Massachusetts Cultural Council budget vote

Last month, I wrote about pressures on public funding for the arts. The Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee’s had recommended a 28% cut to Massachusetts Cultural Council budget to 10 million, down from $14 million last year.

Fast forward to last week. The Massachusetts Senate passed a budget that included an investment in the Massachusetts Cultural Council — to $16.5 million. That’s a $2.5 million increase over last year’s MCC budget. They also adopted an amendment to establish the Massachusetts Public Art Program, creating a state program dedicated to the creation of public art on Commonwealth-owned properties.

All of this thanks in part to some of the great advocacy work from MASSCreative. Today, I sent a letter to my State Senator, Pat Jehlen, thanking her for her support. It’s nice to get a win.