We urge you to inform the press about your grant. Please note that your legislators have already been notified of your grant, and often they will make the first announcements.

To help legislators understand the impact of public funds for cultural activities, you are strongly encouraged to contact your State House Senator and Representative for a quote to include in your own press releases relating to programs supported with public monies. Funding for the MCC is dependent on the support of the Governor and the Legislature. You may want to draft a quote for them to review and approve in your press release. For example, they might comment on how public support enables your organization to reach new audiences/foster community development/provide the highest quality programming/develop models for integrating the arts into the curriculum, etc.

Remember: Although you are receiving an MCC grant now, a feature article may be best approached several months later about your organization or a particular program once it is up and running. Please acknowledge the MCC in these articles.

Sample press release about MCC grant

Date
Organization Contact Name
For Immediate Release
Contact Telephone Number

The (name of organization) has received a matching grant of $______ from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. This grant was awarded through the MCC’s ________ Program and it will support (summarize).

State grants are awarded through a competitive process. This grant signifies that (name of organization) provides a high level of quality in its programs, community service and administrative ability. [Describe in more detail the public programs and the numbers of people who will be served by this grant/your organization. Give the amount of private dollars this grant leverages.]

[Quote from legislator: Draft a quote for them to review and approve. For example, they could comment on how public support enables your organization to reach new audiences/foster community development/provide the highest quality programming/develop models for integrating the arts into the curriculum, etc.]

MCC has a budget of $13 million, including $12 million from the state of Massachusetts and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Wallace Foundation, and other sources. Its funds reach every community in Massachusetts. The mission of the MCC is to promote excellence, education, access and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and to contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The not-for-profit cultural industry has a $4.2 billion economic impact in the state.