About
Creative County Initiative
In partnership with the Barr Foundation, the Creative County Initiative (CCI) invested more than $2 million in the arts, culture and creative sector of Essex County over ten years. Together with our communities, we are committed to supporting a strong ecosystem for arts, culture and creative enterprise that is SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE and ACCESSIBLE for all in our region.
The work of Creative County...
Creates
a regional voice for arts, culture and creative expression in Essex County.
Promotes
transformative community and economic development.
Elevates
arts and cultural experiences that celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and access across communities.
Invests
in artists and the creative economy in an environment of rapidly changing demographics.
Celebrates
Essex County as a vibrant place to live, work, create and collaborate.
2018 - 2026 Investment Areas
Public Art & Creative Placemaking Grants
Funding for four levels of collaborative placemaking and public art projects:
- Partnership Grants
- ALAANA Artist Grants
- Special Project Grants
- Last Mile Fund
Cultural Planning
Engaging communities in municipal planning that is inclusive of arts and culture.
Capacity Building Trainings
Opportunities for arts and culture organizations to further their missions and compete in our creative economy.
Convenings
Bringing all parts of the creative system together to learn, network, inspire and thrive as one united ecosystem.
Communications and Connectivity
Helping artists and organizations reach new audiences, grow financial support and connect with each other.
Creative County Steering Committee
Karen Ristuben
Program Director
Creative County Initiative
k.ristuben@eccf.org
Karen Ristuben - Program Director, Creative County Initiative
John Andrews - Creative Collective, LLC
Aaron Clausen - Principal City Planner, City Of Lynn
Ana Colmenero - ECCF Board Chair
Cristian Recinos - Community Activist
Danielle Coates-Connor - Communications Consultant
Eunice Zeigler MA, MCPPO, PHM - Governor's Councilor; singer/songwriter
Katie King - Owner, KM Recruiting
Lisa Miller-Gillespie - Executive Director, Greater Lawrence Fellowship of the Arts
Nonie Brady - Community Activist, Artist
Rachel Borgatti
Saniego Sanchez - Director, Punto Urban Art Museum / North Shore CDC
ECCF
Stratton Lloyd - President & CEO, ECCF
Hehershe Busuego - Vice President of Equity Initiatives
Kelly Shea Knowles - Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Michelle Curran - Senior Writer & Content Strategist
CCI Advisors (Prior Members)
Ana Tinajeros - Founder Dance to Power; Afro-Latin Dance Artist
Barbara Lorenc - Arts-Focused Property Developer; Chair, Economic Development Committee, Amesbury Chamber of Commerce
J. Casey Soward - Executive Director, Cabot Theatre
Deborah Greel - Public Art Director, City of Salem (retired)
Doneeca Thurston - Executive Director, Lynn Museum & Arts Center
Felipe Collazo - President, Bread & Roses Heritage Festival; musician
Greg Federspiel - Town Administrator, Manchester-by-the-Sea
Jackie Rosenthal
Jean Nichols - Biotechnology Executive (retired)
Jennifer Welter - Conservation Commission, Town of Lynnfield
John Moynihan - Executive Director, Firehouse Performing Arts
Jon Payson - ECCF Board Member
Judith Farzan - Board Chair, Essex Arts Center
Lillian Hsu - Public Art Director, City of Cambridge
Michelle Finamore - Fashion + Design Curator, Arts Consultant
Noah Koretz - Director, Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), MassDevelopment
Pedro Miguel Soto - Creative Economy Senior Fellow, MassDevelopment
Rosario Ubiera-Minaya - Executive Director, Raw Art Works
Steve Immerman - President, Montserrat College of Art (retired)