The seARTS Speaker Series included many different artists, writers, and poets over time.  Among the noteworthy was Helen Epstein who gave a talk on writing memoirs.

The 2008 Speaker Series was built around a theme – to help educate the community on the Creative Economy. 

The year kicked off with Mayor John Barrett from North Adams and the film, “downside-up” – how art can change the spirit of a place –  on the development of Mass MoCA at the seARTS Annual Meeting.

It was closely followed by a program with Greg Jenkins from the Somerville Arts Council.  Jenkins’s presentation on Somerville’s vibrant, nationally recognized arts scene focused on the partnerships and projects Somerville artists and businesses have created to help their city thrive culturally and economically. The session explored how artists and businesses can collaborate on specific projects to further develop the creative economy in this community.

The event  closely followed Mayor Carolyn Kirk’s participation in “The Creative Economy: Success Stories and Opportunities” at the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association. “I am very committed to fostering a strong creative economy in our community. There are very clear benefits that come from effective partnerships and strategies to build a strong creative sector at home, including attracting increased commerce and investment, and a providing our residents with vibrant cultural opportunities and a higher quality of life,” Kirk said (Gloucester Daily Times, May 7, 2008.)  

Jerry Beck – the well-known artist and arts organizer from Lowell’s Revolving Museum was another key speaker in the series who address public art.   Jerry was invited back to run a Partner with an Artist program alongside Art Haven.