Two research institutes at the University of Massachusetts will explore the potential for a new Creative Industries workforce development program for the City of Boston. The UMass Donahue Institute (UMDI) and the Center for Social Policy (CSP) at UMass Boston will identify existing education and job training programs that can lead to careers in Boston’s creative industries, as well as new opportunities that could help fill gaps in the labor market. This information will be used to inform the design of the Creative Industries workforce development program, a collaboration of the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD), Emerson College and Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), which will promote pathways to creative economy careers for Boston residents.
The creative industries sector encompasses many distinct fields, such as visual and performing arts, written media, film, broadcasting, software publishing, and culture education. Boston’s creative economy is projected to grow by 7 percent over the next 10 years, adding approximately 1,800 jobs.
UMDI and CSP were chosen from among eight applicants that submitted proposals in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) OWD issued in August 2017. Both organizations demonstrated strong expertise: UMDI has previously led a study on the creative economy of New England, while CSP has collaborated with OWD to evaluate career pathways in other industries.
Read the press release to learn more about the selection of UMDI and CSP for the feasibility study.