Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

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

Artists Under the Dome

An Update and Advocacy Alert for HB 1844

Artists Under the DomeGreetings,

Next week is going to be a very busy week for advocacy in Massachusetts.

The Governor’s Budget is slated to be released on January 27th. This is the first step in a very long budget process. The Governor’s Budget gives us insight to see what is to come in regard to the possible funding level of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, our state arts council. More to come on this key point when the budget is released.

Next week there are two important pieces of state legislation that are having public hearings that directly impact the livelihoods and the intellectual property rights of artists of all disciplines. This email will focus on the first one. I will send out a second email in the coming days on the other piece of legislation.

House Bill 1844 – An Act Relative to Independent Contractor – is slated to be heard next week. In 2004 there was a law change in Massachusetts that made it next to impossible to be an independent contractor. This in turn has a very negative impact on an individual’s intellectual property rights over their paid creative work.

To find out how more about HB 1844, the 2004 law change and what you can do:

http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/MAindependent_contractor.html

If you are interested in testifying at the hearing on Wednesday, January 27th at 10:30am please contact me directly at contact(at)artistsunderthedome.org. A bunch of us are going to testify together as a group/panel on this legislation.

We need as many artists of all disciplines and supportive individuals to send in written testimony in support of HB 1844. Please send this email to anyone you think would be in support of this legislation and willing to send in written testimony.

Thank you!

Kathleen Bitetti
Artist & Co-founder of ArtistsUndertheDome.org