Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

Important Update for the House Budget (H. 4000) and the Budget Process

AUD logoGreetings,

First thank you to everyone who contacted their State Representative on two key amendments to the House Budget.

The House Budget debate continues this week and the amendments that our community has been advocating for have been “debated”.

Here are the updates:

1) Amendment #357 To H. 4000 (House Budget) to restore the funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).

It failed to pass. Instead the MCC was funded at the same level that Governor funded it in his budget – to just under $9.6 million dollars- which is still a 13 percent or $1.5 million dollar cut.

(Remember that the House released their budget with funding for the MCC only at $5 million – a huge cut (54% cut- down from $11 million)

2) Amendment #924 to H. 4000 which changes the proposed STEM Advisory Council (science, technology, engineering and math) to the STEAM Advisory Council (science, technology, engineering, art and math).

This amendment also failed to pass.

The next step in this process is the Senate’s budget. Stay tuned for calls for action to restore the MCC budget and to change STEM to STEAM.

Thank you as always for taking the time to advocate for our community.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Bitetti
Artist, Co-founder of ArtistsUndertheDome.org and MALC