Allocate the remaining $26 million to repair and rebuild our cultural facilities

Dear Governor Patrick,

From our world-class facilities to our neighborhood arts centers and community playhouses, arts and culture have built connected communities and a vibrant, thriving economy across the Commonwealth. Our cultural venues make Massachusetts an exceptional place to live, work, play and visit.  

Yet every year, our cultural facilities continue to age. With hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, our venues are subject to wear and tear and ever-changing building codes, and require vigilance to make sure they are accessible to all.

As a coalition of arts, community and business leaders from across the state, we want to thank you for recognizing the economic and cultural value our facilities bring to the Commonwealth. Through your leadership, the Cultural Facilities Fund has granted $54.8 million to 269 cultural organizations for the planning and development of our cultural facilities in 99 cities and towns; provided 14,808 building jobs to architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers; and created 1,412 new permanent jobs.

In 2009, the legislature provided you with $50 million in capital funds, allowing for an average yearly allocation of $10 million to our cultural facilities over five years. Your yearly allocation has remained around $5 million, leaving a reserve of $26 million in the final year of authorization.

We ask for your leadership in investing in the Commonwealth's cultural facilities by allocating the remaining $26 million of the Cultural Facilities Fund in the last year of this cycle.