About the Fund
The Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) is an initiative of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund was created as part of a major economic stimulus bill that was approved by the Massachusetts Legislature in July 2006. The most recent capital budget appropriation to the Fund in FY2011 was $7 million. To date, the Fund has awarded $44 million in grants to 209 cultural organizations across Massachusetts.
The goal of the Cultural Facilities Fund is to increase investments from both the public sector and the private sector to support the sound planning and development of cultural facilities in Massachusetts.
The Fund provides Capital Grants to promote the acquisition, design, repair, rehabilitation renovation, expansion, or construction of nonprofit cultural facilities in Massachusetts. All grants from the Fund must be matched with cash contributions from the private or public sector.
Fund Impact
Since 2007, CFF has made 278 grants to cultural organizations, and communities to build, repair, and expand their facilities.
It has supported projects across the state, in communities as
diverse as Pittsfield and Provincetown. It has helped major tourist
attractions like Plimoth Plantation and Mass MoCA leverage millions
of private dollars to draw more visitors to Massachusetts. And
it has helped smaller non-profits such as the Old North Church
Foundation restore its National Historic Landmark building that
is such a vital part of our national history.
These cultural institutions are major economic engines for the Commonwealth. According to a detailed survey conducted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council in November 2010, Cultural Facilities Fund grantees reported in the past year:
- 15.1 million visitors. Of these, 37% traveled more than 50 miles; 28% came from out-of-state. (The MCC estimates the direct and indirect economic impact from these tourism-related revenues was $525 million.)
- 7,728 full-time jobs and $386 million in wages and salaries.
- 4,035 architects, engineers, contractors and construction workers working on Cultural Facilities Fund projects.
- 985 new permanent jobs projected in Massachusetts as a result of Cultural Facilities Fund projects.
CFF also leverages private investment. Grantees are required to raise a 1:1 dollar match from the private sector before they can access CFF funds. As of June 30, 2010, $29.7 million had been raised from the private sector to match CFF grants. So 80% of the dollars granted by the state have already been matched for construction and renovation projects across the Commonwealth.
2011 CFF
Annual Report (PDF)
Funded Projects
Program Administration
The Fund is administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. A Governor-appointed Cultural Facilities Fund Advisory Committee advises on the operation of the Fund.
MassDevelopment has authority on all matters of Fund administration, including final approval of all grant decisions.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is responsible for managing most aspects of the grant review process, through a contractual relationship with MassDevelopment. This includes distributing guidelines for the program, offering technical assistance to applicants, and reviewing grant applications.
The Cultural Facilities Advisory Committee is responsible for advising MassDevelopment on the management and operation of the Fund. The Committee consists of nine members, six appointed by the Governor, plus the President and CEO of MassDevelopment, and the Executive Directors of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. The six members appointed by the Governor represent six different geographic regions of the state, as called for in the statute.
Advisory Committee Members
Wayne Capolupo, CEO and Principal
SPS New England
Salisbury
Robert L. Culver, President and CEO
Cultural Facilities Advisory Committee Chair
MassDevelopment
Boston
Michael A. Halperson, Executive Vice President
Dome Publishing Company
Foxborough
John Plukas, Co-Chairman
Wainwright Bank & Trust Company
Boston
John William Poduska
Consultant and Businessman
Weston
David Starr, President
Republican Company
Longmeadow
John C. Stowe, President and CEO
LUTCO, Inc.
Boylston
Anita Walker, Executive Director
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Newton
Betsy Wall, Executive Director
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
Winchester
