MA Legislature Approves $2M Boost to Cultural Funding
07.22.2019
Mass Cultural Council Press Release
Today the state Legislature approved a budget for the new fiscal year that boosts funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences through Mass Cultural Council by $2 million.
The FY20 state budget funds Mass Cultural Council at $18 million, a 12 percent increase over last year and its highest state appropriation since 2002. The agency will invest the additional resources in nonprofit organizations, communities, artists, schools and creative youth development. The budget also preserved language that ensures Mass Cultural Council can continue its growing range of services to communities and nonprofits as part of its strategic plan.
“Once again our cultural community made a strong and unified case for the public value of the arts, humanities, and sciences,” said Anita Walker, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director. “We are grateful to the Legislature for recognizing the power of culture to build prosperity and elevate the quality of life in the communities they represent.”
Joined by MASSCreative, Mass Humanities, Mass Artists Leaders Coalition, and thousands of advocates statewide, Mass Cultural Council urged lawmakers to continue investing in the Commonwealth’s burgeoning cultural sector that has an economic impact of more than $21 billion, or 4.3 percent of state gross domestic product, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.