FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2007

Contact: Gregory Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343

STATE BUDGET HOLDS CULTURAL FUNDING STEADY
Cultural Facilities Fund Renewed at $5 million

(Boston, MA) - The final state budget for the current fiscal year provides a slight funding increase for the arts, humanities, and sciences through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). The budget boosts MCC's appropriation by $147,000 to nearly $12.3 million for fiscal 2008, which began July 1.

The budget also includes $5 million for a second year of grants for the Cultural Facilities Fund, less than half the amount set aside last year. The Fund was created in 2006 with $13 million for cultural organizations, schools, and communities to build, repair, and expand their facilities. The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency's board plans to vote on a list of projects recommended for funding at its September 11 meeting. An announcement of Cultural Facilities Fund grants will follow shortly after.

With the budget set, the MCC will now set its spending plan for the new year to determine funding levels for its major grant programs. Those include Organizational Support, Local Cultural Councils, Artist Fellowships, Creative Schools, YouthReach, and the Adams Program for creative economy initiatives.

"We are grateful to the Governor, and our supporters in both the House and Senate, for recognizing the value of the state’s continued investment in arts and culture during a challenging period for the state's finances," said Anita Walker, MCC's Executive Director. "Still we recognize that we must continue to advocate to restore funding to core grant programs to ensure our cultural community thrives and our creative economy continues to grow."

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.

The MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists.