April 8, 2025
Her Excellency Maura Healey
Governor of the Commonwealth
The Honorable Kim Driscoll
Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth
The Honorable Karen Spilka
President of the Massachusetts Senate
The Honorable Michael Rodrigues
Chair, Senate Ways & Means
The Honorable Cindy Friedman
Chair, Senate Steering & Policy
The Honorable Paul Mark
Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development
The Honorable John Velis
Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs
The Honorable Ronald Mariano
Speaker of the House of Representatives
The Honorable Aaron Michlewitz
Chair, House Ways & Means
The Honorable Sean Garballey
Co- Chair, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development
The Honorable Joseph McGonagle, Jr.
Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs
Dear Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, and Chairs Rodrigues, Freidman, Mark, Velis, Michlewitz, Garballey, and McGonagle:
Mass Cultural Council, the Commonwealth’s state arts agency, writes to express our deep alarm over recent actions in Washington, D.C. that threaten the very foundation of our nation’s cultural infrastructure. These developments have serious implications not only for the Massachusetts cultural sector but for arts, culture, and education nationwide.
On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order aimed at dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the only federal agency exclusively devoted to supporting library and museum services—along with six other federal agencies. Though IMLS accounts for just 0.0046% of the federal budget, its reach and impact are vast, equitably supporting institutions in every state. Shockingly, the entire IMLS staff was placed on administrative leave by March 31, raising critical concerns about the agency’s ability to meet its legal and grant-making responsibilities.
Disturbingly, we have since learned that the Trump Administration has begun terminating legally awarded grants through both IMLS and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)—another key source of funding for museums, cultural institutions, and humanities programming. Like IMLS, NEH staff have been placed on administrative leave and the agency’s funding is reportedly being redirected to support the President’s political agenda.
We are deeply concerned that this pattern of destruction will soon extend to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The dismantling of these three agencies, coupled with the termination of binding federal grant contracts, would inflict severe economic and cultural harm across Massachusetts and significantly damage the state’s GDP and creative workforce.
To illustrate the magnitude of what’s at risk:
- In 2024, IMLS invested $8.5 million into Massachusetts museums and libraries.
- From FY19 to FY23, NEH awarded 311 grants to organizations and individuals across the Commonwealth, totaling more than $46.3 million.
- Over the past five years, the NEA has distributed $35.6 million in federal funds to Massachusetts, both directly and through partners.
These dollars matter. Our partners at Mass Humanities lost $1.3 million—nearly 35% of their annual operating budget—in a single day following the NEH’s abrupt closure. Without IMLS support, statewide library services are at risk.
While Mass Cultural Council has not yet received formal notice of contract termination, we are currently administering $1.2 million in NEA funding in FY25 to expand access to arts education, support underserved communities, preserve folk arts, and host initiatives like Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts.
From Boston to Gateway Cities to rural towns, access to creativity and the arts empowers communities and drives our economy. For two consecutive years, Massachusetts has ranked as the third most arts-vibrant state in the country. Just last week, newly released federal economic data revealed that arts and culture contributed $29.7 billion—4.04% of the state’s GDP—and supported 130,263 jobs in 2023 alone.
Let us be clear: the IMLS, NEH, and NEA are not bureaucratic luxuries. They are essential institutions that support the education, economy, and civic fabric of Massachusetts. Their sudden defunding undermines decades of public investment and jeopardizes the well-being of hundreds of communities across the Commonwealth.
We respectfully urge you to:
- Work closely with the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to demand immediate accountability from the federal government and advocate for the restoration of funding to these essential agencies.
- Continue your steadfast support for the cultural sector through the Mass Cultural Council’s budget line-item during the state FY26 budget process.
We thank Attorney General Campbell for taking action by joining the lawsuit to halt the dismantling of the IMLS. We also urge further legal and legislative actions to protect the NEH and NEA, should similar efforts be directed their way.
Mass Cultural Council stands ready to partner with you to protect and advance the cultural vitality of Massachusetts. Together, we can ensure that creativity, access, and opportunity continue to flourish for every resident of the Commonwealth—especially during these uncertain times.
Please do not hesitate to contact me, or Bethann Steiner, our Senior Director of Public Affairs, at any time if we can be helpful.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Bobbitt
Executive Director
