October 22, 2024 (Cape Cod, MA) – Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Executive Director Julie Wake has been appointed by the Healey-Driscoll administration to the recently formed Cultural Economy Advisory Council. The council has been tasked 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.
“I’m honored to join a group of talented and dedicated leaders who are lending their time, talents, and expertise to strengthening arts and culture throughout the Commonwealth,” said Wake. “I’m looking forward to using my voice to ensure our region has an important seat at the table when considering and recommending policies and programs that will elevate the sector and expand access to the arts for all.”
Governor Maura Healey established the council earlier this year to bolster the Massachusetts creative economy, which adds $27 billion to the state economy on an annual basis and which supports 135,000 jobs throughout the Commonwealth.
“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 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.”
“Massachusetts is home to iconic cultural and arts organizations, from world-famous museums and concert halls in Boston to theaters and artists cooperatives in the Berkshires,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration is committed to investing in this sector, which contributes billions of dollars to our economy and supports thousands of good, rewarding jobs in every region of our state.”
The advisory council consists of representatives of the creative tourism community, performing arts sector, and state and local governments. It is co-chaired by Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Executive Director Kate Fox.
The other council members include:
- Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council
- Tiffany Allecia, Executive Director of the Springfield Creative City Collective
- Luke Blackadar, Deputy Director of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston
- State Representative Mindy Domb, House Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
- Maggie Gaipo-Scott, Senior Director of Government Affairs & Legal Affairs of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
- Deborah Hall, Executive Director of YWCA of Central Massachusetts
- Candace “Lee” Heald, AHA! New Bedford
- Joyce Linehan, Assistant to the President for Special Projects at Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Senator Paul Mark, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
- Ming Min Hui, Executive Director of Boston Ballet
- Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, Executive Director/CEO of Peabody Essex Museum
- Emily Ruddock, Executive Director of MassCreative
- Lindsey Schmid, Director of Marketing for 1Berkshire
- Annis Sengupta, Director of Arts and Culture for Metropolitan Area Planning Council
- Chad Smith, President/CEO of Boston Symphony Orchestra
The advisory 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 job growth to Governor Healey.
This is the second state appointment Wake has received over the past year. She was sworn in last fall to the Governing Council for the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the state agency for arts and culture.
Wake has served as the Executive Director for the Arts Foundation since August 2015. She has helped transform the agency, bolstering its annual grant giving from $15,000 her first year to $175,000 this year. Under her tenure, she has added several programs, including Arts Access, which is aimed at connecting all children on the Cape to meaningful arts activities, as well as the Creative Exchange, a personal and professional development initiative to support and empower individuals working in the region’s arts sector.
As part of the Creative Exchange, the Arts Foundation organizes regular meetups, educational labs, a Capacity-Building Program, an annual conference, and produces the Creative Exchange podcast with Wake talking with local, regional, and national artists, arts leaders, and changemakers about the importance of art and their creative process.