June 10
A regular update on our anti-racism work (Image: Artist Mekhi Mendoza selling his art at a community event.)
Equity Journey Map
Working to invest financial, programmatic, and informational resources equitably.
2024
May 9
Exploring the impact of grants on people receiving public benefits (Image: Watercolor painting by Will Dowd, a past Mass Cultural Council grantee.)
March 25
A regular update on our anti-racism work (Image: Dan and Claudia Zanes performing at the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center.)
March 21
The governing Council approved the Native American & Indigenous People’s Equity Plan (FY25-27) to go into effect on July 1, 2024. Building on the Agency’s Racial Equity Plan, it outlines some of the internal and external steps we will take to support and encourage an anti-racist cultural sector in the Commonwealth. (Image: Pow wow hosted by Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness in the Berkshires.)
March 21
The governing Council approved the d/Deaf & Disability Equity Plan (FY25-28) to go into effect on July 1, 2024. It proposes to strengthen and extend the work of the Agency’s equity priorities, building on its Racial Equity Plan, to provide equitable investments, support accessibility needs, and affect systems change in the creative sector of Massachusetts. (Image: Visitors at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm.)
January 23
Universal Participation Initiative’s Innovation Fund invests $470,000 in Access. 94 cultural organizations across the state receive funding to help build sustainable, accessible infrastructures. (Image: Moe Finnerty dancing while cast mate Michael Ricca sings in “We R One”. An On With Living and Learning performance at the FPAC Gallery in Boston.)
2023
December 27
A regular update on our anti-racism work (Image: Participant in the culminating Trashion Show by Multi-Arts students.)
October 16
In recognition of his support shown to BIPOC artists and BIPOC-led organizations by expanding access to and deepening knowledge of funding opportunities (Image: Award object for Michael J. Bobbitt’s Sojourner Truth Award from OrigiNation.)
September 5
A quarterly report on our anti-racism work, including internal and external steps we are taking. (Image: Lionesses El Atlas at the African Festival of Boston. Photo: Allison Brown.)
June 27
Please share your perspective on our new direction: Complete a survey by July 12, 2023. (Image: Multimedia art by Bayda Asbridge of Worcester, a 2023 Cultural Sector Recovery Grantee)
June 20
May 26
April 26
In response to Open Door Arts’ 2022 report, Towards a Culture of Access, Mass Cultural Council embarks on the development of a Disability Equity Plan to increase opportunities for people who are d/Deaf or Disabled. (Image: Adaptive Tour of Theresa Jaynes exhibition, “Common Touch” at the Library Company, 2016, led by Art-Reach staffer, Angela Wang.)
April 13
Mass Cultural Council announces that its Card to Culture program has surpassed one million admissions for low-income and working families to Massachusetts cultural organizations. (Image: Paul Taylor dancers Lisa Borres (right) and Austin Kelly (left) in Amy Hall Garner’s “Somewhere in the Middle”. Courtesy of Celebrity Series. Photo: Whitney Browne.)
April 5
March 28
A quarterly report on our anti-racism work, including internal and external steps we are taking. (Image: Time Flies Clock by Jocelyn Dana Thomas.)
March 21
Reflecting on a Year of More Equitable Grant-Making. (Image: Public Art Work by Tran Vu.)
January 25
The Universal Participation Initiative’s Innovation Fund awards 95 UP Designated Organizations $5,000 each to plan, implement, and evaluate accessible goods, services, programs, and policies. (Image: Still from a performance of Na Laga’at “Not by Bread Alone”)
2022
December 20
Towards a Culture of Access: Findings from the Massachusetts Arts & Culture Access Survey, a new report from Open Door Arts (formerly VSA Massachusetts), supported in part by Mass Cultural Council, shares valuable information to better understand where the arts and culture sector in Massachusetts is regarding accessibility for people with disabilities, what’s getting in the way of progress, and what may help the sector move forward. (Image: Cover from the report.)
November 21
Applicant pool for Cultural Sector Recovery Grants shows increased reach (Image: Attendees networking at the Western Mass BIPOC Artist Salon & Resource Share on October 24, 2022.)
October 17
Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt was honored by MassOpera as the recipient of the 2022 Action Bearing Award, recognizing his advocacy and activism towards the development of a cultural sector that is more equitable, just, representative, and anti-racist. (Image: Award object from MassOpera.)
September 26
Our field’s highest honor for a state arts agency demonstrating innovative and exceptional efforts to support and advance DEI in its state (Image: Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt receives award with Deputy Director, Dave Slatery and Director of People and Culture, Cathy Cheng-Anderson.)
August 10
A quarterly report on our anti-racism work, including internal and external steps we are taking. (Image: Child participates in Brand Out with C1, an event hosted by Company One Theatre.)
July 12
Agency invests in NAACBoston’s Mentorship & Sponsorship Program 2.0 (Image: 2022 Mentorship & Sponsorship Program participants laughing.)
June 28
We are pleased to partner with the Co-Directors of Arts Connect International (ACI) on launching the Cultural Equity Learning Community 2.0 (CELC 2.0), an asynchronous anti-racism course, this summer. CELC 2.0 was developed by ACI to support our arts and culture ecosystem — and its leadership — in progressing equitable practices.
Mass Cultural Council is providing financial support for up to 1,000 Massachusetts artists and cultural sector leaders to attend this training series in FY23. (Image: graphic collage of the CELC educators.)
June 21
They received the ESC Nonprofit Impact Leadership Award for committing to advancing racial equity and increasing support for under-resourced organizations. (Image: Mass Cultural Council Chair Nina Fialkow, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt, ESC President Julie Crockford, and Mass Cultural Council Vice-Chair Marc Carroll.)
June 15
A new round of LEAD and Innovation Fund grants to UP Designated Organizations awarded through the Universal Participation Initiative. (Image: Kinetic Light performance at Jacob’s Pillow in 2018. Photo: Hayim Heron.)
June 1
A quarterly report on our anti-racism work, including internal and external steps we are taking. (Image: ‘Wakpa’ Wheatpaste Mural at Tufts University Art Gallery. )
