HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE ACE ACT
H.151 / S.113: An Act improving accessibility in the creative economy
Sponsored by Rep. Dan Donahue and Sen. Paul Mark
H.151/S.113 would establish the Accessibility in the Creative Economy (ACE) Fund to provide grants to organizations focused on the arts, culture, humanities, and interpretive sciences to remove barriers encountered by people with disabilities. By dedicating more funding through the Massachusetts Office on Disability specifically for cultural organizations, we can build a creative economy where everyone can enjoy and belong within the stories, performances, installations, and representations of our communities.
LANDSCAPE
In 2022, Open Door Arts and the Mass Cultural Council released their report, “Towards a Culture of Access: Findings From the Massachusetts Arts & Culture Access Survey.” Their findings show that while 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 2 adults ages 65+ in Massachusetts has one or more disabilities, the disabilities community continues to experience significant attitudinal, physical, and programmatic barriers that prevents them from fully participating in arts and culture opportunities. The majority of survey respondents expressed that funding, staffing, facilities, skills, and training all impacted their potential to make venues and programs more accessible.
WHAT THE BILL WOULD DO:
Create a grant program that for-profit, nonprofit and public organizations throughout the Commonwealth that are part of the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences sector would be eligible to apply for.
ACE would be administered by the Office on Disability to support capital improvements and projects to improve programmatic access and remove barriers encountered by persons with disabilities.
An 11-person board consisting of a majority of individuals with disabilities and individuals with experience advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities would make recommendations on the grant criteria to the Office on Disability.
No less than half of 1% of funds allocated for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services would go to ACE. The Office on Disability could accept donations for the fund from individuals, organizations, associations, nonprofits, businesses, estates, foundations or other entities.
JOIN OUR ADVOCACY COALITION
MASSCreative Action Network is building a coalition of artists, cultural organizations, creative businesses, and sector allies to advocate for this necessary bill. We know that united advocacy works and we invite you to join our coalition today.
The ACE Act is endorsed by Abilities Dance Boston, Berkshire Pulse Center for the Creative Arts, Boston Dance Alliance, Bright Lights Cinema at Emerson College, Brockton Garden Club, Community Art Center Inc., Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation, Dance in the Schools, Holyoke Civic Symphony, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Mass Humanities, Mother Brook Arts and Community Center, New England Foundation for the Arts, Noopur Nritya Academy, Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton Community Arts Trust, Open Door Arts, Parrish Relics, PlayZoomers Inc., Pop Up Art School, Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Shelter Music Boston, Snow Farm - The New England Craft Program, The Center for Independent Documentary Inc., and The Flavor Continues.
For Organizations and Businesses, we ask coalition members to:
Formally endorse the bill and allow us to use their names/logos on our bill advocacy materials.
Join the MASSCreative Action Network and the bill's sponsors at a press event to amplify the bill’s importance and build public support.
Testify at committee hearings and submit written testimony in support of the legislation.
Work to engage more state and local lawmakers to support the bill through meetings and outreach.
Share news, calls to action, and other advocacy efforts via social media and communication platforms.
Share your feedback on ways to strengthen the legislation.
CAN MY NONPROFIT ENDORSE LEGISLATION? Yes! Check out our guide for nonprofits interested in advocacy.
For Artists, Creative Workers, Advocates, and Individual Supporters, we ask coalition members to:
Formally share your support for the bill and allow us to add your name to formal letters of support.
Testify - or submit written testimony - at committee hearings supporting the legislation.
Share your support for the bill with your elected officials through meetings and outreach.
Share updates, calls to action, and other advocacy efforts via social media with your networks.
Share your feedback on ways to strengthen the legislation.
