Diane LeBlanc
Mayoral Candidate

While the Waltham Community and Cultural Center was envisioned to provide the kind of space referenced in this question, that is not how it is being used by the current administration. As mayor, I will conduct an inventory of available City-owned properties, meet with cultural and community leaders to ascertain their specific needs, and then work to efficiently and effectively match them with appropriate spaces.

As mayor, I will support affordable live/work space specifically for artists, potentially utilizing Community Preservation Act funds.

I am an advocate for creating an official cultural district; this effort is currently underway, but, as mayor, I will infuse it with more urgency.

As Mayor I will promote our City as a destination for arts, culture and history. I will dedicate significant resources to support artists and cultural institutions. The additional $10,000 in City funding just provided to the Waltham Cultural Council is a positive first step but still not enough. I will work with artists and cultural organizations as part of an overall economic and community development strategy. In my administration, the planning department will coordinate these efforts in concert with cultural community representatives and will also be tasked with writing grants to support these initiatives.

As Mayor I will actively promote our City as a destination for arts, culture and history and work to ensure that what we offer is accessible to all.

Colleen Bradley-MacArthur
At-Large Candidate

We need to continue to strengthen our investment in the arts in the entire community in Waltham. There needs to be the political will to have capable people in city government to find and apply for grants. This will be achieved by building coalitions with all artists groups, small businesses, commercial businesses, and institutions such as Brandeis. The ability to bring these groups together and foster dialogue and action are critical for the arts to thrive in Waltham.

Randy LeBlanc
At-Large Candidate

I support the recent creation of an arts commission in the city and I have been approached by citizens with disability rights/arts groups who would like to see a portion of the Fernald property specifically appropriated for disabled artists at affordable rents. I think this is a terrific idea and goes to the heart of who we are as a community. I believe there is state funding that can also support such an effort.

I would like to see recommendations from the arts commission that take into account the reuse of buildings sensitive to the needs of artists, working with other boards and commissions to map and balance their needs and I would be eager to accept and advocate for their recommendations.

Steve Lydon
At-Large Candidate

I’ve performed in just about every bar, hall, stage and gazebo in Waltham. What we need is a network of local artist and it should be formed to promote the Arts here in waltham and make the public aware of all events. If elected to the City Council; maybe this is something that I could enter into my agenda.

This network could also be used to make public to the artists as to what is available and where in regards to rehearsal space and artist studios and chambers.

Kathleen B. McMenimen
At-Large Candidate

The Mayor is the Chief Executive/Administrator of our City. My administrative authority is very limited as a City Councillor. However I have historically supported the endeavors brought forth before the City Council (often in the manner of financial help). I have always supported the budget of our schools toward the Performing and Fine Arts. I try to attend the myriad of organizational events scheduled by our Community of talented and dedicated artists (including musical, visual, performing, artists). I am grateful for the wonderful and talented people in our community who provide so much vibrancy and variety of choices to Waltham.

Patrick O’Brien
At-Large Candidate

We should have a quarterly meeting with the entire “Arts Community” to assess the needs of the community. There also should be an Arts Committee established to help improve communication. The Waltham Arts Council does an excellent job for our community. Working together, we can improve the overall experience for the entire arts community in Waltham.

Tom Stanley
At-Large Candidate

I support a program of arts, culture and diversity that fosters resident engagement, planning for the future, and effective management.  Waltham should seek a Cultural District Designation for downtown that supports enhanced cultural activities and tourism. Such a designation will help the area become more of a destination for events, dining, unique cultural and historic experiences, and the arts.

Adopting great models like the Sidewalk Poetry Program in Cambridge will enable more performance art in public spaces and buildings by removing red tape. I support enhanced arts and music programming in our public schools to ensure that our students obtain a comprehensive educational experience with enrichment programs that offer opportunities to express their creativity and talent in a variety of ways. I will also fight to ensure that our public library has the resources it needs to continue their valuable programming that serves residents of all ages.

