Power of Culture Blog
A Holiday Message from Michael J. Bobbitt
The Year Behind, The Path Ahead
Bethann Steiner, Senior Director of Public Affairs
Updated – 5/21/24: The Massachusetts Senate FY25 budget debate began today, and amendments relevant to Mass Cultural Council saw early action. Amendment 171, filed by Senator Paul Mark and cosponsored by 20 Senators, which proposed an increase to the Agency’s funding to match the figure in the final House budget, was not adopted. However, Mass Cultural Council notes with gratitude that 21 sponsors signify great support for our work on behalf of the creative and cultural sector – more than half, 52.5% of the Chamber! – added their name to this proposal. This is a wonderful talking point for us to bring to the Conference Committee process, during which representatives of the House and Senate will negotiate any differences between the House and Senate budgets and bring a final Conference budget to the Chambers for adoption. The Agency’s operating budget in the FY25 Senate budget is $25.5M, which is still more than we have in the current fiscal year. When the Conference process begins Mass Cultural Council will continue to advocate for the higher appropriation, the House figure, which is $26,750,000.
Thank you to Senators Mark, Eldridge, Cronin, Lewis, Feeney, Rausch, Oliveira, Miranda, Keenan, Kennedy, Kennedy, Moran, Payano, Collins, Velis, Gomez, Tarr, O’Connor, Moore, Montigny, and Pacheco for their support of the power of culture and for co-sponsoring our budget amendment!
When Governor Healey announced that she was recommending an increase in state budget funding for Mass Cultural Council in January, during Creative Sector Advocacy Day, we were thrilled to see her $25.5 million recommendation for the Agency in her FY25 H. 2 budget.
Recognizing state revenues had not met expectations for months, this 2.17% increase to Mass Cultural Council’s operating budget, which supports our program and services, was well-received. This is the figure we urged the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways & Means to embrace as they began to craft their spending plans.
In April, the House Committee on Ways & Means released their FY25 budget, which included $25,895,000 for the Agency. After the House budget debate a number of earmarks, which provide dedicated funding to specific projects or organizations, were added to the Agency’s budget account, increasing Mass Cultural Council’s appropriation to $26,750,000 in the Final FY25 House Budget. Broken down, this figure represents $25,895,000 for Mass Cultural Council programs and $855,000 for earmarks. If signed into law, the Agency would receive a 3.58% increase to its operating budget.
Now we are in the month of May, and it is time for the Massachusetts Senate to finalize its budget recommendations. On May 7 the Senate Committee on Ways & Means released its FY25 spending plan. This budget embraced our request and funded Mass Cultural Council at the Governor’s recommendation – $25,546,197. Mass Cultural Council deeply appreciates the Committee’s recommendation, which is an increase to our current operating budget. Thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka; Senate Ways & Means Chair Michael Rodrigues; Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development Committee Chair Paul Mark; and all the Senators who included arts and culture as a funding priority in their internal conversations with the budget committee this year.
Senators have until May 10 to file amendments to the Senate Ways & Means budget. Mass Cultural Council is grateful to Chair Paul Mark who is filing an amendment to propose increasing the Agency’s account in the Senate Budget to match the Final House Budget’s figure – $26,750,000.
Senators and staff will review the filed budget amendments during the week of May 13 and add their names to some proposals as co-sponsors.
Creative and cultural sector stakeholders are urged to reach out to their state Senate office during the week of May 13 to ask them to support and co-sponsor Chair Mark’s Amendment #171 to increase Mass Cultural Council’s appropriation.
MASSCreative and Mass Humanities, our statewide advocacy partners, are joining us in this advocacy exercise. They will also urge their members to reach out to their Senators in support of this amendment. MASSCreative is hosting an action alert that you can use to connect with your state Senator.
Increasing the Mass Cultural Council’s FY25 state budget appropriation to $26,750,000 will allow the Agency to continue to equitably support and invest in the growth of the creative and cultural sector, and make more grant awards to creative individuals, cultural organizations, youth arts education programs, and communities. This year (FY24), Mass Cultural Council awarded approximately 2,500 grants.
We know public support of arts and culture reaps many economic benefits for communities across the Commonwealth, and that sector is strong and vibrant is Massachusetts, and providing beneficial impacts – in terms of revenue, employment, and community health, wellness, and vibrancy.
In April, the U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released new federal data which shows that in 2022, arts and culture in Massachusetts:
This tracks, because also this year, Massachusetts was ranked #3 in the nation for arts vibrancy by SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research.
Mass Cultural Council knows arts and culture are essential for a healthy, prosperous, and vibrant Commonwealth. We thank our partners in the Senate for their support of the power of culture and hope they will support Chair Mark’s amendment to increase the Agency’s funding in the Final Senate Budget to match the House’s $26.75 million figure.
