Boston Arts and Culture and the Pandemic

• The arts and cultural sector was among the first to close and among the last to reopen from necessary public health closures related to COVID-19. 
• Since March 2020 404 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Greater Boston reported $544M in lost revenue, impacting over 14K jobs
• Since March 2020 1190 artists and creative workers in Greater Boston reported $13.5M in lost revenue and  25K canceled gigs / jobs.
• These numbers do not include for-profit arts businesses including independent live venues and creative consultancies.
• The arts, culture, and creative communities of Boston have a long way to go to come back from the pandemic. We have to come back from the immense negative economic impact while at the same time creating new business models and approaches to creative work that respond to the shifts in how we gather and attend events in person.

Boston Arts and Culture is a Valuable Part of Boston’s Economic Health and Woven into the Fabric of Resident’s Lives

• Prior to the pandemic (In 2019), the arts and cultural sector in Boston generated over $590 million in event related spending to local restaurants, retails and hospitality businesses.
• Beyond economic impact, artists and cultural organizations have connected individuals isolated due to quarantine and public health closures, supported youth disconnected from school resources and after school programs and created programs to improve public health educational outcomes.
• In a recent report 65% of Metro Boston residents rated arts and cultural organizations as strongly important to their lives providing an emotional outlet, connection or practical help. 
• 73% of Individuals of identifying as BIPOC who live in Greater Boston rated arts and cultural organizations as strongly important.

Please add specific examples of how your creative practice or organization has supported the communities you serve over the two years. 

• For Organizations
  • Highlight the communities you serve, the programs you lead and the impact of your work.
  • Cite other community partners who you work with.
  • Share quotes from Bostonians you have served.
• For Artists and Creative Workers
  • Share  your experiences over the last two years.
  • Highlight your creative practice and the impact its has had on your communities (quotes help!)
• For Arts Supporters
  • Share how the arts have helped you over the last two years.
  • How the arts and cultural community of Boston impacts your life and community. (specific examples help!)

Funding for Arts, Culture and Creativity in FY23 and Beyond

• • Mayor Wu’s American Rescue Plan Act proposal would allocate $20M to support the arts and cultural sector with a specific focus on addressing historic inequities in financial support for Black, Indigenous and Communities of Color: $15 million to elevate and invest in BIPOC-led cultural organizations and $5 million for reactivating our public spaces in both our neighborhoods and Downtown for artists, cultural workers and community organizations.
  • Mayor Wu’s FY23 Budget proposes $3.8M to the Office of Arts and Culture -a $200K increase from last year. 
  • The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is uniquely positioned to successfully distribute both ARPA funds and annual grant funds.
  • In the last five years, through the Boston Cultural Council, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture has distributed over $2M in grants to every neighborhood and council district in the City.
  • In 2018, the Boston Cultural Council developed an equity statement that grants from the BCC “emphasize fair opportunity, accessibility and understanding of Boston’s arts and cultural communities.”
  • In the last two and half years, the Office of Arts and Culture stood up relief assistance programs that have become national models for successfully centering equity in grant awards. 
  • Boston was the first municipality in the United States to establish an Artist Relief Fund - the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture partnered with Boston Center for the Arts and supported more than 600 artists with grants.
  • The Office of Arts and Culture has the expertise and infrastructure to manage these grant programs. 
  • Request / Strongly Urge that $20M of ARPA Funds be preserved for arts and cultural recovery and economic development and the City of Boston’s FY23 budget include $3.8M for the Office of Arts and Culture.