Waltham should establish a Cultural Diversity Committee that will work to enhance outreach efforts to multicultural groups and promote more engagement with city government at every level. The Committee could advise the council and administration on ways to improve our diversity planning, programming and engagement, and diversity policies could be integrated into every department of city government.  The Committee could also collaborate with local artists, cultural groups, public schools and community groups to produce street-based art and performance, and to display local art throughout our public buildings and establish public-private partnerships and seek foundation support of innovative arts programming, such as micro-grants to artisan entrepreneurs, pop up art exhibits, and storefront artist programs.

I support appointing a Diversity Director within city hall to serve as a liaison to the minority and immigrant community and to ensure that all residents have an open line of communication to the Mayor’s office. The Diversity Director could also be responsible for engaging with city departments, Personnel Director, residents and with the Cultural Diversity Committee to ensure that consistent and comprehensive diversity policies are implemented throughout every city department. I also support establishing an Arts and Culture Director, who will be a strong and focused advocate for the arts in Waltham. The Arts and Culture Director could be a partner for the Waltham Arts Council and  serve as a grant writer for the city to attract new financial resources to supplement non-profit and government-sponsored activities. It is anticipated that the economic benefit of promoting enhanced diversity and art and cultural activities, coupled with the opportunity to attract grants, foundation support and public-private partnerships could generate more than enough revenue to support these two important personnel positions.

Lizzie Gelles
Ward 1 Candidate

Waltham has one city body which is focused on promoting the arts: the Waltham Cultural Council. Waltham does not have a single paid employee who is focused on art in Waltham. As a result, most of the amazing art and culture we see in Waltham is a result of volunteer efforts and donations. Our city needs to be more supportive of these events and initiatives that make our city so attractive. We should not be taking our creative community for granted. 

I am fully supportive of working with artists and cultural organizations to find a space, potentially an unused city space, which could be converted into an art hub for Waltham. Our city should also put more effort into grants and local awards for art initiatives so we can support these types of needs. We need to have someone in our city whose job is to support the arts in Waltham. From helping secure funding to being the point person for art initiatives, this role could be essential in building our creative community and drawing people to events, art exhibits, and shows. As a result, not only are we growing our art community but we are also building our local economy. I am supportive of the work to re-activate Waltham's Municipal Commission on Cultural Affairs and I hope our city can take a step further and also find a way to pay someone in an art-focused role, rather than continuing to only rely on the hard work of volunteers.

Through public art projects, I believe we also have the opportunity to create a more welcoming and vibrant city while also investing in our local community. For example, we could have a second installment of painting the utility boxes or we could have an initiative to paint the benches on Moody Street. We also have so many great brick buildings in Waltham which could become canvasses for beautiful murals. In addition, to engage children in public art, we could work collaboratively with Moody Street businesses to do a window-painting installation for Halloween.

Caren Dunn
Ward 2 Candidate

The request to integrate more creative and artistic endeavors in Waltham is a big task and one best taken on by appointing an arts and culture advisory position to work with the recreation department for the city.

In addition, potential administrative and creative ideas to increase the opportunities for creativity to flourish include:

• The merging of nature and art such as an art installation at Prospect Hill trails, at the former Lodge, or in local parks.

• An art space/gallery in the new grade 6-8 being proposed at 617 Lexington.

• Incentives for local businesses and organization to donate unused space for artistic purposes.

Bill Hanley
Ward 2 Candidate

I would like to see the return of park instructors in the summer. As a child, I remember summer days at Lazazzero and Drake playgrounds where park instructors led daily arts and crafts projects for school-aged kids and they were well-attended and certainly well-liked by parents and kids alike. They also organized sports and other camp-style events for neighborhood kids. Now more than ever we need to get kids outside and out from in front of devices and screens. Waltham families need safe, reliable, fun and creative things for their kids to do during the summer.

