Catherine T. Morris | BAMS Fest & Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Capable, confident and competent are three “Cs” that immediately come to mind when you meet Catherine T. Morris. Catherine is the Founder and Executive Director of BAMS Fest and also the Director of Public Programs at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. (When asked how she does it all, she laughs and says that both work toward the same goal.)

Like many arts leaders, she had a clear plan heading into 2020. She and her board had just finished a comprehensive strategic plan for BAMS Fest. The coordination of the June outdoor arts and music festival was well underway with volunteers lined up and ready to go. As she prepared to hop on a plane for a mini vacation in Miami, COVID-19 struck and turned everything upside down. Flights were cancelled followed by cancellations of public gatherings. It was clear that BAMS Festival would not happen. And weeks later, the country witnessed the horrific death of George Floyd. “It was the perfect storm,” shared Catherine as she reconciled cancelling BAMS Festival while simultaneously reassessing how to meet the need of the moment. Like any good entrepreneur, she pivoted. Fast. 

BAMS Fest had always been dedicated to showcasing the work for Black and Brown artists and supporting local black-owned businesses. But how might BAMS Fest amplify its ability to fight for racial, social and creative justice? To answer this question, Catherine formed mini “brain trusts,” experts from the community, to think of ways that BAMS Fest could use its platform to support artists of color to tell their stories through art forms like spoken word, dance, visual arts, film and music. It could become a laboratory for experimentation and public narratives for artists of color and the exposure could also lead to new economic pathways and creative autonomy.

“Everything around us is made by someone. It’s time that we recognize that art and artists matter.” This takes us to a fourth “C”. Catherine is a creator. More specifically, a Creative Strategist, who approaches her work with authenticity, focus and “holistic heart.” We benefit from Thought Leaders like Catherine T. Morris - an entrepreneur who is leading the way in building a more inclusive, equitable and creative city of Boston.

Photo by Vanya Arroyo

Photo by Vanya Arroyo

Wendy Swart Grossman