Last week, over 1450 members of MASSCreative’s statewide audience contacted their local state representatives to ask them to restore the Mass Cultural Council budget by $4.5 million. Each letter was a call to action for the 100 state representatives who co-sponsored Rep. Cory Atkins’ budget amendment. Without this collective effort, this amendment may not have received the substantial support of the House majority.
Last week, over 1450 members of MASSCreative’s statewide audience contacted their local state representatives to ask them to restore the Mass Cultural Council budget by $4.5 million. Each letter was a call to action for the 100 state representatives who co-sponsored Rep. Cory Atkins’ budget amendment. Without this collective effort, this amendment may not have received the substantial support of the House majority.
While we wait for Speaker of the House, Bob DeLeo, to react to this impressive showing, let’s take time to appreciate the passionate responses and impactful narratives that so many members of the Massachusetts’ creative community shared with their legislators:
“I work in higher education as an arts administrator and small business mentor for emerging college-age artists. I am a freelance artist myself and have started multiple for-profit creative economy initiatives in the last few years…My entire livelihood is in the creative economy, and the kind of work that I do prepares students to enrich the creative economy, as well. It is critical to my community and the emerging students and artists that Massachusetts provide funding for the framework and future of arts, culture, and innovation.”
- Peter Morse, Manager of Barrington Center for the Arts at Gordon College
“The Boston Gay Men's Chorus receives vital funding from the MCC. Study after study after study has evidenced that funding to the arts generates nearly 4 times the investment. So for every $1 that supports the creative community, $4 in revenue is generated. Funding the arts is good for business, good for the community and just plain good sense!”
- Craig Coogan, Director of Gay Men’s Chorus
“In the past, I've brought my shows to senior centers and libraries who otherwise would not have been able to host my performances due to cuts in their budgets. These grants are a vital resource to bring arts and culture to populations that would otherwise not have access to them.”
- Rita Parisi, Waterfall Productions
“Please understand that as a rural community representative, I know first hand how much our town lacks resources for cultural activities… By cutting the budget in this manner, you leave poorer towns out of the loop.”
- Lisa Pentz, Southwick Cultural Council
“With the mounting research showing the value of the creative arts to our fields of science, medicine and technology, it's seems incredulous that our Legislature would ignore or diminish the needs of professional artists and communities. Their value is more significant than ever to the common good of our state and nation.”
- Allene Kussin, Emerson Umbrella
“Greetings from Norman Rockwell Museum, home of America's favorite illustrator. Please, please accept this message on behalf of the 32 full time staff, and 40 part-time staff, our volunteers and the 125,000 annual visitors-- that state support is ESSENTIAL to our survival. Personally, I am able to support my family and a home because of my job in the arts; - which I am so grateful for- and the contribution we make every day in bringing Norman Rockwell's art, creativity, history and humanity to school children and adults from our region, and throughout the state and beyond.”
- Margit Hotchkiss, The Norman Rockwell Museum