City resources and facilities are also largely available to the public for use, but tough to book. As a little league President, I frequently need space to hold meetings and player drafts. We do these at local businesses because it is difficult to find availability and cost. I’d like to see a publicly-available calendar with an online booking function. I’ve used this at the Waltham Public Library and it works well and is reasonably priced. The summer months and nights bring additional availability in school buildings. For a nominal fee to cover costs, groups should be able to book art rooms, classrooms, gyms, cafeterias and theaters more easily and online. The same booking system for city buildings could easily be used and we could increase use and opportunity while opening up creative outlets. The opening of the new High School could include this function on day 1. Thanks for the opportunity to comment, and I humbly ask for your vote to be the next Ward 2 City Councillor.

George Darcy
Ward 3 Candidate

As mentioned in question 2, I intend to explore the possibilities of integrating arts, both visual and performing, into the Fernald landscape, such as, but not limited to, indoor and outdoor art museums a la deCordova, performance centers, artists’ studios and living spaces. Any art related proposals at Fernald should include accommodations for the developmentally disabled. We need an art and culturally diverse committee to drive this proposal forward.

Sean T. Durkee
Ward 6 Candidate

Residents should understand that for every dollar we invest in the arts, our businesses receive multiple dollars in return and creates work for contractors, employees and vendors. Everyone has a vested interest in ensuring the arts are supported and encouraged. My understanding is the city voted to re-establish the Arts Commission, which I support. Local Cultural Council (LCC) programs bring the arts to people who may never have had the opportunity to see them before. Over ten years ago I benefitted from a small grant which helped cover the cost of printing enlarged photos I took while stationed overseas. Nearly 100 people saw my two-hour talk on Iraq at the Waltham Public Library at the time. I went on to have small discussions at local elementary schools and groups about my experiences overseas.

The 2018 creation of the Waltham Arts & Culture Coalition is a step in the right direction. I like the idea of a full-time city employee whose job it is to facilitate and oversee arts & culture, development and opportunity. This position can combine the private, public and educational forces in our city to strengthen the arts. Whether applying for grants, acquiring resources or assisting the school system, we can improve our culturally rich and varied existence. Please consider me a friend and ally of the arts.

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 have cosponsored a council resolution to reactivate our Municipal Commission on Cultural Affairs, and recently advocated for additional funding for the existing Cultural Council. Both of these groups play a role in supporting infrastructure and coordination. A functional community calendar would also support these needs.

Our lack of space for our cultural community is related to the housing and infrastructure squeeze many are experiencing in Waltham. To partially address this, the City Council must take steps to create and preserve affordable housing. The city should also invest in creative spaces, recognizing that investing in our cultural groups returns that money back into the Waltham community, generating economic activity that benefits everyone. To that end, I intend to support capital projects that create more artistic venues and opportunities.

Robert Logan
Ward 9 Candidate

One thing I have been very involved in is the proposed amendment to ARTICLE XXII of the General Ordinances to update and reactivate the Municipal Commission on Cultural Affairs. I have worked closely with the Waltham Arts and Culture Coalition to make appropriate changes in the ordinance in order to provide an official vehicle for the arts and cultural community to have input and provide guidance to local officials on how best to capitalize on this great resource. We have also discussed, and I support, the adoption of a “Percentage for the Arts” ordinance to create a source of revenue dedicated to arts & culture, and to encourage and promote public art.

Jonathan Paz
Ward 9 Candidate

We need to modernize our city’s internal administrative systems- not just in the long term but now. My campaign has focused on the issue of modernizing our transit system but that point carries over to administration and communication. Issues of space and coordination will continue to appear because we have not yet digitized or expanded our ability to communicate with the rest of the city. There are not clear and transparent ways to understand the permitting or grant funding to carry out artistic projects. There has not been enough to consolidate and streamline our municipal processes. I hope to work with other city councilors to ensure we have a high-tech approach to artistic participation. In terms of space, we need to co-opt and re-use existing buildings to not only enable affordable housing but also, cooperative use of that space for the arts. Our youth, seniors and families can only gain from artistic and creative entrepreneurial inclusion.