Our Commitment to Equity

Working to invest financial, programmatic, and informational resources equitably.

We believe in the power of culture.

Culture – the arts, humanities, and sciences – is a dynamic force for enriching communities, growing the economy, fostering diversity and inclusion, and igniting creativity.

Mass Cultural Council works to invest financial, programmatic, and informational resources equitably. It also provides leadership to repair, heal, and build toward a creative and cultural sector where racial diversity flourishes, decolonization of art and the cultural sector is achieved, and inclusion and belonging is the norm. Massachusetts’ communities, residents, and visitors benefit from robust diversity in the creative and cultural sector, without which the Commonwealth cannot continue to thrive.

A vision of the world that honors a breadth of viewpoints makes for a richer and more productive cultural sector. Seeing the world through different perspectives and bringing those ideas to life is the charge of the cultural sector and its leaders. Mass Cultural Council supports these creative visions and visionaries with co-creative, innovative, equitable, inclusive, and decolonized programming and grant making.

In order to fully unleash the power of culture, we are committed to:

• Doing the ongoing and long-term work of being an anti-racist organization.
• Making equitable investments in historically under-invested communities.
• Ongoing assessment and equitable improvements to our grants, services, and operations.

We’ve launched a number of equity plans that outline some of the internal and external steps we will take to support and encourage an anti-racist and inclusive cultural sector in the Commonwealth.

• Racial Equity Plan (FY22-24)
• Native American & Indigenous People’s Equity Plan (FY25-27)
• d/Deaf & Disability Equity Plan (FY25-28)

These plans are the continuation and deepening of Mass Cultural Council’s response to the world’s demands for change. The Agency has learned much in the creation of them and will continue to learn. Track our progress using our equity journey map.