We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Chris Vuk | Rock Violinist

My mom introduced me to the violin at the age of 6 years old. Through a childhood of playing music as a solo violinist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, pursuing a career as a musician seemed a logical choice when I entered college. Through a series of friendships I was introduced to a group of musicians who, alongside of myself would reform the award winning Boston String Quartet, where I enjoyed 10 years playing, 5 studio albums, and collaborations with artists around the world. Read more>>

Christina Ball | Artist

Art has been my sanctuary, my language, and my truth. From a young age, I absorbed the belief that pursuing a career in art was a path fraught with uncertainty. However, deep within me, I sensed that creative expression was not just a passion but a necessity as fundamental as breath. The vibrant hues and subtle shades of color serve as my guide, bridging the gap between my internal landscape and the external world. Read more>>

Amber Zuniga | Licensed Massage Therapist and owner of Wildflower Massage

I have always felt such a strong calling to massage therapy. In my senior year of high school, I had a great opportunity to shadow a licensed massage therapist. She was a small business owner and had her own solo practice. Looking back, I’m so grateful that I was able to have that opportunity. I was able to see what she did on a daily basis and get a little insight on the long term goals. I saw all the hard work and dedication that she put into her business. Read more>>

Carly Stevens | Multi-genre Author

I’ve always been obsessed with stories. It took me along time to realize that not everybody thought like that. It didn’t matter if it was books or movies, for school or pleasure. Stories help me understand and appreciate the world. I taught English for over a decade, but eventually I wanted the freedom of personal creative expression to take up a larger slice of my life. Writing can be magic–it lets me create worlds and meet interesting people and fall in love and have adventures. And it lets me share those meaningful experiences with others too. That’s why I’m grateful to have a creative career. Read more>>

Heather Mcbroom | Photographer

Ever since I was in my early teens I gravitated towards the arts. Whether it was music, theatre, drawing or photography, it’s always come naturally to me and I enjoy learning new skills. I was always carrying around a digital camera to take photos in class or out at the mall, and my friends and I would do impromptu photo and videoshoots. The love for pursuing something creative and the gratification of a final product brought to life has always been there for me. Read more>>