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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2011
Contact: Gregory Liakos,
Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343
Senate Ways & Means Budget Proposes Another Major Cut to Arts & Cultural Funding
(Boston, MA) - The Senate Ways & Means Committee
today released a proposed state budget for the coming fiscal year
that would significantly cut state support for the arts, humanities,
and sciences through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).
Senator Eileen Donoghue of Lowell will file an amendment to
restore MCC funding to this year’s levels. The MCC asks
that its advocates contact their Senator as soon as possible and
urge them to support the Donoghue amendment.
The Senate Ways & Means Committee recommends $7.45 million for MCC for fiscal year 2012. That would cut $1.65 million, or 18 percent, from the agency's current budget and would represent a cumulative cut of 41 percent to arts and cultural funding since 2009.
Combined with reduced federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Senate Ways & Means proposal would translate into severe cutbacks in MCC support for the nonprofit cultural sector. If applied to specific programs, it could, for example:
- Eliminate 70% of funding for Local Cultural Councils
- Cut grant levels in half to nonprofit organizations
in MCC’s Cultural Investment Portfolio
- Wipe out MCC’s budget for the Adams Arts Program for the Creative
Economy, and all of its investments in education
through programs such as YouthReach and the STARS Residencies.
The Senate panel matches exactly the original number proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee last month. Thanks to strong advocacy from the cultural community, the full House restored $1 million in its final budget plan.
Senator Donoghue is Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. Last week she urged those who care about the arts, humanities, and sciences to advocate for public funding through MCC so that her amendment to restore that funding can generate enough support to succeed when the full Senate debates the budget next week.
"Contact your state Senators and let them know how important
arts and cultural funding through the Mass. Cultural Council is
to your work and your community!" she said. Find
out who is your state Senator.
"Since the fiscal crisis began we have done our best to minimize the impact of budget cuts to our nonprofit cultural organizations, local cultural councils, schools, and artists," added MCC Executive Director Anita Walker. "We've cut staff, streamlined programs, and increased efficiencies. But our options are growing limited. Cuts of this magnitude will be painful for a cultural sector still recovering from a severe economic recession."
The release of the Senate Ways & Means budget is a key step
in the annual state
budget process. The full Senate will vote on the proposal
during the week of May 23 and then must reconcile its spending
plan with that of the House before sending it back to the Governor
for final approval. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences, to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. 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.
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| © Massachusetts Cultural Council 2012 |
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