Advancement Committee outlines partnership push and a Logan Airport busking pilot

The Mass Cultural Council Advancement Committee met online May 15 to review the agency’s fundraising and partnership strategy and to hear details of a pilot busking program at Logan Airport.

Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt said the advancement team has compiled more than 50 leads and is focused on refining the agency’s approach to “seal the deal.” He described a new pilot with Massport that will allow Massachusetts artists to perform at the Logan Airport baggage claim and accept tips; staff are also in talks with the MBTA and the Convention Center Authority about similar pilots. “This year is all about refining the Agency’s advancement strategy—identifying the right agencies to work with and moving toward ‘sealing the deal,’” Bobbitt said.

Co-Chair Iván Espinoza-Madrigal framed the work as a broader push to engage partners outside the cultural sector, including real estate and business leaders, and highlighted high commercial vacancy rates as an opportunity to activate underused spaces for arts programming. Iván said using vacant storefronts and transit hubs could provide both community benefit and new visibility for artists.

Strategic Partnerships & Advancement Manager Erik Holmgren, who said the Advancement team has been operating for six months, described steps to institutionalize prospect tracking and partnership workflows, including integrating a partnerships tracker into the agency’s Grants Management System and creating automated notifications for staff. Holmgren credited introductions from Council members and noted a planned meeting between his team, David Longworth, and Art Pharmacy to explore social-prescription partnerships.

During the presentation Committee Member Diane Asadorian Masters raised concerns about an uncited data point in Holmgren’s slides; Holmgren said that one figure is proprietary to a healthcare partner and that Art Pharmacy expects to publish white papers with cost-savings comparisons in six to 12 months, subject to HIPAA constraints.

Vice Chair Jo-Ann Davis suggested sharing Holmgren’s presentation with the full Council to broaden engagement and encourage Council members to make targeted introductions. Staff and Committee members also discussed piloting an employee arts benefit with benefits broker One Digital and continuing to scale arts-prescription work beyond early efforts in the Town of Franklin.

The Committee did not take formal advancement-related votes at the meeting. Iván adjourned the session at 2:22 p.m.