Maps Show Federal & State Funding for the Cultural Sector in MA

Jen Lawless, Operations Director

Detail of Massachusetts map showing federal, state, and local funding for arts and culture in FY20

In Fiscal Year 2020* the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) invested $3,801,808 in Massachusetts through 101 direct grants to cultural organizations, including $959,600 to Mass Cultural Council to supplement the Agency’s annual grants and services. That year Mass Cultural Council invested a total of $16,717,164 into the vibrant and diverse cultural life of Massachusetts through 2,533 grants. This figure includes $4,154,000 for 329 local and regional cultural councils, representing all 351 cities and towns. These local councils invested $5,069,636 into 7,002 projects in their communities in FY20. Additionally, Massachusetts allocated $9,302,400 from its capital budget to support 100 projects through the Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF). In total, FY20 federal, state, and local investments in the cultural sector equaled $30,620,200, awarded through 9,736 grants to recipients located statewide, from Pittsfield to Provincetown.

The following reports have been compiled in partnership with the National Association of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and MASSCreative to demonstrate the breadth of the vital public investments made to support the arts, humanities, and sciences in Massachusetts. View investments  made in each Massachusetts Congressional District, or a statewide investment map:

Map Key – Further Explanations:

  • State Grant – Location of a grant award to a cultural organization, school, municipality, or individual made in FY20 by Mass Cultural Council
  • State Grant Activity Location – Area where cultural programming occurred, funded through a Mass Cultural Council FY20 grant
  • Cultural Facilities Fund – Location of FY20 awarded CFF Project
  • Arts Endowment Grant – Location of a grant award made directly by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Federal FY20
  • Local Cultural Council – Location of a FY20 grant issued by a Local or Regional Cultural Council

*These reports include the NEA federal fiscal year 2020 and Massachusetts’ state fiscal year 2020, which cover different periods of time.