Bethann Steiner, Senior Director of Public Affairs
Mass Cultural Council, your independent state arts agency, has a leadership structure that is intentionally designed to ensure stability, continuity, and independence, regardless of who occupies any individual leadership role. As laid out in statute, the Agency is located within the Office of the Treasurer, but it is not subject to the Treasurer’s control. Instead, the Agency is governed by a 19-member citizen board, known as the Council, whose members are appointed by the Governor. These members serve staggered three-year terms; represent regions across the Commonwealth; and bring distinguished service, creativity, and scholarship in the arts, humanities, and sciences.
The Governor also appoints the Council Chair and Vice-Chair. The Chair serves as the Agency’s Chief Executive Officer, with the responsibility of appointing the Executive Director. The Executive Director, in turn, leads the day-to-day operations of the Agency with support from the Senior Leadership Team. While these roles provide essential leadership, the structure ensures that Mass Cultural Council’s mission, programs, and services continue without interruption, even as individuals rotate on and off the Council or into new positions.
One month ago, Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt announced his intention to depart Mass Cultural Council as of December 31, 2025. Today, the Council’s Executive Committee met in public session to begin planning the search process for his successor. They unanimously approved, and will recommend to the full Council at its December 10, 2025 public meeting, the Chair’s recommendation that Deputy Director David T. Slatery serve as Acting Executive Director without additional compensation until a permanent Executive Director is appointed.
Chair Marc Carroll, who served as Vice-Chair during the Council’s last executive search in 2020, shared that he intends to follow the same thoughtful, deliberative, and stakeholder-inclusive process. He and Vice-Chair Jo-Ann Davis will begin immediately, meeting with Senior Leadership to prepare an RFP to hire an executive search firm. He will appoint a Search Task Force, composed of members of the Executive Committee and additional Council members, to assist him throughout the process. This methodical approach reflects the Agency’s long-standing governance model — one that ensures stable leadership transitions and consistent delivery of services to the cultural sector.
Chair Carroll emphasized his confidence in Dave, the Senior Leadership Team, and the entire staff. He noted that Michael’s departure comes at a time when Mass Cultural Council is exceptionally strong and well-positioned to continue its work supporting the cultural sector — a sector that represents more than 130,000 jobs and generates nearly $30 billion in economic activity, or 4% of the Commonwealth’s GDP.
Vice-Chair Davis and several Council members echoed their strong support for Dave as Acting Executive Director and reaffirmed the effectiveness and dedication of the full staff team.
Massachusetts state government is only five months into Fiscal Year 2026, and under Dave’s leadership the Agency will remain focused on executing the Council-approved FY26 spending plan. The work of Mass Cultural Council continues every day, through grantmaking, services, advocacy, and cross-sector strategic partnerships, all grounded in statutory authority, guided by the Council, and carried out by a deeply committed professional staff.
Leadership transitions are a normal and expected part of any government agency’s lifecycle. What does not change is Mass Cultural Council’s mission, its values, or its service to the cultural sector and the people and communities of Massachusetts. The work continues.