ADVOCACY RESULTS IN $27.3M FOR MASS CULTURAL COUNCIL IN FY27
Advocates at the State House for Creative Sector Day 2026. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
Updated July 29, 2026
On July 9th, 2026, Gov. Healey signed the $63.4 billion Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) state budget into law, approving a total $28,106,072 for the Mass Cultural Council’s line item (0640-0300). Broken down, this results in $27,323,072 for the Mass Cultural Council’s FY27 operating and grantmaking budget and an additional $783,000 in legislative earmarks for local projects.
This is the highest-ever appropriation for the Mass Cultural Council and a testament to the power of coordinated and sustained advocacy from a broad coalition of creatives, arts leaders, and legislative champions.
The final FY27 budget also invests $600,000 for the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative for municipal technical assistance to help communities revitalize downtowns. This funding specifically states cultural and recreational amenities as eligible uses for funding.
In July, the Healey-Driscoll Administration also released its updates to the FY27 capital spending plan, investing $10 million into the Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF).
We have more reasons to celebrate this milestone given that the state is confronting more budgetary pressures and restraints due to lost federal funding to other key sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and education.
Thank you to everyone who advocated for a strong Mass Cultural Council budget in FY27! We are proud to partner with a statewide coalition of arts and culture advocates, as well as our colleagues at the Mass Cultural Council and Mass Humanities to continue advancing the sector.
We are especially grateful to have strong elected partners in the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Legislature. Thank you to Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and our leaders in the House and Senate: Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee Chairs Paul Mark and Sean Garballey, Ways and Means Committee Chairs Michael Rodrigues and Aaron Michlewitz, Sen. President Karen Spilka, and Speaker Ron Mariano.
The FY27 spending plan will be presented to the Mass Cultural Council’s Governing Council at their August business meeting. They will begin their FY27 grant programs once their budget is approved in August.
OUR ADVOCACY ON THE FY27 STATE BUDGET
GOV’S BUDGET
In January, the MASSCreative Action Network (MCAN) sent letters to House and Senate leadership with signed support from 546 creative workers, cultural organizations, and creative businesses urging them to include these priorities in their FY27 proposals:
$27,348,072 for the Mass Cultural Council’s annual operating and grantmaking budget (0640-0300)
$2 million increase for the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund, which supports the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and Regional Tourism Councils
$21,000,000 for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program (7000-9501)
$19,570,000 for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program (7000-9401)
$2,114,514 for the operation of the Board of Library Commissioners (7000-9101)
$3,000,000 for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund (1599-0026)
MCAN also sent a thank you letter to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for proposing $27.35 million for the Mass Cultural Council in their H.2 Budget - an historic appropriation for the state arts agency.
HOUSE BUDGET
On April 15th, the House Ways and Means Committee released their $63.3 billion budget (H.5500) and matched Gov. Healey’s H.2 by proposing $27.35 million for the Mass Cultural Council, a 5% increase to the agency’s operating and grantmaking budget.
The House Ways and Means Budget included other critical investments for the arts and cultural sector, not limited to $21 million for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program, $19.6 million for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, $2.05 million for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and $3 million for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund.
Advocates urged their state representatives to make the final House Budget even stronger on arts, culture and creativity by asking them to co-sponsor amendments #261 sponsored by Rep. Sally Kerans to increase the Board of Library Commissioner’s operating budget to $2.1 million, #543 sponsored by Reps. Mindy Domb and Sean Garballey to change references of “STEM” to ‘STEAM” in state law, and #710 sponsored by Rep. Sean Garballey to ensure the Massachusetts Poet Laureate receives a $25,000 stipend.
