FY24 Senate budget updates
BOSTON (6/7/23) - On May 25, 2023, the Senate passed its FY24 Budget. Totaling $55.9 billion, the Senate FY24 Budget includes $25 million for the Mass Cultural Council line item (0640-0300). This allocation for the Mass Cultural Council matches commitments also made by Gov. Healey and the House to increase public funding for the agency by 11% over their existing operating budget.
Read a full copy of the Senate Budget here.
Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis in March showed that the Massachusetts creative sector was a $27.2B industry in 2021, representing 4.2% of the Commonwealth’s GDP and 135,181 jobs statewide.
We know that our creative sector is critical to the health and resiliency of the Massachusetts economy. Thank you for making your voices heard and encouraging Gov. Healey, the House, and the Senate to invest $25M in the Mass Cultural Council line item in FY24!
THANK YOU SENATE LEADERSHIP!
Thank you Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and Chair Mark for recommitting your support for the Massachusetts creative sector this budget cycle. Thanks to these investments, we are progressing towards our long-term goal of securing $5 per capita for the creative economy in the state budget.
See the letter advocates sent thanking the Senate for $25M for a #CreativeMA.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The House and Senate Budgets are now being negotiated by a Conference Committee of three representatives and three senators to reconcile the differences between each proposal. The Conference Committee is expected to complete their negotiations and present a final budget to the House and Senate for their approval before the end of the fiscal year on June 30th, although negotiators often work past that deadline.
After the House and Senate send their Conference Committee report to Gov. Healey for enactment, she will have 10 days to review the budget and take action to either approve or veto it. The Governor can approve or veto the entire budget, veto or reduce specific line items, veto outside sections or submit changes as an amendment to the budget for further consideration by the Legislature.
You can count on MASSCreative to send you updates once the Conference Committee releases their report. Thank you for using your voices to make this an historic FY24 Budget for the creative sector!
On May 7, the Senate Ways and Means Committee announced their plan to fund the Mass Cultural Council at $25.5 million in FY25. Read for more information about the Senate Ways and Means Budget and take action for the Mass Cultural Council and Downtown Vitality Act.
A hearing for The Creative Space Preservation Act is set for Monday September 18 - learn how to join advocacy leaders in supporting this crucial bill.
A hearing for The PLACE Act is set for Monday, September 18 - learn how to join advocacy leaders in supporting this crucial bill.
Support the Downtown Vitality Act by endorsing the legislation, encouraging your elected officials to co-sponsor, and sharing with your networks.
Join a coalition of artists, cultural organizations, creative businesses, and sector allies to advocate for the PLACE Act.
Learn more on how you can join a coalition of artists, cultural organizations, creative businesses, and sector allies to advocate for the ACE Act.
During this month's webinar, we reviewed the FY25 House Ways and Means Budget, the state budget process, and the federal STAGES Act and CREATE Art Act. We also provided updates about our inaugural Creative Advocacy Institute happening on May 17th in Lowell, as well as this year's Create the Vote campaign season.
On Friday, March 8, 2024, MASSCreative used their monthly Policy & Advocacy Webinar to provide a federal funding update, review the Governor’s Economic Development Bond Bill, give a status update on the Creative Sector Legislative Agenda, and preview the FY25 State Budget. Read the blog to watch the recording and download the slideshow.
In this month's webinar, we recapped Creative Sector Advocacy Week in January and shared Joint Rule 10 outcomes for the Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. We also shared the news that Boston City Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the Creative Space Preservation Act.
On Friday, January 12, 2024, MASSCreative held the first of two trainings preparing arts and culture advocates for Creative Sector Advocacy Week 2024. During this Webinar, the MASSCreative team reviewed the schedule for Advocacy Week and shared tips and outlines for meeting with lawmakers and organizing advocacy meetings.
MASSCreative was joined by the Massachusetts Health Connector for a presentation on their open enrollment period. Open enrollment lasts now through January 23, 2024. See our webinar recording and linked resources to get started.
Check out the resources we shared at November’s Policy & Action Webinar.
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.
Check out the resources we shared at October’s Policy and Action Update Webinar.
During our September Policy & Action Update Webinar, we discussed how to prepare for Fall hearings and announced our Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship!
During our July Policy & Action Update Webinar, we reviewed the Federal FY24 Budget and proposed NEA appropriations, discussed the status of the State FY24 Budget, and previewed advocacy opportunities in Fall 2023.
During this webinar, we provided a status report on the FY24 State Budget process, final Senate Budget outcomes, reviewed the Senate’s tax relief plan, and welcomed Annis Sengupta, Director of Arts and Culture for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, to lead a conversation on cultural facilities policy.
During this webinar, we talked about FY24 House Budget outcomes, the Senate Ways and Means Budget, and previewed the upcoming Senate Budget debates. We also hosted MassINC for a briefing on H.228/S.130, An Act to promote downtown vitality.
During this webinar, we talked about the upcoming Creative Advocacy Training series, FY24 House Ways and Means Budget, House tax relief bill, changes to open meeting laws, and announced our new website!
A recent piece of legislation provides nonprofit organizations more flexibility for governance and board activities.
Building relationships with elected officials and their staff is crucial to every advocate's work. Take a moment to learn who represents you on Capital Hill and at the State House.
Three months into the new year, the Massachusetts creative sector is celebrating significant policy milestones through the Creative Sector Legislative Agenda, Economic Development Bond Bill, and FY25 Budget.
It’s been an eventful and exciting year! In this letter, Emily shares her thoughts on our accomplishments in 2023 and things we’re looking ahead to in 2024.
Meet our 2023-2024 Advocacy and Organizing Fellows!
In November 2023, we held a town hall on the Downtown Vitality Act and the Co-Creative Center New Bedford.
Join us for a Town Hall on the Downtown Vitality Act on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 4 PM in New Bedford.
Four Massachusetts communities were featured in the National Center for Arts Research released the Arts Vibrancy Index Report for 2022.
