11/28/2023
We recently had our conversation with Kara Elliot-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston hosted by BCE Professor Chris Schroeder
Students in BC110 Introduction to the Creative Economy know, creative placemaking as the coming together of community to improve and reimagine our shared city and town experiences. On November 15th, we were excited to be joined by Kara Elliot-Ortega, Chief for Arts and Culture for the City of Boston.
In a conversation with BCE Professor and Executive Director of the Boston Music Project, Chris Schroeder, Kara shared about the nuances of culture in Boston and the importance of building culture from neighborhoods and communities up rather than only thinking about culture as venues. In addition to creating a cultural plan for the city, Kara talked about being on the mayor’s cabinet, the connected layers of her work with other city offices, like Development, and recent wins, such as the permanent studio rehearsal space for the Allston-Brighton artist and musician community. Also shared were ways to get involved, like volunteering or connecting with places such as DS4Si, the Design Gym, in Dorchester.
Some words of wisdom from Kara Elliot-Ortega on finding your career path in arts and culture:
Volunteer your time (her own career path was shared by being part of an artist pop up in Detroit)
Ask people about their career paths (this can help you learn what paths exist)
Find collaborators and create something (or just try, it doesn’t have to succeed but it shows vision and effort.)
