What do you need to live your full creative expression?
Massachusetts is home to a thriving and diverse creative sector that connects neighbors to each other, stimulates economic activity, and animates our communities. The creative and cultural community’s interests must be considered when choices are made about public policy and funding decisions that will impact them.
priorities
OUR GUIDING VALUE FOR ALL POLICY PRIORITIES
MASSCreative prioritizes efforts that increase equity in Massachusetts’ creative sector and remove barriers that exclude individuals and communities from full creative expression and cultural participation. We identify our advocacy priorities through continuous feedback and dialogue with creative sector members about what they need to continue to live, work, and create in Massachusetts.
MASSCREATIVE’S PRIORITY ISSUES:
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Ensuring Massachusetts, local municipalities, and the federal government are adequately investing in the creative sector and public funding is distributed equitably, resulting in a more diverse arts and cultural community.
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Pursuing policies and government support that encourage creative small businesses, independent creative workers, and workforce development for the arts and cultural sector.
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Working to increase spaces that support the development and presentation of art and cultures. Ensuring creative space is equitably offered and accessible to the whole community.
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Increase access to creative youth development programs and ensure that every child, regardless of school district, has access to quality in-school arts education.
Read more about our youth arts cultural policy efforts.
ADVOCACY UPDATES:
Expanding Voting Access: MASSCreative’s Commitment to Civic Engagement
MASSCreative proudly supports expanding voting access for all.
Developing A 2025-2026 Statewide Legislative Agenda with the Creative Community
In January 2025, the MASSCreative Action Network celebrated the filing of three bills that make up the 2025 - 26 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda. The contents of the bills and policy priorities are a direct result of the feedback we received from artists, cultural organizations, creative businesses, and changemakers.
FROM THE VAULT: THE 2023-2024 CREATIVE SECTOR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Take a look at the policy priorities that MASSCreative worked on during the 2023-2024 legislative session.
DOWNTOWN VITALITY ACT INCLUDED IN THE MASS LEADS ACT
On November 14th, the House and Senate approved the conference committee’s report on the Mass Leads Act, including the Downtown Vitality Act, live theater tax credit, and reauthorizing $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund.
SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL AND DOWNTOWN VITALITY ACT OUTCOMES
On July 11th, the Senate passed their Economic Development Bond Bill, including $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund and the Downtown Vitality Amendment. Read for Economic Development Bond Bill updates.
HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOND BILL (MASS LEADS ACT) OUTCOMES
On June 27, the House took up their $3.4 billion Economic Development Bond Bill and included a live theater tax credit and $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund. Advocates fought for the House to include the Creative Space Preservation Act and Downtown Vitality Act amendments. Read for Economic Development Bond Bill updates.