NEFA Grows the Creative Economy Department

(Boston, MA) The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is pleased to announce that Jessica Muise has joined the organization as the newly created role of program administrator, creative economy.

Prior to NEFA, Jess managed the visual arts studios and galleries at the Umbrella Arts Center, programming installations, developing public art initiatives, and leading artist committees. In her earlier work in member services and outreach at Artisan’s Asylum, she grew membership in an active makerspace while curating events and developing partnerships. As a dancer and dance educator, Jess has created, performed, taught and trained in dance, and is the Boston founder of National Choreography Month, where she led community building initiatives and provided professional development and performance opportunities for over 100 dance artists. She has served on a number of creative task forces and committees, including the City of Somerville’s Creative Space Task Force. Jess holds a B.A. in Transformative Pedagogy and completed the University of Pennsylvania’s National Arts Strategies Executive Program. Jess currently resides in Waltham, MA.

In this newly created role, Jess will coordinate the operations of the creative economy program’s processes and tools, including supporting the growth and development of CreativeGround, NEFA’s online creative economy directory and research database, and other creative economy data projects. “Artists and creatives are at the core of making all communities thrive,” said Dee Schneidman, senior program director, research and creative economy. “By growing our capacity, we are better able to support a visible, inclusive, and connected New England creative economy that can strengthen and sustain itself.  Jess brings the technical, administrative, and creative community skills and background we need to move our work forward, and we are excited to have her be a part of the team.”

About NEFA
The New England Foundation for the Arts invests in artists and communities and fosters equitable access to the arts, enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation. NEFA accomplishes this by granting funds to artists and cultural organizations; connecting them to each other and their audiences; and analyzing their economic contributions. NEFA serves as a regional partner for the National Endowment for the Arts, New England’s state arts agencies, and private foundations. Learn more at www.nefa.org.