BOSTON, July 23, 2019—Statement by MASSCreative Interim Executive Director Emily Ruddock on Massachusetts Legislature’s FY2020 Budget:

“We are grateful to Massachusetts lawmakers for approving funding for the Mass Cultural Council at $18.1 million. Arts and cultural nonprofits in Massachusetts support more than 73,000 full-time jobs, generate over $2.2 billion in total spending, and bring in nearly $100 million in state tax revenues. Public investment in these cultural organizations is a proven and reliable generator of economic activity, most noticeably in higher need areas of the state, such as our Gateway Cities and rural communities. 

We’re also grateful to lawmakers for approving new language in the Mass Cultural Council line item ensuring that the agency will be able to continue to provide both grants and services to the creative community. Equitable public funding of art organizations and artists throughout Massachusetts creates greater opportunities for all residents to experience creativity and to see their culture reflected in artistic expression. The Mass Cultural Council supports 46 cultural districts across the state that are building bridges across neighborhood, ethnic, and class divides in ways that other efforts at civic engagement cannot.

“We are fortunate in Massachusetts to have public leaders who understand that the benefits to our communities brought by art and creativity do not occur incidentally. They are the result of strategic investments in Local Cultural Councils, working artists, cultural institutions, community groups, and youth programs. We look forward Gov. Charlie Baker’s signing of the budget and to continuing our work making Massachusetts arts and creativity are an expected, recognized, and valued part of everyday life.”

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MASSCreative works with artists, cultural councils, arts organizations and the broader creative community to build a Commonwealth where arts and creativity are an expected, recognized, and valued part of everyday life. Working with our coalition of 400 arts and cultural organizations and artists from across the Commonwealth, MASSCreative uses public education and awareness, grassroots organizing, advocacy campaigns, and other civic and political engagement to ensure that arts, culture, and creativity are considered when important policy and political decisions get made at the state and local level.