Final budget increases funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council by eight percent

BOSTON, June 30, 2014— MASSCreative today praised state lawmakers for passing the FY2015 state budget, which includes a $12 million investment in the arts, cultural and creative community. The $12 million allocation for the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) represents an eight percent increase in funding for the MCC over last year. MASSCreative Executive Director Matt Wilson issued the following statement: 

We are grateful to state lawmakers and legislative leaders for this investment in the Commonwealth’s creative community. Massachusetts is home to large-scale museums, theaters, and orchestras, as well as numerous community-based playhouses and art centers that drive our economy, enhance the academic performance of our students, and build vibrant, connected communities. Core to the success of these cultural institutions is public investment in the arts through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The $12 million in funding for the MCC will result in increased access to arts education that teach our students creativity and innovation; increased economic activity, particularly in the downtowns of our Gateway Cities; and more vibrant and connected communities that make our neighborhoods places where we want to play, work, visit and raise our kids.

We congratulate the House and Senate leadership and the 141 state legislators who supported budget amendments to increase funding. Credit also goes to the leaders and supporters of the creative community who effectively told their collective stories to the Massachusetts legislature.

Specifically:

• More than 500 arts and cultural supporters met with 33 representatives and senators out in their communities to tell them about the impact that the arts community has on our neighborhoods.
• In just four days, arts and cultural supporters sent more than 3,000 emails to the State House urging representatives and senators to reverse the cuts and increase the MCC budget.
• Arts and cultural supporters recruited 114 representatives and 27 senators, a total of 141 out of 200 state legislators, to sign on to amendments reversing cuts and calling for increases in the MCC budget.
• Arts and cultural supporters raised the profile of the creative community by submitting op-eds to regional daily papers such as the Greenfield Recorder, Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise, Lynn Daily Item, Milford Daily News, New Bedford Standard Times, and the Hampshire Gazette.

The budget now heads to Governor Patrick’s desk, where he has 10 days to sign off on the plan.

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Founded in 2012, MASSCreative works with creative leaders and entrepreneurs, working artists, arts educators, and arts and cultural supporters to empower creative organizations and the public with a powerful voice to advocate for the resources and support necessary to build vibrant and connected communities.