our work
arts, culture and
creativity
Creative County Initiative
Art inspires us, connects us and helps us to innovate and imagine new possibilities. ECCF is committed to supporting a strong ecosystem for arts, culture and creative enterprise that is sustainable, equitable and accessible to all.
In partnership with our communities and the Barr Foundation, ECCF’s Creative County Initiative (CCI) is investing more than $4 million in the arts, culture and creative sector of Essex County as part of a multi-year commitment. We’re strategically investing in the creative people, places and partnerships that make Essex County such a vibrant place to live and work. Here’s how:
ECCF’s Creative County work is powered by the contributions of our generous community.
Communications and Connectivity
CreativeCounty.org is Essex County’s source for local arts and culture, connecting community and creativity.
Our goals for establishing and deepening connections includes:
Inspiring public appreciation for the arts by increasing the visibility of and accessibility to local experiences.
Supporting local artists and organizations by increasing attendance at their events and experiences.
Enabling collaboration within the arts community by providing a place to connect and share resources.
Want to learn more? Visit creativecounty.org.
Capacity Building
Opportunities for arts and culture organizations to further their missions and compete in our creative economy.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ECCF and the Creative County Initiative is committed to creating professional development and capacity-building opportunities for cultural leaders and small and volunteer-run arts and culture organizations so they can further their missions and compete in our creative economy. These opportunities include small, hands-on workshops and large-scale conferences like ECCF’s annual Institute for Trustees, which added an arts track in 2023.
For more details on current workshops, visit creativecounty.org.
CHANGEMAKERS
ChangeMakers is an immersive leadership support program that fosters participants’ roles as creative leaders building a more inclusive and sustainable arts and culture ecosystem in Essex County.
Since 2021, ECCF has graduated 34 artists, nonprofit and municipal leaders from this eight-month-long program that includes facilitated and project-based learning, peer networking and leadership trainings. Rooted in a collaborative process of local and regional ecosystem building, ChangeMakers is connecting people with diverse perspectives and different backgrounds to grow a network of creative leaders that understand the importance and power of thinking regionally and strategically about the ecosystem.
The 2024 ChangeMakers cohort will begin the program in March 2024.
For more information about ChangeMakers, contact k.ristuben@eccf.org.
Convenings
Bringing all parts of the sector together to learn, network, inspire and thrive as one united ecosystem.
When all parts of the creative system come together, it’s possible to identify root causes of challenges and find innovative solutions. Together, we can address issues like barriers to funding, creative workforce support, affordable artist space and professional leadership development.
ECCF is committed to bringing people together to build a stronger and more resilient regional network. By doing this, we hope to:
Create stronger connections across sectors to enable arts and creativity to thrive.
Inspire co-funders to invest in long-term projects that address critical challenges.
Pilot and scale innovative systems solutions to support a healthy creative sector.
Monthly Creative County Meet Ups
Virtual opportunities for creatives to connect around timely topics. For more information contact k.ristuben@eccf.org or register here.
Essex County Arts and Culture Summit
The Essex County Arts and Culture Summit brings together hundreds of artists, nonprofits and cross-sector creative leaders for networking, educational opportunities and inspiration.
Creative Sector Think Labs
Creative sector Think Labs are meetings designed to bring people together to incubate ideas in emerging areas affecting the creative sector. Dates TBA.
Cultural Planning
Engaging communities in cultural planning that is inclusive of arts and culture.
Through its Creative County Initiative, ECCF is committed to supporting cultural planning initiatives that create better conditions for the arts sector to thrive, and investing in knowledge and technical support to engage communities in municipal planning that is inclusive of arts and culture. As a result, we aim to:
- Earn Essex County recognition as a supportive region for creative professionals.
- Strengthen the capacity for collaboration within and between communities.
- Foster inclusion and equity among our diverse communities.
- Broaden the value of tangible and intangible cultural assets related to community development goals.
Want to learn more? Visit our partners at the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission.
Grants
Creative County’s grantmaking programs support individual artists, creative cross-sector collaborations and special projects that enrich, educate and enhance the cities and towns of Essex County.
Learn more about grantmaking opportunities.
ChangeMakers
ChangeMakers is an immersive leadership support program that fosters participants’ roles as creative leaders building a more inclusive and sustainable arts and culture ecosystem in Essex County.
Since 2021, ECCF has graduated 57 artists, nonprofit and municipal leaders from this 8-month-long program that includes facilitated and project-based learning, peer networking and leadership trainings. Rooted in a collaborative process of local and regional ecosystem building, ChangeMakers is connecting people with diverse perspectives and different backgrounds to grow a network of creative leaders that understand the importance and power of thinking regionally and strategically about the ecosystem.
The 2026 ChangeMakers cohort will begin the program in March 2026. The application to participate is open now.
Project Highlights
Eunice Zeigler
2021
Created and managed first Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Festival and drafted resolution passed City to recognize and honor Hispanic/Latinx Month in perpetuity.
Brian King
2021
“Interwoven: Stories & Connections of HIV/AIDS Long-term Survivors” is a fiber arts project honoring and claiming space for this invisible community to show their resilience, uniqueness, and enduring friendships.
Jay Salois
2022
Utilized innovative 360º video technology to increase experiential access to historic and cultural spaces for people in assisted living communities or with limited mobility.
Edwin Cabrera
2023
Built capacity of Lynn Music Foundation and Edwin as leader, to manage and program the Neal Rantoul Vault Black Box Theatre.
Edward Speck
2024
Deployed MeVa busses to theatre performances in Lawrence and Haverhill to embed arts in public transportation.
Tori Darnell
2025
Led campaign to change public policy to better support public art in Saugus.
