There’s been a lot of talk lately about arts and culture in Newton. Mayor-Elect Marc Laredo is planning to create a whole new department for it, headed by Spark Newton Director Meryl Kessler, to elevate the arts in City Hall.

Times have been tough—with tariffs and federal funding cuts putting strain on arts and cultural programs nationwide and eating away at philanthropic dollars in every community—and Newton is not immune. This summer, Laredo held listening sessions with cultural nonprofit leaders to discuss how City Hall can help them in these volatile economic times.

Now, the Charles River Chamber is getting in on the effort with a holiday season campaign aimed at helping local artists and cultural nonprofits thrive.

The Chamber’s “Support Local Arts & Culture” initiative centers on “10 Ways to Support Arts and Culture” and spotlights local artists, galleries and nonprofits as well as the contributions they make to Newton, Wellesley, Needham and Watertown.

The campaign has downloadable, ready-to-share graphics and text crafted to highlight those contributions during the peak holiday shopping season.

The most obvious way to help local artists and cultural nonprofits this season is with money. And Newton has an army of artists creating things every day, so you can incorporate a vast array of arts and crafts into your holiday shopping.

But you can also help spread awareness at no cost to yourself. Download the campaign graphics and share them on social media and newsletters, or print some out to put in storefronts. And share the “10 Ways to Support Arts and Culture” page. Make sure to tag @crrchamber and use the hashtag #SupportLocalArt when posting.

“People have many ways to give during the holidays,” said Jon Rufo, local artist and co-chair of the chamber’s Arts and Culture Committee. “When you choose the gift of local art—by attending a performance, shopping at a gallery, or supporting an arts nonprofit—you strengthen our communities both culturally and economically. Everything you need to experience the arts is right here in our footprint.”

Rufo co-founded that committee with Emily O’Neil, director of the New Art Center, who’s also been working overtime to promote the arts across Newton’s 13 villages.

“Our goal is to shift how arts and culture are understood within the local ecosystem—not as an isolated sector, but as a catalyst for economic activity, small-business vibrancy, tourism, placemaking, and community well-being,” O’Neil said. “The Chamber’s new Support Local Arts and Culture campaign is an important step in that direction. It signals to municipalities, business leaders and regional partners that investing in the arts strengthens the entire local economy and helps build vibrant, inclusive communities.”

The committee’s push goes deeper than shopping and further than the season.

“The holiday season is certainly an important moment for local artists and arts organizations, but it represents only one part of a much larger systems-change effort our region needs,” O’Neil continued. “When communities recognize arts and culture not as a ‘nice-to-have,’ but as a core economic driver and community builder, we begin laying the structural foundation that allows creative workers and organizations to thrive year-round.”