August 28, 2024 (Cape Cod, MA) – With arts and culture accounting for a $28.6 billion impact to the Massachusetts economy, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod (AFCC) held a virtual roundtable discussion with each of the three candidates for the Plymouth and Barnstable state Senate seat on August 21st to learn more about their platforms as it relates to the sector.
The discussions, which were moderated by Arts Foundation Executive Director Julie Wake and Arts Foundation Board Member Jeffrey Soares, were held in advance of the state primary on September 3rd to engage candidates with local arts leaders and creatives in the district.
“This roundtable discussion was a great opportunity to get to know the candidates, connect with community members, and hear what’s important to them,” said Wake said. “It’s essential that we inform the next senator that the arts are not just a ‘nice-to-have’ — they are a driving force in our economy and a vital part of our communities.”
Following the primary, the Arts Foundation will hold an in-person forum to allow the public to learn more about the candidates for the Senate seat and their policy agenda for arts and culture.
The Arts Foundation is partnering with MASSCreative to hold these forums because this is an open seat with no incumbent running.
Nearly two dozen people attended last week’s sessions, which kicked off with a discussion with State Representative Mathew Muratore, a Republican from Plymouth, and was followed by a discussion with State Representative Dylan Fernandes, a Democrat from Falmouth. Republican candidate Kari MacRae of Buzzards Bay was unable to attend due to a last-minute emergency.
Since November 2014, Muratore has served as the State Representative of the First Plymouth District. He served on the Plymouth Select Board from 2010 to 2015. He currently serves on the Ways and Means Committee and was the ranking minority member of the Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development Committee in the House of Representatives.
“When I was on the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, we traveled all through the state, from Pittsfield to the Cape and saw lots of different arts and cultural programming,” Muratore said. “It is amazing some of the work that is happening. We should be fostering more of that for kids. …It really creates more of a culture and a community by having more of the arts. I get excited when I see that.”
When asked what creative policies he would move forward if elected, Muratore responded, “I would turn it around and ask you what is the number one thing that you need. As legislators, we learn from all of you. …What are the number one or two pieces of legislation I can file for you in January?”
Malissa Kenney, director of the Cape Cod Collaborative Arts Network, asked how the candidates would improve access to the arts for individuals with disabilities. Muratore highlighted a transportation program started in Plymouth to help people get to doctors’ appointments “or wherever they need to go. It is a program through [The Lift Transportation Service] and it has worked so well. I think we’re the first or the second in the state to do this. It’s a pilot program and it is continuing.”
He said he would be eager to help lead efforts to bring a similar service to the Cape.
Muratore spoke about the critical importance of the arts, especially in his hometown of Plymouth. “They’re a driver of so many things. …They drive the restaurants and businesses and are such an important part of the economy. I can’t say enough about it,” he said. “I understand the importance of the arts and advocate for them in Plymouth. And if I’m fortunate to be elected, I will do the same for the Cape.”
Fernandes touted his accomplishments in his eight years as the State Representative for the Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket District. “I’ve passed 30 bills into law and brought millions of dollars into the district,” he said. “When it comes to delivering results, I’ve passed far more legislation and secured way more money than anybody else running for this seat. It is important to me for our district to have a voice in the State House because this is an overlooked region in the state.
“We need someone who has a seat at the table, especially when it comes to the arts because we know it is an issue that hasn’t gotten as much attention as it should,” he continued.
He spoke about his close connection to the arts – his mother is a potter who was taking classes at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design when she was pregnant with him. “I grew up with a pottery studio in my basement. I know the challenges of being an artist very well. It can be a real challenge,” he said. “I can’t think of anything more important than supporting the arts because people need that.”
Fernandes highlighted the $6 million in Massachusetts Cultural Council grants that have gone to support the arts in his district during his tenure. “When you think about the entire budget of the Council, that is a pretty large chunk,” he said.
He acknowledged that “as a state, we really undervalue this industry. We spend a lot of money in biotech and climate tech initiatives which are good things, positive things,” he said. “Compared to Colorado and New York, we really underfund arts and culture. I think it is a real equity issue, in terms of geographic equity and valuing different types of jobs.”
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to the arts, he said, is housing. The seasonal communities designation in the Affordable Homes Act that Governor Maura Healey signed into law at the beginning of this month may prove beneficial to local artists.
“There is a large missing middle in our region. We’re going to use this seasonal communities designation to help with that and help people who are part of our community,” Fernandes said. “I think there may be opportunities for artists’ housing as well. I think it’s something that we can use this for.”
When asked about ensuring equitable access to arts education for children, Fernandes mentioned the possibility of levying a tax on social media companies to fund after-school programming “to take kids off their phones and get them to interact with each other and take part in arts and cultural activities. …It is proven that arts and cultural activities are a really powerful way to get children through childhood trauma and alleviating and mitigating it and helping them transform into competent and empathetic people.”
In an email, MacRae wrote about the impact the arts have had on her life, from when she was a kid playing the clarinet in middle school and high school – she was in her school’s marching band – to today, as owner of Cape Cod Henna & Face Painting. “The arts are an intricate part of my life,” she wrote. “They always provided me with a sense of belonging and accomplishment along with joy.”
In her role as a member of the Bourne School Committee, MacRae wrote that she has been a champion for funding for the arts in her community and will make it a priority if elected.
“The arts, especially in the Plymouth area and on the Cape, provide a great deal of economic stability,” she wrote. “Many visit the Cape and South Shore because of the abundance of museums, musical venues, and overall arts that are offered.”
To stay updated on details of the Arts Foundation’s in-person Meet the Candidates Night which will take place in late September, email info@artsfoundation.org.
The Senate Seat for the Plymouth and Barnstable District covers Falmouth, Mashpee, Bourne, and Sandwich as well as Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Plympton.