ITEM FILE PHOTO
Lynn Museum Executive Director Drew Russo.
BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — Art can fuel an economic engine reviving downtowns like Lynn’s.
That was the message Creative Economy Association of the North Shore (CEANS) will bring to the Lynn Museum Tuesday night from 5:30-8 p.m.
“How cultural districts are creating new opportunities for economic development in Gateway Cities” is the theme of the evening devoted to discussion and socializing sponsored by The Daily Item, Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, Lynn Business Partnership, Lynn Museum/Lynn Arts, the Downtown Lynn Cultural District and Montserrat College of Art.
“CEANS was founded over a decade ago to bring the emerging creative sector on the North Shore together in a more intentional way. They have developed a particular interest in Lynn’s growth as a hub for creative activity, particularly within the Downtown Lynn Cultural District,” said Museum Executive Director Drew Russo.
Created in Salem in 2003, the association’s defined mission parallels the one the state Legislature assigned in 2008 to a state Creative Economy Council. Legislation creating the state council defined its mission as harnessing “the many interlocking industry sectors that center on providing creative services such as advertising, architecture or creating and promoting intellectual property products such as arts, film, computer games, multimedia or design.”
Tuesday’s program starts at 5:30 p.m. with welcoming remarks followed by presentations with a focus on Gov. Baker’s initiative on innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.
Part of the state council’s goals mandated by the Legislature include developing “a statewide strategy for enhancement of the creative economy and providing recommendations on restructuring economic programs within state government to enhance creative economy efforts.”
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.