent, share insights, and imagine what our cities and communities could become when creativity is recognized as critical infrastructure for workforce development, innovation, and long-term sustainability.

Watch the Livestream on Facebook Live Now

Join the Livestream on Zoom Now

Introduction to Creative Sector Advocacy Week 2026

12:00 AM - 1:00 AM

Join us as we launch Creative Sector Advocacy Week with a live kickoff exploring how creativity powers community, economic growth, and civic life across Massachusetts.

The Power of Visual Art

1:00 AM - 2:00 AM

Learn more about the impact of the visual arts and how artists’ work shapes culture, storytelling, and identity within their communities.

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Polemic People's Writing Challenge

2:00 AM - 3:00 AM

Participate in a live creative writing challenge designed to spark imagination, reflection, and artistic expression.

Creativity After Hours

3:00 AM - 4:00 AM

Explore the realities of sustaining a creative practice beyond traditional work hours, including the “5–9 after the 9–5,” and the tension between professional expectations and creative identity. This open conversation invites participants to reflect on balancing creative work alongside careers, caregiving, and community roles, as well as how these overlapping responsibilities shape creative schedules, opportunities, and sustainability.

Understanding the Massachusetts Creative Sector Through Research

4:00 AM - 6:00 AM

Take a deeper look into the Massachusetts creative economy through key research including Arts & Economic Prosperity 6, the 2024 Massachusetts Cultural Asset Inventory, the Massachusetts Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council Report, Arts on Prescription, and the Regional Perspectives from the Western Massachusetts Arts Economic Impact Summit Report. This segment explores what these studies reveal about economic impact, workforce development, health outcomes, and the long-term sustainability of the creative sector across the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts Creative Sector Trivia

6:00 AM - 7:00 AM

Engage in an interactive trivia session exploring key insights about the Massachusetts creative sector and how arts and culture contribute to workforce development, local economies, and community well-being across the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts Music Television

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Tune in for a live countdown celebrating music videos from Massachusetts artists, featuring both emerging talent and influential voices who have shaped the Commonwealth’s creative landscape over the past 40 years.

Massachusetts Music Television

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Join us for another round highlighting creative excellence throughout Massachusetts.

MASSCreative & the Future of the Creative Economy

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Join us for a live interview with MASSCreative Executive director Emily Ruddock as we discuss her organizations statewide leadership in advancing the creative economy, what’s ahead for Creative Sector Advocacy Week, and how individuals and organizations can get involved in shaping the future of arts and culture across Massachusetts.

Resourcing Creativity for Long-Term Growth

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Join Tatiana Cole, Founder & CEO of Free to Flourish LLC and Common Capital Business Navigator Kelly Thadison, who brings over 20 years of business experience, for a conversation on accessing funding resources, building a blueprint for long-term success, knowing when it’s time to pivot, and how creatives can effectively prepare for sustainable investment and growth.

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Leading Creativity: Insights from Fitchburg, Lynn, New Bedford & Springfield

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Hear from local creative economic development leaders from Fitchburg, Lynn, New Bedford and Springfield on how creativity contributes to sustainable growth and community development in cities.

Ode to 413 Photographers

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join us as we celebrate the photographers documenting the stories, culture, and evolving identity of Western Massachusetts through their creative work.

Flourish In Life and Business

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Join Tatiana Cole, Founder & CEO of Free to Flourish LLC, for a conversation on how investing in your personal and professional development can strengthen your leadership, along with real-world entrepreneurial journeys that reflect the balance between growth, sustainability, and success.

413 Fashion At A Glance

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Learn about some of the efforts of Springfield’s rising fashion scene through photos from regional runway shows while we explore the designers and creative talent shaping our growing fashion industry.

Measuring Impact with Arts Equity Group

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Learn how equity-centered evaluation tools help us track and amplify the impact of creative initiatives with Danielle Amodeo, Founder & Principal of Arts Equity Group.

Silo Breaking and Creative Non-Compliance

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Explore how challenging traditional structures and breaking down silos through partnerships, networks, and shared infrastructure can foster collaboration, sustainability, and long-term growth within the Massachusetts creative economy with John Andrews, Founder & CEO of the Creative Collective.

Stages & Studios: Collaborative Spaces Powering the Creative Sector

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Explore how performing arts centers and maker spaces serve as hubs for creativity, collaboration, and cultural vitality throughout Massachusetts.

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The Author Process

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Join us as writers share insights into their creative journeys from inspiration to publication.

The Pitch Hour

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Watch creatives pitch innovative ideas and projects shaping Springfield’s future.

Polemic Peoples 413 Where's the Shine - Vocalists

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Join us for live interviews with local vocalists as they share their creative journeys, inspirations, and experiences shaping Springfield performing arts.

Polemic Peoples 413 Where's the Shine - Lyricists

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Tune in for conversations with regional poets and rappers as they discuss their artistry, storytelling, and impact within the 413 creative community.

Just Voice Open Mic

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM

An open platform for creatives to share their voices through poetry, music, or storytelling.

Springfield Renaissance

10:00 PM - 11:00 PM

A conversation reflecting on Springfield’s recent evolving cultural identity and creative future.

A City Designed by Its Creatives

11:00 PM - 11:59 PM

Close out the 24-Hour Live by imagining what Springfield could become if creativity guided our future civic and economic development.

Meet Your Hosts.

Meet your hosts Tiffany, Terrance, Aaron, and Evyan, each bringing a distinct lens shaped by lived experience in arts, culture, and community-building. From poetry to policy, they offer unique perspectives from the worlds of creative entrepreneurship, storytelling, and cultural leadership to help move the creative sector toward collective progress.

Tiffany Allecia M.Ed.

Tiffany Allecia M.Ed., Executive Director of the Springfield Creative City Collective, is a community organizer and creative economy advocate working to strengthen social infrastructure and expand equitable opportunities for artists and cultural entrepreneurs across Western Massachusetts.

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Terrance Mack

Terrance Mack is an author and the Founder of the Polemic Peoples Podcast, a platform dedicated to critical dialogue, storytelling, and amplifying community-centered perspectives on culture, leadership, and social change.

Aaron Joseph St. Louis

Aaron Joseph St. Louis—also known as AJoeSaint—is a Springfield-based poet, lyricist, and multidisciplinary storyteller whose work blends spoken word, hip-hop, and visual expression to explore themes of identity, faith, and human connection.

Evyan Diaz

Evyan Diaz is a singer-songwriter as well as a Springfield Creative City Collective Executive Committee Member. Her music reflects personal narrative, emotional depth, and creative authenticity through performance and songwriting.

24-Hour Livestream Kick Off Schedule

Meet Your Hosts.

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