SIGN OUR FY27 STATE BUDGET LETTER
Image from left to right: State Rep. Mindy Domb and State Rep. Sean Garballey (House Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development) at Creative Sector Day 2025. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
Stand up for arts, culture, tourism, and public libraries in Massachusetts:
Sign our FY27 Budget letter to the House and Senate as an individual, organization, or business by Friday, February 6th at 5 PM
Massachusetts’ creative sector is a powerhouse that fuels our economy, strengthens our communities, and helps define who we are as a Commonwealth. Arts and culture generate $29.7 billion in economic value, support at least 135,000 jobs, and represent more than 4% of our state economy. Our libraries, tourism industry, and creative workers are essential public assets. We need to take action now to ensure that they are supported in the state’s next fiscal year budget.
On Wednesday, January 28th, the Healey-Driscoll Administration released their FY27 Budget (H.2) and proposed $27.3 million for the Mass Cultural Council, $20.4 million for state aid to public libraries, $19.4 million in aid to regional libraries, and $2.1 million for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
During a challenging budget year, we are grateful that the Healey-Driscoll Administration has continued its promise to be champions for arts and culture in the Commonwealth by proposing increases to all of these line items.
The Governor’s Budget kicks off our annual state budget process in Massachusetts. From here, the budget process will resume when the House debates their budget in April and the Senate debates their budget in May. A Conference Committee made up of House and Senate members will reconcile the differences between their two budgets and issue a final compromise, which will be voted on again by the House and Senate before it is sent to the Governor’s desk for her signature. Check out our blog on the annual state budgeting process for more information about this timeline.
ADVOCATE FOR CREATIVITY IN FY27 & TAKE THE ARTS ADVOCATE PLEDGE
As the Legislature begins their work on the FY27 Budget, we are urging the House and Senate to pass the strongest possible spending packages for arts, culture, tourism, and public libraries. We’re requesting that they pass budgets including:
$27,348,072 for the Mass Cultural Council’s annual operating and grantmaking budget (0640-0300)
$2,000,000 increase for the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund (7008-0900), which supports the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and Regional Tourism Councils
$21,000,000 for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program (7000-9501)
$19,570,000 for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program (7000-9401)
$2,114,514 for the operation of the Board of Library Commissioners (7000-9101)
$3,000,000 for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund (1599-0026)
We are also encouraging lawmakers to support the sector by passing the Creative Sector Agenda this session.
This moment is especially critical. Federal support for arts, humanities, museums, libraries, and public media has become increasingly unstable, with deep cuts and the attempted dismantling of agencies threatening programs nationwide. Many cultural organizations are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing reduced attendance, shrinking revenue, and rising costs. State leadership has never mattered more. Strong state investments will provide critical stability to the creative sector right now, protect jobs, sustain libraries as hubs for learning and public services, and ensure Massachusetts remains one of the most arts-vibrant states in the country.
You can help! Add your name to our FY27 Budget advocacy letter before Friday, February 6th at 5 PM and show lawmakers that arts, culture, tourism, and libraries are a priority for people across the Commonwealth.
By signing on to this budget letter, we’ll also add your name to a thank you letter to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for proposing a strong H.2 Budget for our priorities. Read the thank you letter below:
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Dear Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, and Secretary Gorzkowicz:
Thank you for your leadership and for the strong investments included in the FY27 Budget (H.2) that support arts, culture, tourism, and libraries across the Commonwealth.
We are deeply grateful for the inclusion of $27.3 million for the Mass Cultural Council and continued funding for tourism, which together strengthen local economies, support creative workers, and enhance the quality of life in communities throughout Massachusetts. These investments recognize the essential role that arts, culture, and tourism play in the Commonwealth’s vitality and economic resilience.
We also sincerely appreciate your commitment to libraries through $20.4 million in state aid to public libraries, $19.4 million in aid to regional libraries, and $2.1 million for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This funding is critical to ensuring equitable access to information, education, workforce development resources, and community services for residents in every corner of the state.
Your support sends a powerful message about the value of public investment in cultural and educational infrastructure. Thank you for your continued partnership and for prioritizing these vital sectors in the FY27 budget.
Sincerely,
TAKE THE 2026 ARTS ADVOCATE PLEDGE
When you sign the letter, you will also see a prompt to take the 2026 ARTS ADVOCATE PLEDGE. By taking this pledge, you are agreeing to advocate for arts, culture, creativity, tourism, and public libraries by elevating these budget requests during Creative Sector Advocacy Week (March 2nd - March 6th, 2026). You can take extra steps to advocate by engaging with your elected officials, urging lawmakers to support these budget requests and the Creative Sector Agenda, and by participating in a local celebration for Advocacy Week - or by organizing one yourself! Learn more by visiting our Creative Sector Advocacy Week landing page.
SIGN THE BUDGET LETTER
SIGN AS AN INDIVIDUAL:
SIGN AS AN ORGANIZATION OR BUSINESS:
