Bethann Steiner, Public Affairs Director
On December 3 the FY21 Budget Conference Committee concluded its deliberations and filed its report, H. 5164, which was adopted by the House of Representative and Senate and sent to the Governor’s desk on December 4.
Mass Cultural Council is deeply thankful for this strong investment in the Power of Culture, demonstrated via the Agency’s line item in the FY21 Conference Budget.
This $18.2 million level funding appropriation will allow the Council to build a FY21 spending plan that supports grants and professional services for individual artists, cultural nonprofits, and communities in a time of great need. The Agency’s governing Council is scheduled to convene early in January to review and vote on the spending plan. Once the Council endorses the spending plan, our program teams will be authorized to launch FY21 grant programs and professional services to support the Massachusetts cultural sector.
Governor Baker has 10 days to review and act on the conference budget. Mass Cultural Council is hopeful that he will embrace the Legislature’s $18.2M spending recommendation, as he did in FY21, and will communicate this desire with our advocacy partners.
Those who wish to connect with the Governor and Lt. Governor Polito via email or social media to express their support for Mass Cultural Council’s FY21 appropriation are encouraged to do so now. Remember to share why arts and culture are important in your life and urge them to support the $18.2M FY21 funding recommendation for Mass Cultural Council by signing it into law.