PUBLIC FUNDING FOR ARTS & CULTURE
Building a more equitable and inclusive creative sector for all residents of the Commonwealth.
Public funding of arts, culture and creativity ensures that everyone in Massachusetts has access regardless of economic status, geography, education or ability. Because creativity and culture strengthens our communities, connects us to each other and generates significant economic activity, investments from federal, state and local governments is a sound investment of taxpayer dollars.
But public funding for the creative community doesn’t happen by accident. It requires us to share with our elected officials and neighbors the very real impact the creative economy has in Massachusetts. Below are advocacy opportunites and resources to help you in this work.
UPDATES
Recent developments at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are deeply troubling as hundreds of grants for local projects have been cancelled, and massive staff reductions raise serious doubtsthat the agency can meet its statutory mandates.
We need advocates to ask Congress to sustain and protect both funding and staffing for the National Endowment for the Arts.
On Friday, May 2, 2025, the National Endowment for the Arts sent notices to recipients cancelling or withdrawing previously awarded grants. The Connecticut Arts Alliance, Cultural Alliance of Maine, and MASSCreative are working in partnership to collect data to help our elected officials and the general public understand the impact these cuts will have on communities in New England.
If you received a letter withdrawing or cancelling your NEA grant, please take this brief impact survey.
Join a coalition of artists, creatives, arts supporters, and change-makers to educate candidates and voters on the importance of a strong and inclusive creative community in Boston.
On November 15, 2024, the MASSCreative Action Network (MCAN) hosted an election debrief with community organizing and policy experts to learn how 2024 federal and state-level election results will impact the creative sector in Massachusetts. Watch the recording here.
Help get the vote out and play your part for a stronger democracy.
Check out our 2024 Create the Vote General Election Guides to see who is running for US Congress, State Senate, and State House of Representatives in Massachusetts.
Understanding the public hearing process and how you can participate will make you a more effective advocate. We have outlines and guides to get you started.
Ami Bennitt, Annis Sengupta, and Jim Grace discussed the artists displacement crisis we are experiencing in Massachusetts and what we can do about it.
Read for updates about federal-level arts advocacy and the outcome of the State Senate's FY26 Budget.
On May 2nd, the Trump Administration proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in their FY26 Budget.
The Advocacy 301: Do’s and Don’ts training is designed to help nonprofit leaders understand how they can legally engage in advocacy and lobbying.
Meet Rep. Sean Garballey, the 2025-2026 House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.
Advocates testify in support of the ACE Act: H.224/S.160
2025 Somerville mayoral candidates participate in a Somerville Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture.
2025 Boston mayoral candidates participate in a Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture.
In July 2025, the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability held an oversight hearing on the impacts of federal funding cuts to cultural organizations.
Emily Ruddock, MASSCreative’s executive director, shares updates about some of our grassroots organizing and legislative achievements in 2024 and a glimpse of what we are preparing for 2025.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, MASSCreative welcomed 11 individuals into the 2024-2025 Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship during an in-person orientation at the Worcester Public Library.
