BOSTON, January 22, 2020—Today, Gov. Charlie Baker released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2021. In it, he recommends allocating $16.3 million for the Mass Cultural Council, which is nearly 10 percent less than the Agency’s current budget. MASSCreative Executive Director Emily Ruddock issued the following statement in response:
“We are deeply disappointed with the governor’s recommendation to cut funding for art, culture, and creativity in the Commonwealth. Nonprofit creative organizations in the state are built on robust public-private partnerships that drive the state’s local economies from Boston to the Berkshires and every rural and coastal region in between. They generate over $2.3 billion dollars in economic activity annually, including $97 million in local and state tax revenue. They also support 73,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
“Just as important, the state’s investment in the Mass Cultural Council, which funds arts, humanities, and science programs throughout the state, ensures that every Massachusetts resident has access to art, regardless of where they live, their age, income, or physical ability. These opportunities to engage and connect with other people through creative activities are just as integral to social wellbeing as adequate food, housing, income, and the pursuit of meaningful work.
“Over the next few months as the FY2021 budget process proceeds, MASSCreative looks forward to working with members of the Legislature alongside the Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mass Artists Leaders Coalition and thousands of individuals across Massachusetts to share the ways in which art, creativity, and culture impacts our communities.”
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About MASSCreative
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.
