“an unlikely group of artists and activists known as the Art Stays Here Coalition has emerged to help combat displacement. The small, all-volunteer group is part of a broader effort that includes policy makers, developers, advocacy groups, and others to confront a problem that by some estimates has caused more than 2 million square feet of cultural space to vanish over the years, as gentrification emptied studios and other venues across Fort Point, the South End, the Fenway, Cambridge, and beyond.” August 5, 2023

“Advocacy requires specific skills including organizing, public speaking, writing/messaging, marketing/public relations, government relations, project management, event producing and fundraising. Through our experiences, we’ve seen the strongest arts advocacy is when artists come together and join with behind-the-scenes folks to create and execute a campaign. Often, advocating for creative space might be the first time some folks have ever advocated. There’s a lot to learn, a lot of strategy involved, and it takes a village.” July/August Issue 2023

“Boston’s Chief of Arts and Culture Kara Elliot-Ortega said it was the first time her office had worked with a developer to acquire property to use for permanent arts space. “It’s a historic moment,” Elliott-Ortega said. “We’re really excited about it, and ready to move on to the public process to determine how we’re going to build out the space.”” June 16, 2023