“Cultural organizations in Massachusetts will see a boost in their funding, after the state Legislature voted this week to override Governor Charlie Baker’s veto of the Mass Cultural Council’s budget, which resulted in a $2 million budget increase, the first in several years,” writes Cristela Guerra in Friday’s (8/3) Boston Globe. “ ‘The prior three years, fiscal ’16, ’17, and ’18, our state budget stayed flat at $14 million,’ said Greg Liakos, communications director for the Mass Cultural Council, of the $16 million appropriation…. One of the council’s two biggest grant programs provides support for 320 arts, humanities, and science nonprofit organizations including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as smaller community theaters and choral groups, Liakos said. Matt Wilson, executive director of MASSCreative, noted there was a concerted effort of statewide advocacy by Mass Cultural Council and its partners, MASSCreative, Mass Humanities, Mass Artists Leaders Coalition, along with others throughout the state. ‘People care about this,’ Wilson said. ‘They realize how important it is for the health and vibrancy of their towns that there are strong cultural institutions and working artists that are bringing creativity to our community.’ ”
Posted August 7, 2018