Prior Changemakers
2021
Ann Ormond Town of Andover, Director of Business, Arts, and Culture | Andover
Sarah Lovasco The Switchboard, Director and arts consultant | Haverhill
Eunice Ziegler Methuen City Councilor, musician, songwriter | Methuen
Tia Cole Creative Collective, LLC, Community Engagement Manager, Lynn Mutual Aid | Lynn, Salem
Ana Masacote Queer Lynn Scene, Dance to Power LLC, Yo Soy LOLA | Lynn
Tim Brown Northeast Arc, Director of Innovation and Strategy | Peabody
Brian King Composer/Musician What Time is it Mr. Fox?, North Shore Health Project, HIV Case Manager | Gloucester, Rockport
Paula Estey PEG Center for Art & Activism, Director | Newburyport, Amesbury, Salisbury
Jennifer Leonard-Solis Pentucket Arts Association, Co-Director | West Newbury, Groveland, Merrimac
Yinette Guzman North Shore CDC, Design and Placemaking Project Manager | Salem
2022
Kerrie Bates Director, Ipswich ReCreation & Culture | Ipswich
Jay Salois Owner, VRtical Media | Salem
LaCrecia Thomson Arts and Culture Planner | Lynn
Monica Manoski Executive Director, Essex Art Center | Lawrence
Donna M. Keefe Salisbury Cultural Council Arts and Cultural Initiative, Town of Salisbury Cultural Council | Salisbury
Nathan Lewis Head Curator, The Satanic Temple Salem / Salem Art Gallery | Salem
John Mayer Curator Emeritus, Amesbury Carriage Museum | Amesbury
Aliana de la Guardia Founder and Director, Guerilla Opera | Haverhill
Lisa Miller-Gillespie President/co-founder Lawrence Festival of the Arts | Lawrence
Courtney Richardson Director, Rocky Neck Art Colony | Gloucester
Yaya Rodriguez Founder/CEO, Cultura Latina Dance Academy Inc. | Lynn
Sarah Slifer Swift Director, Movement Arts Gloucester MA (MAGMA) | Gloucester
2023
Mitch Ahern Trustee, G.A.R. Hall and Museum, Lynn, Board Member; Museum of Printing, Haverhill, Director of Operations; Fort Point Theatre Channel, President | Lynn
Cynthia August Ipswich Arts Association and Ipswich Cultural Council | Ipswich
Julie Barry City of Salem, Planning & Community Development, Senior Planner for Arts & Culture | Salem
Edwin Cabrera Lynn Hip Hop Wall of Fame – Chairperson | Lynn
Maurisa(Reese)Charest Adjunct Faculty Fellow/NECC | Methuen
Otto de la Cruz artist | Lawrence
Sunil Gulab Artist, Arts organizer, Lynn Creative Cities Coordinator | Lynn
learn more about creative county
creative county steering committee
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, Philanthropist
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
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.
racial equity statement
ECCF’s Creative County Initiative is a systems-based commitment to supporting a strong ecosystem for arts, culture and creative enterprise that is SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE and ACCESSIBLE for all in our region.
Creative County holds racial equity and justice as core values. During this period of pain, stress, and national uprising and solidarity, we are committing to address injustice and systemic racism through the work of CCI.
We pledge to:
- Continually work to meet goals of diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) in our work across Essex County, recognizing that continued learning and adapting is needed.
- Create and support a CCI Racial Equity Working Group to ensure that our commitment to DEIA manifests in CCI’s programs, policies, and structures with intention, integrity, and sustainability.
- Educate ourselves as to white privilege and systemic racism and learn how to build equity and inclusivity in all areas of CCI investment.
- Create opportunities for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian – and other people of color – who, through arts, culture and creativity, bring meaning to our communities.
- Build community through deep listening, learning, partnering, and collaboratively working to create a more equitable and just society.
Creative County Initiative strives to serve the health, well-being, and creative economy of Essex County communities by strengthening the region’s arts and culture ecosystem. CCI embraces a collaborative approach to building systems of sustainable support across all sectors for the creative makers, organizations, and citizens who bring creativity, connectivity, and meaning to our communities. Through its work, CCI strives to build community through cultural and civic engagement.
2020 is a time to pause, reset, reprioritize and continue to model the change we want and need in our world.
measuring impact
Executive Summary: Creative County Initiative year 6 evaluation report
arts & culture news
In Amesbury, nonprofit Theater in the Open to turn City Hall into a circus
‘City Hall Circus’ is one of many exciting arts and culture projects supported by ECCF’s Creative County In Amesbury, when you want to attend a City Council meeting, obtain a building permit or renew Fido’s dog license, you go to City Hall. But this fall, the brick...
New group of ChangeMakers to begin powerful journey to support arts & culture in Essex County
Arts and culture do so many powerful things for our communities. “First and foremost, arts and culture bring people together, particularly during times of uncertainty in the world,” said Karen Ristuben, program director for Creative County, Essex County Community...
New cohort of creatives graduate from ECCF’s ChangeMakers program
By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF COMMUNICATIONS WRITER When he joined the Essex County Community Foundation Creative County ChangeMakers program in March, Gloucester resident Sal Zerelli remembers looking around the room of creative people – actors, writers, painters...
work & impact
get in touch
Karen Ristuben
Program Director
Creative County Initiative
k.ristuben@eccf.org
community voices
“Cities and towns across Massachusetts are full of creative talent and cultural assets that have the power to inspire us, challenge us, and bring us together. Yet, depending on geography, an art form, or networks, access to funding can be uneven – and so are opportunities to experience arts and creativity.”
– BARR Foundation, Creative Commonwealth Initiative
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Beverly, Massachusetts 01915
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