MA House Lessens Proposed Cut to Arts, Humanities, & Sciences in MCC Budget

May 1, 2014 (Boston, MA)

Last night the state House of Representatives approved a state budget that would fund the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) at $9.6 million for the coming year. This matches the Governor’s proposal, which represents a cut of $1.5 million, or 13 percent, to state funding for the arts, sciences, and humanities.

House Ways & Means Committee Chair Brian Dempsey of Haverhill crafted an amendment to restore MCC funding and reverse the Committee’s earlier proposal that would have subjected the arts and culture to deep budget cuts in FY15. It came after 113 House members signed onto an amendment calling for $16 million for the MCC. The Dempsey amendment was part of a larger group of budget amendments and passed on a 138-2 vote. Still, a $9.6 million appropriation would set arts and cultural funding back two years, erasing last year’s budget increase that allowed MCC to restore grants to nonprofit cultural organizations, local cultural councils, and arts education in schools.

“We thank House Speaker DeLeo, Chairman Dempsey, and their colleagues for recognizing the value of state support for the arts, humanities, and sciences,” said MCC Executive Director Anita Walker. “The fact remains, though, that state support for the cultural sector is still less than half of what it was in 2001. So we must redouble our efforts with MASSCreative and our allies in the Senate to make the case for why this vital funding will benefit our communities, our children, and the quality of our life in Massachusetts.”

The House vote is one key step in the annual state budget process. The Senate Ways & Means Committee will release its own budget proposal in two weeks. Following Senate debate and vote, the two chambers must then agree on a tax and spending plan before sending it back to the Governor for final approval before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

See MCC’s Advocacy Action Center for updates on the budget and for the latest data on the nonprofit cultural sector’s contributions to the Massachusetts economy and quality of life.

Gregory Liakos, MCC Communications Director

About the Massachusetts Cultural Council The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences, to improve the quality of life for Massachusetts residents and contribute to the vitality of our communities. MCC pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. With state funding and an annual state partnership grant from the National Endowment from the Arts, MCC’s budget is $12.7 million for the current year.