Dawn Heinen, Digital Communications Manager
A regular report on our equity work
Since 2021, with the launch of our first-ever Racial Equity Plan (and subsequent equity plans), Mass Cultural Council has been working on internal and external steps we can take to support and encourage an anti-racist, equitable, and inclusive cultural sector in the Commonwealth. As part of our equity work, the Agency has committed to sharing our progress on this work regularly:
NEW EQUITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Guided by the d/Deaf and Disability Equity Plan, we have contracted with a Screen Reader User Expert to test the accessibility changes in the code of HireCulture.org, to our creative employment website.
SECTOR EDUCATION, SERVICES & ACHIEVEMENT
- The first public review of the Agency’s d/Deaf and Disability Equity Plan was a Zoom webinar on October 15 with Darian Gambrell and Nayo Franck from DEAF, Inc. unpacking the distinction of Deaf culture and the condition of deafness.
- We continue to share updates on the blog that amplify the Agency’s ongoing equity efforts:
PROGRAMS
Additional types of prioritization factors applied to FY25 grant applications could include:
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- First-time applicants or applicants that have not received funding from Mass Cultural Council in the last three fiscal years.
- Applicants/projects located in cities and towns that Mass Cultural Council has defined as “under-resourced communities.”
- Applicants participating in the agency’s Card to Culture Program.
- Projects/events that are free to the public.
- Festivals, projects, or activities that align with the Agency’s values of public service and inclusion.
- In addition to folding equity and access into all the Agency’s grant programs, this fall the Council approved funding for two additional grants that promote equity, inclusion, and access:
Organization Initiative Grant ArtsBoston Network for Arts Administrators of Color (NAAC) $50,000 Open Door Arts Arts and Culture Accessibility Resource Hub $100,000
INTERNAL
- Through our collaboration El Planeta we have effectively promoted each of the Agency’s FY25 grant opportunities to Spanish-speaking audiences across Massachusetts, broadening our reach to new potential grantees.
- As the Artists Department collected applications for the Grants for Creative Individuals program, we supported Spanish-speaking applicants by providing Spanish-language materials, answering questions, facilitating access to the application, and ensuring they can submit applications on time in their preferred language.