What role do arts, culture, and creativity play in your life, your family, and your community?
Jeannette McCarthy
Mayoral Candidate
I cannot imagine my life or our community without music, the arts, theater, garden clubs , and a multicultural community.
Diane LeBlanc
Mayoral Candidate
Waltham is blessed to have an amazing cultural community and I have enjoyed many performances and shows over the years. In addition to being an enthusiastic audience member, I have also tried to give back to that community in various ways, including as a board member of the Waltham Tourism Council and as a board member and volunteer for the Reagle Music Theatre.
Arts and culture not only play a role in our City’s quality of life, but also serve as an economic engine. An Americans for the Arts study found that event attendees spend an average of $31.47 in addition to admission/tickets. Considering the number of attractions in Waltham — from historical museums to Open Studios —this has a major impact on the local economy, especially small businesses.
As other research consistently shows, arts education is important — not just for its own sake, but also as a catalyst for overall motivation, attendance and achievement. I am pleased that Waltham schools have a high participation rate in the arts, though my goal would be to increase it even more broadly.
Colleen Bradley-MacArthur
At-Large Candidate
As a ballet dancer and artist...the performing arts and the arts are important aspects of my life. Growing up my mother operated a dance school for nearly 30 years in Beverly, MA. The yearly dance recitals were a family event and everyone helped with costumes and building sets. My grandmother was a fine artist in Danvers and helped to establish a permanent home for the Danvers Art Association. Here in Waltham my family is supportive of the museums, artist communities, and attend concerts with the two orchestras. I recently began volunteering with the Waltham Arts Council for their “Concerts on the Common” this summer. We also enjoy visiting the nearby Museum of Fine Arts, the DeCordova sculpture park and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, to name a few other art institutions we frequent.
Randy LeBlanc
At-Large Candidate
Arts, culture, and creativity are essential to all aspects of my family’s life. Look over the fence from our house and there’s the Waltham Fields—a source of exploration and wonder for any family with young kids. When you live in Waltham for awhile, and especially if you go through the schools here like I did, you see how much we celebrate the arts. From the Reagle Players to the Hovey, the Waltham Artists in the mills, Brandeis and the Rose Art Museum—it’s hard not to see how Waltham isn’t just a major hub for the arts, but it’s been one for generations. And that plays into our lives every day. Sometimes it’s just by passing by a sculpture or artists painting by the river during Riverfest. Other times it’s touring the lofts during open studios or going to the library for kid-friendly arts events, or the concerts on the Common. There could always be more, and I know that there is healthy concern about the need to expand support for the arts in Waltham, but I also want to say that the arts already are a very essential part of who we are as a community, they play into our lives every day, and I think we have a solid foundation of good things to expand from.
Steve Lydon
At-Large Candidate
The Arts play a big roll in my life. I am a musician and a singer. I play the saxophone and I’m a product of the Big Band and Blues Scene from the Boston area. I have traveled to perform in San Antonio, Honolulu, Seattle, Louisville, Chicago, New York and Washington DC. After studying under the great Tom Ferrante at Waltham high school, I took a long hiatus from music to join the Marine Corps, begin a career as a Waltham Firefighter and to raise a family. When I decided to get back into music, I dusted off my saxophones and went looking for places to practice and play. After re-honing my skills, I started playing with various bands in the Boston area including the sought after Party of 9 Band. Being a big fan of saxophonist Alto Reed, I have always dreamt of putting together a Bob Seger Tribute band and when the opportunity came; I pulled the trigger and LIVE BULLET was born, nine years and counting. Please see livebulletband.com.
I’m currently also a member of Waltham’s famed “Soft Touch Swing Band”, and the newly formed WATCH CITY CADILLACS. I also make special appearances with the McMurphy’s, and other bands in the Boston area.
I’ve also spent time with the Reagle Players both on stage and backstage, and as a Reagle parent when my two boys were performing in the Christmas shows. My wife Denise has also spent some time on stage. I’m also a big fan the visual Arts and love to wander the warehouse studios when they hold their events.
Kathleen B. McMenimen
At-Large Candidate
This short window of time and space does not allow me to enumerate my appreciation and support of the arts and culture in my personal and family life, nor in the fabric of the Waltham Community. As a very young woman, I studied piano, and learned appreciation for the beauty of the classical composers. As a student at Boston College, I typed the Doctoral Thesis of my work/study boss and his mentor which articulated and argued for the need to nurture creativity in the “everyday world”. As I learned then, creativity cannot “be taught”; it can only be “nurtured”.
My appreciation and value for the performing arts, the visual arts and the musical arts and the roles of each of these in our City is one of gratitude and support.
Patrick O’Brien
At-Large Candidate
I was very involved in the arts while growing up in Waltham. I was part of the Reagle Players and Music Unlimited at Waltham High School. My daughter is very involved in the Boston Ballet and both of my daughters used to sing in the church choir. I also graduated from the St. Paul’s Choir School in 1984. We sang at Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall and Tanglewood.
Tom Stanley
At-Large Candidate
Waltham is an exceptionally diverse city. As such, arts, culture and creativity play critical roles in bringing people together across the community. We are incredibly lucky to have a long list of existing cultural assets that not only draw crowds from local residents, but attract visitors from around the state. Our robust local music scene includes two orchestras – the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra and Waltham Symphony Orchestra, the Reagle Music Theater of Greater Boston, a free summer concert series hosted by the Waltham Arts Council, Waltham High School’s show choir Music Unlimited and show band, and many other live music offerings. We have amazing performance art by the Hovey Players, Bentley and Brandeis Theater Companies and offer unique physical assets such as the Waltham Public Library, Waltham Historic Society, a variety of historic estates and homes, and the Waltham Mills’ Artists Association. I’ve served on the Reagle Theater Board and attended many of these performances and venues over the years and always leave amazed at how art promotes cultural understanding and civic engagement.
