The Year In Review And The Year Ahead

A look back and a look forward….

MALC would like to wish everyone a creative and prosperous 2016!

First and foremost, a big thank you to all on the MALC Steering Committee for all the work they did in 2015. It was a busy year for MALC, an all volunteer coalition comprised of working artists. MALC does not receive (or want) funding. Everything is done by in kind and people volunteering their time.

And thank you to all those who took action with MALC and those who helped share important MALC blog/Facebook posts with others.

Five 2015 MALC highlights

1) MALC on Beacon Hill

MALC Steering Committee Members testified during several important public legislative hearings at the State House and beyond in 2015. MALC testified before the Attorney General’s team regarding the new sick time regulations, sent in written testimony to the Baker administration regarding economic development, the MBTA, percent for public art, etc.

Some key pieces of legislation MALC testified on at the State House in 2015: Independent Contractor Issue, Emergency Disaster Bill for Artists. Film Tax Credit, the Ivory Bill, Artist Royalties and many many more!

Complete list: http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/legislature.html

2) 9th Annual Artists Under the Dome Event in November was a smashing success! Thanks to all who came!

http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/artists-under-the-dome-2015-wrap-up/

3) The first formal official meeting in the history of the Commonwealth with the State’s Labor Secretary Ronald Walker and MALC, the Artist Labor Force, occurred in 2015.

http://www.mass.gov/governor/administration/cabinet/labor/

4) MALC was the co-lead with the City of Boston for the Greater Boston Creative Economy Network application. The application was approved in fall 2015! Stay tuned as they say!

http://www.mass.gov/hed/economic/industries/creative/creative-economy-network.html

5) MALC was part of a coalition to honor the legendary Dr. Gene Sharp in April 2015

What 2016 brings….

1) The State Budget: A new state budget and the long interesting process of getting it passed begins in January 2016 with the Governor’s budget being released.

2) 9C Cuts: There will undoubtedly be what are called 9C cuts by the Governor to the current state budget due to budget shortfalls.

http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=9CAuthority.html

3) Current Two Year Legislative Session Ends: July 31st 2016 is the end of the current two year legislative session for the Commonwealth – which means that all current pieces of legislation either pass, are put in a study, or do not pass. All bills must be reported out of joint committees by March 16th, 2016. Legislation not passed will need to be refiled in the next legislative session by November 2nd, 2016 for the next two year legislative session that starts in January 2017.

https://malegislature.gov/People/ClerksOffice/House/Deadlines (same for the Senate)

4) Fall 2016: a Presidential election and Massachusetts primary & general elections (the seats of all our state senators and representatives are up for re-election in Fall 2016)

5) November 2016: the 10th annual Artists Under the Dome event at the Massachusetts State House! BE THERE!