MASSCreative POLICY PRIORITIES
Our Focus
Massachusetts is home to a thriving and diverse creative sector that connects neighbors to each other, generates economic activity, and animates our communities. When difficult choices regarding public funding and policy decisions are made, the creative and cultural community’s interests must be considered.
Our Priorities:
At MASSCreative, thanks to the input of artists, creatives, cultural leaders and arts supportors, we have identified four priority areas to focus our advocacy efforts:
Public Investment for a More Creative, Vibrant and Equitable Massachusetts - Ensuring Massachusetts, local municipalities and the federal government are adequetely investing in the creative sector and public funding is distributed in equitable ways that result in a more diverse arts and cultural community.
Creative Economy - Pursuing policies and government support that encourages creative small businesses, independent creative workers and workforce development for the arts and cultural sector.
Spaces for Creativity and Cultural Use - Working to increase spaces that support the development and presentation of art and cultures. Ensuring that creative space is equitably offered and accessible to the full creative community.
Youth and Arts - Increase access to creative youth development programs and ensuring every child, regardless of school district has access to quality in-school arts education.
Our Guiding Value for All Policy Priorities:
Regardless of policy area or goal, MASSCreative prioritizes efforts that increase equity with Massachusetts’ creative sector and remove barriers that exclude individuals and communities from creative expression and cultural participation.
Recent developments at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are deeply troubling as hundreds of grants for local projects have been cancelled, and massive staff reductions raise serious doubtsthat the agency can meet its statutory mandates.
We need advocates to ask Congress to sustain and protect both funding and staffing for the National Endowment for the Arts.
On Friday, May 2, 2025, the National Endowment for the Arts sent notices to recipients cancelling or withdrawing previously awarded grants. The Connecticut Arts Alliance, Cultural Alliance of Maine, and MASSCreative are working in partnership to collect data to help our elected officials and the general public understand the impact these cuts will have on communities in New England.
If you received a letter withdrawing or cancelling your NEA grant, please take this brief impact survey.
Join a coalition of artists, creatives, arts supporters, and change-makers to educate candidates and voters on the importance of a strong and inclusive creative community in Boston.
On November 15, 2024, the MASSCreative Action Network (MCAN) hosted an election debrief with community organizing and policy experts to learn how 2024 federal and state-level election results will impact the creative sector in Massachusetts. Watch the recording here.
Help get the vote out and play your part for a stronger democracy.
Check out our 2024 Create the Vote General Election Guides to see who is running for US Congress, State Senate, and State House of Representatives in Massachusetts.
Understanding the public hearing process and how you can participate will make you a more effective advocate. We have outlines and guides to get you started.
Ami Bennitt, Annis Sengupta, and Jim Grace discussed the artists displacement crisis we are experiencing in Massachusetts and what we can do about it.
Read for updates about federal-level arts advocacy and the outcome of the State Senate's FY26 Budget.
On May 2nd, the Trump Administration proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in their FY26 Budget.
The Advocacy 301: Do’s and Don’ts training is designed to help nonprofit leaders understand how they can legally engage in advocacy and lobbying.
Meet Rep. Sean Garballey, the 2025-2026 House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.
The Advocacy 201 training prepares you to organize your communities, lead effective advocacy meetings with your elected officials, and leverage your public platforms.
Meet Sen. Paul Mark, the 2025-2026 Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.
Everyone can be an advocate! The Advocacy 101 training will equip you with the foundational skills you need to advocate for the issues that matter the most to you.
Kendra Patterson and Jessica Troe from the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center led a presentation on the state's annual budgeting process and where you can direct your advocacy.
Maintaining and increasing public investment in the creative community requires constant and broad grassroots activism throughout the annual budget process.
On Monday, January 27th, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget sent a memo to all federal agencies ordering the immediate freeze of all federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance funds.
Organizers from the Berkshire/Columbia Counties Pay Equity Coalition discussed their work to bridge wage disparities for entry—and mid-level employees at cultural organizations in Berkshire and Columbia Counties.
Staff from the Massachusetts Health Connector discussed open enrollment and navigating Massachusetts' health insurance marketplace.
Joyce Linehan and Erin O’Brien led a conversation about how public and cultural policies are written, how we create momentum to advance legislation, and how policies impact creative communities.
Advocates testify in support of the ACE Act: H.224/S.160
2025 Somerville mayoral candidates participate in a Somerville Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture.
2025 Boston mayoral candidates participate in a Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture.
In July 2025, the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability held an oversight hearing on the impacts of federal funding cuts to cultural organizations.
Emily Ruddock, MASSCreative’s executive director, shares updates about some of our grassroots organizing and legislative achievements in 2024 and a glimpse of what we are preparing for 2025.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, MASSCreative welcomed 11 individuals into the 2024-2025 Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship during an in-person orientation at the Worcester Public Library.
