Power of Culture Blog
A Holiday Message from Michael J. Bobbitt
The Year Behind, The Path Ahead
Carmen Plazas, Communications Manager
(Boston, MA) – Governor Charlie Baker released a state budget proposal today that would invest $16.1 million in the arts, humanities, and sciences through Mass Cultural Council for the coming fiscal year. The Governor’s proposal would maintain current cultural funding levels for Fiscal Year 2020, which begins July 1.
Mass Cultural Council seeks an $18 million state appropriation, a roughly $2 million increase, for FY20. Executive Director Anita Walker said the agency will make the case for that increase to the Legislature in the coming months in concert with MASSCreative, Mass Humanities, Mass Artists Leaders Coalition, and their statewide networks of advocates. Those organizations and others joined Mass Cultural Council last week when it presented its budget request to the Legislative Cultural Caucus, Co-Chaired by Senator Julian Cyr of Truro and Representative Mary Keefe of Worcester and attended by more than a dozen House and Senate members. “Culture is integral to the fabric of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Cyr. “We need to step up and support it in a meaningful way.”
“We thank Governor Baker for his support for the arts, humanities, and sciences,” said Walker. “The Administration’s proposal recognizes the many ways culture contributes to economic health, education and youth development, and community vitality across the Commonwealth. It is an encouraging start to the budget process.”
The release of the Governor’s budget proposal is the first step in the development of the budget for FY20. The House and Senate will release their own budget recommendations in April and May, respectively. The two chambers must then agree on a final tax and spending plan, and then send it back to the Governor for final approval.
See our Advocacy Center for updates on the budget process and for the latest data on the nonprofit cultural sector’s contributions to the Massachusetts economy and quality of life.
About the Mass Cultural Council
The Mass Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences, to improve our quality of life and contribute to the vitality of our communities. The agency pursues this mission through grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. Its FY18 budget is $18 million, supported through a $16 million state appropriation and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. Mass Cultural Council also runs the $10 million Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund in partnership with MassDevelopment.