Lizzie Gelles
Ward 1 Candidate
Throughout Waltham, you can find art. From the murals by Moody Street to the painted utility boxes or our art galleries like the Lincoln Arts Project, we are fortunate to live in a creative community. The creative culture of our city is one of the things that I’m most proud of and I’m grateful for all of these parts of our community.
When I purchased my first home in Waltham 25 years ago, I was drawn to the trendy aspect of our downtown. To this day, it is something I love and I want to continue promoting as a city councilor.
For many people, they view government and creativity as being almost polar opposites, however, I view them as partners. Art has the potential to draw people in and engage them in important issues. I also believe that our city has the opportunity to leverage the creativity in our community by partnering with them for public projects. In my own race, I’ve been dedicated to ensuring the artists and printers who we work with are paid a fair wage by only using union shops. As a city councilor, I will bring this same dedication to ensuring artists are paid fairly. Too often, artists are expected to do labor for “exposure” or to “give back.” We need to respect and support our creative community.
Caren Dunn
Ward 2 Candidate
Culture plays a huge role in my life. My husband and I almost exclusively spend our free time in nature hiking or biking, at museums or exhibits and visiting historical sites. We are fortunate in the Boston area to have the richest history and well-preserved attractions.
Bill Hanley
Ward 2 Candidate
Along with rich offerings in athletics, Waltham shines with its programs in the arts. At Waltham High School, I was part of the first student group that self-produced a theatrical production. Playing the part of Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride still holds a special place in my heart. I was also a member of Waltham’s Music Unlimited Show Choir for four years and was also the drummer for Music Express. I carried that experience to Purdue University where I was the drummer for their show choir. As an adult, creativity takes shape in my annual Halloween and Christmas light displays and tinkering around the house.
Creative outlets are important to any child’s development and involvement in music and artistic extracurricular activities have a direct link to academic success. Waltham has youth and student populations who don’t have equal access to these programs until high school. At Waltham High, programs have no cost and students get access to supports like transportation. That equity and access for all Waltham youth is something I’m passionate about and will continue to work to improve if elected Ward 2 City Councillor.
George Darcy
Ward 3 Candidate
An appreciation of the arts creates a more beautiful place to live. Cultural and economic diversity is what Waltham is all about.
Sean T. Durkee
Ward 6 Candidate
The Waltham Arts Council has been a part of me and my family’s life for decades. I attended the first Arts Council event held at the Robert Treat Paine Estate as a child. My aunt and uncle were founding members of the council. I’ve watched friends perform during the Summer Concert Series on the common and I volunteer selling concessions during these events. My brother-in-law, Everett Erwin, is the current President of the Waltham Arts Council; my sister, Kelly, is a Board member; and my parents, Bill & Mary Anne, can be seen selling concessions, collecting donations and doing whatever is asked of them to support the arts. My parents encouraged my brothers, sister and I to take art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, attend the Boston Pops concerts at the Hatch Shell and learn to play musical instruments. Many forms of art enrich the community and are vital to a healthy and culturally diverse community.
Greg DeMeo
Ward 7 Candidate
Growing up in Waltham, I fondly recall my arts education experiences in elementary school, particularly the field trips organized by Paul Shea to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
As a High School Administrator, and later as the principal of Waltham High School, I supported and attended many school theater and musical events and productions. At Waltham High School music programs continue to be strong, classes in dance are quite popular, and a wide range of classes for art and design students of all ranges of ability are offered. We have a now 50-year tradition of a graduation seniors production—“Senior Revue”. Many of our students have found a passion in the Arts and through it have developed a sense of confidence in themselves, whatever their ultimate path.
I am proud of the partnership the Waltham Public Schools have developed with community groups like The Reagle Players and appreciate what they have offered to Waltham High School and the Waltham community throughout the years.
I feel the Arts bring a great deal to Waltham.
Kristine Mackin
Ward 7 Candidate
I dabble in a lot of different arts! Prior to running for office I was on the board of Hovey Players, Waltham’s oldest community theater, and was also a member of the Acme Improv Troupe. I’m still connected to the theatrical community as a supporter. I maintain a consistent sewing and knitting practice - ask me sometime about my handmade dresses and sweaters I often wear to City Council! I’m also currently taking partner acrobatics classes, and was recently very inspired by a juggling performance by The Seven Fingers as part of their Passengers show, and may try that next. All of these pursuits are ways I make time for myself, and allow me to nurture relationships with others based on trust and mutual creativity.
Robert Logan
Ward 9 Candidate
Arts and culture have always been important in our family. One of my sons has a Master’s Degree in Art Education and one of my daughters has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. My only claim to fame is that I once won Third Prize in the Grover Cronin Easter Bunny Art Contest.
Jonathan Paz
Ward 9 Candidate
I grew up in Waltham to a family of bachata, merengue and cumbia dancers. My mom and dad instilled in me a sense of wonder in the arts. This led me to perform for several salsa and bachata teams. For the past couple years, I have been able to bring salsa performances to the Breezer’s Ball, a community celebration where the proceeds from the Ball fund two scholarships for graduating Waltham High School seniors going on to further education.
I thrive when I connect to my community through dance, when I channel emotions into a painting, when I’m full of food made from recipes passed down over generations. I see how powerfully the arts and culture can speak to the soul, bring people together across differences, and unlock creative visions for the future. Everyone in Waltham - young and old, from all economic and social backgrounds - deserve to be connected to the arts, cultural expression, and creative outlets right here in our city.