See who co-sponsored the priority House amendments:
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Sponsored by Rep. Sally Kerans, co-sponsored by Rep. John Barrett, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Joan Meschino, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Susannah Whipps, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. James Hawkins, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Vieira, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Hannah Kane, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Rep. Aaron Saunders, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. Brian Ashe, Rep. Lisa Field, Rep. Michelle Badger, Rep. Kate Donaghue, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. Christine Barber, and Rep. Adrian Madaro
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Sponsored by Rep. Mindy Domb and Rep. Sean Garballey, co-sponsored by Rep. Steven Owens, Rep. John Barrett, Rep. David Paul Linsky, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Donald Wong, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Samantha Montaño, Rep. Thomas Moakley, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Steven Ouellette, Rep. Patrick Joseph Kearney, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Sally Kerans, Rep. Carmine Gentile, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Antonio Cabral, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. David Vieira, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Tackey Chan, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. Danillo Sena, Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino, Rep. Lisa Field, Rep. David LeBoeuf, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. John Lawn, Rep. Hannah Bowen, Rep. David Robertson, Rep. Christine Barber, Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, and Rep. Adrian Madaro
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Sponsored by Rep. Sean Garballey, co-sponsored by Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. John Barrett, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Kevin Honan, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. Michael Kushmerek, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Bud Williams, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. John Lawn, Rep. Adrian Madaro, and Rep. James Arciero
Ultimately, none of those amendments were adopted in the $63.4 billion FY27 Budget that the House voted 149-9 to pass on April 29th. House Ways and Means’ proposed funding for the Mass Cultural Council, State Aid to Public Libraries Program, State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and District Local Technical Assistance Fund was retained in the final House Budget. Nine other amendments adding earmarks to the Mass Cultural Council’s line item were adopted, resulting in an additional $375,000 in funding on the agency’s line item.
SENATE BUDGET
On May 5th, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released their $63.3 billion FY27 Budget including $27.35 million for the Mass Cultural Council, matching the Governor’s H.2 recommendations and final House budget.
Similar to the House, the Senate Ways and Means Budget included critical investments for the arts and cultural sector, including $20.4 million for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program, $19.38 million for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, $2.09 million for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and $3 million for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund.
Advocates again urged their state senators to make the final Senate Budget stronger by asking them to co-sponsor amendments #59 sponsored by Sen. Julian Cyr earmarking $175K for technical assistance for the seasonal community designation program, #87 sponsored by Sen. Paul Mark ensuring timely funding for regional tourism councils, #234 sponsored by Sen. Nick Collins to increase unrestricted funding for libraries, #255 sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge to increase funding for the District Local Technical Assistance program, and #288 and #823 sponsored by Sen. Sal DiDomenico and Sen. Lydia Edwards to increase funding for the Community Mitigation Fund.
Only amendment #59 was adopted. The Senate passed their budget on May 21st, approving $27,323,072 for the Mass Cultural Council, nine legislative earmarks totaling $413,000, and a $25,000 stipend for the Commonwealth’s Official Poet Laureate.
See who co-sponsored the priority Senate amendments:
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Sponsored by Sen. Julian Cyr, co-sponsored by Sen. Adam Gómez, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Dylan Fernandes, Sen. Lydia Edwards, and Sen. Bruce Tarr.
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Sponsored by Sen. Paul Mark, co-sponsored by Sen. Jake Oliveira, Sen. Adam Gómez, Sen. John Cronin, Sen. Peter Durant, Sen. Robyn Kennedy, Sen. Rebecca Rausch, Sen. Kelly Dooner, Sen. Michael Moore, Sen. Vanna Howard, Sen. John Velis, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Ryan Fattman, Sen. Dylan Fernandes, Sen. Pavel Payano, Sen. Lydia Edwards, Sen. Julian Cyr, and Sen. Bruce Tarr.
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Sponsored by Sen. Nick Collins, co-sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Paul Mark, Sen. Vanna Howard, Sen. Rebecca Rausch, and Sen. Patrick O'Connor.
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Sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, co-sponsored by Sen. Paul Mark, Sen. John Keenan, Sen. Adam Gómez, Sen. Vanna Howard, Sen. Lydia Edwards, and Sen. Michael Moore.
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Sponsored by Sen. Sal DiDomenico and Sen. Lydia Edwards, co-sponsored by Sen. John Keenan, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Dylan Fernandes, Sen. Bruce Tarr, and Sen. Patricia Jehlen.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE & GOV’S DESK
A six-person FY27 Conference Committee completed their budget negotiations and issued their report (H.5555) on July 1st, recommending $27,323,072 for the Mass Cultural Council and $783,000 in legislative earmarks.
Gov. Healey signed the FY27 Budget into law on July 9th without any vetoes.
To learn more about the annual state budgeting process, visit MASSCreative’s blog linked below.
