FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2010
Contact: Greg Liakos,
Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343 or
Governor's Budget Calls for $9.4 Million
for Massachusetts Cultural Council
(Boston, MA) Governor Deval Patrick today released a
proposed state budget for the coming fiscal year that calls for
$9.4 million for arts and cultural funding through the Massachusetts
Cultural Council (MCC).
The Governor's fiscal year 2011 recommendation for the MCC represents
a cut of just over $291,000, or three percent, from the agency's
current budget. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
The release of the Governor's budget is the first step in the
annual state budget process. The House and Senate will release their
own budget recommendations in April and May, respectively. The two
chambers must then agree on a budget before sending it back to the
Governor for final approval.
"We thank the Governor and his Administration for its support
of the MCC and the nonprofit cultural sector of Massachusetts,"
said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. "They recognize
that investing in this sector - even amid these difficult times
- makes economic sense. Every dollar invested in arts and culture
comes back fivefold to the Commonwealth in revenue from cultural
tourism and jobs created.
“Still, we cannot be satisfied as long as funding for MCC remains
less than half of what it was a decade ago. The cultural community
has to speak with one voice in this difficult budget year and remind
the Legislature of the tremendous impact this funding has for our
economy, communities, and the education of our young people.”
The Governor's budget did not include funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund. The Governor can invest up to $50 million in CFF through the issuance of state capital bonds over five years. Last year the Governor elected to issue $7 million to support the most recent round of CFF grants. This leaves up to $43 million to be issued for the program in future years if the Governor so chooses.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council, which administers this program with MassDevelopment, has made continued state investment in the CFF a top priority.
The MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture
in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The
Council pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services,
and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and
artists.
