06.12.2026

Equity Progress Report (Feb – May ’26)

Dawn Heinen, Digital Communications Manager

Diversity Equity Inclusion

A regular report on our equity work

Since 2021, with the launch of our first-ever Racial Equity Plan (and subsequent equity plans), Mass Cultural Council has been working on internal and external steps we can take to support and encourage an anti-racist, equitable, and inclusive cultural sector in the Commonwealth. As part of our equity work, the Agency has committed to sharing our progress on this work regularly:

EQUITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

• We have held a Disability Advisory Committee meeting on March 11, 2026 where the committee reviewed and discussed:
  • Grantmaking data focused on applicants and grantees of the Grants for Creative Individuals program.
  • Feedback from all individuals who use the Grants Management System.
  • Outreach strategies, user experience, and other ways to ensure that people with disabilities have equitable access to programs. A copy of the presentation can be provided upon request.
• We have held a Native American and Indigenous People’s Advisory Committee meeting on March 20, 2026 which provided an opportunity for conversation about the Agency’s programs and identification processes as it relates to Native and Indigenous individuals and communities. We asked the committee members to share examples of how they, their tribe, and/or their organizations approach identification in their work or events. We also sought thoughts, feedback, or best practice recommendations about our current identification processes.
• As envisioned by the Native American and Indigenous People’s Equity Plan, Mass Cultural Council is working to secure a technical
  amendment to the Cultural Facilities Fund statute that clarifies that all primarily cultural facilities in Massachusetts that are nonprofit,
  municipally-owned, or tribally-owned are eligible to apply for funding from the Fund.

This legislation, S. 2169, is currently pending before the Senate Committee on Ways & Means. However, in mid-April, the Governor granted our request to include this proposed change in her economic development bond bill, known as the Mass Wins Act. The text filed by the Administration omits any reference to tribally-owned facilities, but upon follow up Mass Cultural Council was advised this was done in error. The Administration said it will reach out to the Legislature to explain the mistake and ask for a correction; Mass Cultural Council will do the same in any testimony filed on the bond bill. A hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.

SECTOR EDUCATION, SERVICES & ACHIEVEMENT

Access Office Hours were held to offer organizational counsel and effective practice for grantees:

• Mar 24: Small Shops
• Apr 28: Large Institutions
• May 13: Access Plan Q&A with Open Door Arts
• May 19: Budgets & Funding

PROGRAMS

This year the Tribal Cultural Council Program had four TCCs accepting applications:

• Aquinnah Wampanoag Cultural Council
• Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe Cultural Council (HPWTCC)
• Mâseepee Cultural Council
• Nipmuc/k Cultural Council

The TCCs completed their cycles, investing $39,158 in 30 projects and programs in their communities. All 4 TCCs are planning on doing Council Programs as well, meaning that an additional $27,719 will benefit their communities.

INTERNAL

• Public Affairs drafted an ADA Action Plan to demonstrate steps we’ve taken and steps still to be taken around making our digital
  spaces meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. The federal deadline has been moved from April 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027, so we’re using that
  Action Plan as the foundation for a cross-department work plan to continue to meet those standards.
• New Word templates have been developed and shared with staff members to help ensure that new external documents are accessible
  for those who use screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Track on-going progress using our equity journey map

Diversity Equity Inclusion