$28M for mass cultural council in FY25

Written By Kelsey Rode

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Arts and culture are an essential part of our lives, communities, and economy. It helps us tell our stories, feel understood, and inspired. The creative sector is also central to Massachusetts’ economy. In 2022, the tourism industry generated:

  • $24.2 billion in domestic and international spending

  • 21 million domestic and international travelers

  • $1.9 billion in state and local taxes

  • 131,200 jobs in Massachusetts

The arts and culture sector also ranked second for value added to the state’s economy - that’s more than construction or education services.

We had a historic victory in 2023 when the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Legislature approved $25 million for the Mass Cultural Council in the FY24 Budget. This investment was an 11% increase over the agency’s budget in FY23, ranking Massachusetts as 8th in the nation for annual state funding for the arts and ensuring $3.71 of arts spending for every resident of Massachusetts.

 

FUNDING FOR CREATIVITY IN FY25

 

This year, Massachusetts must consider several conditions when developing a spending plan:

  • State revenue continues to be lower than forecasted. In early January, the Healey-Driscoll Administration cut spending for Executive Branch departments.

  • Past federal acts, including the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act, provided Massachusetts with additional resources to cover costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. These resources have been spent or allocated. These one-time funding sources helped balance FY21 - FY24 Budgets.

  • Costs continue to rise and unexpected events require additional state spending. Natural disasters, as well as the demand for housing displaced individuals, require state resources.

Lawmakers will have difficult choices to make when crafting the FY25 Budget. Advocates for the creative sector must unite to share the value, impact, and necessity of arts, culture, and creativity with elected officials.

We can stand up for the creative community by showing our support for the Mass Cultural Council’s request for $28 million in FY25. You can play a role in shaping arts and culture policy by contacting your state representative and state senator and asking them to prioritize $28 million for the Mass Cultural Council this fiscal year.

Download our Funding for the Creative Sector in FY25 fact sheet for more information about funding trends for arts and culture in Massachusetts.

Resources
A Guide To Hearing And Giving Testimony

An important part of the governing process is public hearings. These occur on all levels of government (Federal, State, and Local). Understanding the hearing process and how you can participate will make you a more effective advocate for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector.

INSIDE THE STATE BUDGETING PROCESS

Maintaining and increasing public investment in the creative community requires constant and broad grassroots activism throughout the annual budget process.

NonProfit Organizations & Advocacy

There is a lot of misinformation on what a nonprofit can and cannot do when it comes to advocating for its interests and the needs of the communities they serve. Check out our Nonprofits and Advocacy Resource on how your organization effectively and confidently advocate for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector of all residents in the Commonwealth.

6/19/20 - POLICY & ACTION UPDATE WEBINAR

In this webinar, we took time to honor Juneteenth and Pride Month, and talked about the status of arts education funding and voting protections.

6/12/20 - POLICY & ACTION UPDATE WEBINAR

In this webinar, we discussed mapping our roles in a social change ecosystem, talked about proposed legislation to address COVID-19 voting options, the 2020 Census, and reviewed federal and state supports for the creative sector.

6/5/20 - policy & action update webinars

In this webinar, we had a community conversation about mapping our social change roles during times of crisis.

News
MOAC CULTURAL INVESTMENT GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Last week, MOAC for the City of Boston announced that they are establishing a $10M multi-year Cultural Investment Grant funded through local ARPA appropriations.

Creative Sector Advocates Request $5 Per Resident in Healey’s FY24 Proposal

“Budgets are a reflection of our priorities: what we choose to spend public funds on is in direct relationship to what we value. The creative sector plays a crucial role in the vibrancy of our cities and towns. Artists, creative workers, and cultural organizations strengthen our connections to each other and our communities.” said Emily Ruddock, Executive Director of MASSCreative

Kelsey Rode
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ADVOCACY GUIDES AND RESOURCES