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Arts community to Gov. Baker: Cultural facilities matter
Over the last two years, then-Governor Deval Patrick allocated $15 million for the state Cultural Facilities Fund – triple what it had been in previous years. With a new administration taking over the reins for arts and cultural funding, we have a timely opportunity to convince Governor Baker that our cultural venues make Massachusetts a great place to live, work, play, and visit.
Telling our stories
But who can tell the story about our cultural venues better than the folks who see their impact everyday? That’s why we have partnered with the arts and cultural organizations that have received cultural facilities grants in these past two years of strong state investment. Their stories show the full array of the benefits that the Cultural Facilities Fund brings to the statewide creative community.
Check out our featured stories:
Pressed to restore its aging 19th century building, Fitchburg Art Museum received a cultural facilities grant and got to work to open the space back up to the public. Their revamped facility – home to their permanent collection and major exhibitions – draws in visitors and helps the community flourish as a cultural destination:
With help from the Cultural Facilities Fund, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod took the site of a building that was seemingly beyond saving and transformed it into a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. Check out the striking before and after shots, and see how their new education wing serves the public.
How did the Cultural Facilities Fund elevate Artist For Humanity’s great work? State investment helped them reach more young artists and provide them with paid work and entrepreneurial skills. For more, just ask these young participants themselves:
The New Bedford Whaling Museum just started work on its new Wattles Jacob Education Center, thanks to state investment from the Cultural Facilities Fund. Watch to see how the Museum serves its community everyday through its programming and education:
Mayors and Chambers
Our cities and towns greatly benefit from the Cultural Facilities Fund, not only through the repair of our beloved cultural venues, but through the revitalization of our downtowns. And there’s no one that loves money coming to Main Street more than our Mayors and Chambers of Commerce. That’s why, in order to further tell the economic development stories behind the Cultural Facilities Fund, we’re asking Mayors and Chamber of Commerce to sign our letter to Gov. Baker, asking him to keep up with the trend and allocate $15 million to the Fund again this year. So far, we’ve gathered support from Mayor Maher of Cambridge, Mayor Cadieux of Easthampton, Mayor Wong of Fitchburg, Mayor Elliott of Lowell, Mayor Narkewicz of Northampton, Mayor Morse of Pittsfield, Mayor Petty of Worcester, and from Chambers across the state. Encourage your Mayor and Chamber of Commerce to add their support here.
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