This Summer, MASSCreative has an exceptional group of fellows and interns leading and supporting our efforts. Learn more about them and their wonderful work!

Included in this update:

• Senate’s Fourth Stimulus Bill
• RESTART Act 
• Save our Stages Act

7/31/20 5pm Update:

The House and Senate appointed members to a conference committee to reconcile the versions of the bills. This action alert is now closed.

7/28/20 10pm Update:

The House passed a final version of the bill to be engrossed. It includes a total of $11M is included in the House bill for arts and culture:

• $6M to promote artists, local museums, local performing arts organizations, local performance venues, and other arts and cultural nonprofit organizations
• $5M to ensure students have access to remote cultural experiences and a statewide commission on COVID recovery for the creative and cultural sectors.
  

Please make sure thank your state rep for their work on behalf of arts and culture in the Commonwealth

Download the Slide Deck Here 

Links to Resources Mentioned

Register for August 7 COVID-19 Virtual Policy & Action Updates here

On July 6, Secretary of State Bill Gavin announced that Gov. Charlie Baker had signed an H.4820 into law. The new legislation extends the early voting period and grants all Massachusetts residents the option to vote by mail in the 2020 state primary and general elections.

Create the Vote Steering Committee partner MassVOTE has put together this helpful FAQ to help you understand the bill and how it affects voting in the age of COVID-19.

Download the Slide Deck Here 

Links to Resources Mentioned

Register for August 7 COVID-19 Virtual Policy & Action Updates here

On Wednesday July 15, State Senators Hinds, Kennedy and DiZoglio held a listening session on the Commonwealth's reopening for Arts, Culture and Small Businesses. MASSCreative joined the Hanover Theater, the Mass Cultural Council, MASS MoCA and the New England Aquarium to share the impact that COVID-19 and the subsequent economic crisis has had on the creative community. 

As the Governor, House and Senate work to develop relief funds and economic stimulus packages, we need our state leaders to know that art and culture are vital to the economic and communal recovery of the Commonwealth. 

We have temporarily paused this action alert.

The 2020 Census is happening now! Every ten years, the nonpartisan U.S. Census Bureau counts the population of the United States and the data impacts government decisions for the next ten years! Take the Census today and encourage your loved ones to get counted at https://2020census.gov/en.html. The response deadline (previously extended due to COVID-19) has been shortened to September 30th. 

Right now, the Commonwealth and its cities and towns are facing hard decisions given the economic devastation caused by COVID-19. Yet, we know many advocates and elected officials alike still hold the value that every MA child, regardless of zip code, should have access to a quality education, including arts education.

The COVID-19 public health emergency has exposed many of the structural weaknesses and inequities in our society, from our health systems to our economic systems; from our education systems to our public and social safety net. And the most vulnerable are hit the hardest. State revenue loss and looming budget cuts mean these inequities could seep even further into our education system.

Send an email to your State Legislators