Periodically, we pose questions about issues artists face in their work and lives. We were curious about sustainability. How do artists make sure they can consistently maintain their practice, be it through the lens of finances, creative energy, life balance, environmental stewardship, or other facets? We asked artists in different disciplines: How do you keep your … [Read more...]
20th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards
Last week, the Massachusetts Center for the Book announced the selections of the 20th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards. The Awards recognize achievement in five categories of literature written by current residents of the Commonwealth. Congratulations to all of the awardees and honorees. In particular, we are pleased that the list includes several past Mass Cultural Council … [Read more...]
Simone John: Poetic Inheritance
Even before the pandemic, Simone John's (Poetry Fellow '20) creative practice was headed in a direction that would serve her well during months of isolation and uncertainty. Since the 2016 election, she had been considering how her ancestors navigated times of turmoil. "Understanding that this is not the first crisis my community has had. And that we survived, because I'm … [Read more...]
GennaRose Nethercott: Beasts and Boxes
GennaRose Nethercott (Fiction/Creative Nonfiction Fellow '18) knew she had to pursue writing as a career when, during college, taking breaks from writing caused her "bouts of ennui." "I thought, if this is how it's going to be, then I've got to go all in. I'm going to do this for real." Since then, she's written everything from stories to poems to song lyrics to … [Read more...]
Nicole Terez Dutton: Building Poems
Language is plastic, so it's always building, it's always expanding. It always can be made to accommodate new ideas. - Nicole Terez Dutton On the Mass Cultural Council's Creative Minds Out Loud podcast, Nicole Terez Dutton (Poetry Finalist '20) discusses how she has used poetry to connect with community as a poet, teacher, editor, and the inaugural Poet Laureate of the … [Read more...]