PAST ACTION: ADVOCATE FOR $26.7M FOR THE MASS CULTURAL COUNCIL IN THE SENATE BUDGET
THIS ACTION HAS ENDED. CONTINUE READING FOR AN ARCHIVE OF THE CALL TO ADVOCATE.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee released their FY25 Budget on May 7th. Their proposal recommends $25.5 million in spending for the creative sector through the Mass Cultural Council’s line item (0640-0300). $25.5 million matches the Governor’s recommendation in the FY25 Budget she filed in January.
However, it is less than the House’s final budget of $26,750,000 ($25.9 million for Mass Cultural Council grants and operations and $855,000 for earmarks for specific cultural organizations and programs). The House’s version is a 3.58% increase for our state’s arts agency.
Senator Paul Mark, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, filed Amendment #171 to increase the Mass Cultural Council’s line item to $26,750,000 - matching the House’s budget.
Additionally, Senator John Cronin filed Amendment #322, which would add the Downtown Vitality Act to the FY25 Budget. The Downtown Vitality Act is part of the Creative Sector Legislative Agenda and would create a fund to support Cultural Districts, Business Improvement Districts, and Main Street Associations. MASSCreative and our partners at Mass Cultural Council, MassINC, and Metropolitan Area Planning Council are eager to see the Downtown Vitality Act passed this session.
TAKE ACTION TODAY
This week, we must encourage our State Senators to co-sponsor Amendment #171 and Amendment #322. Co-sponsorship is crucial to an amendment’s success: the more co-sponsors it receives, the more likely the Senate will adopt it.
Here are the ways you can advocate today:
-
Think of how many emails you receive a day and how many you can take action on. But when you get a call and hear directly from someone, that gets your attention. The same thing goes for Senators and their staff. Below is a script you can use when calling your State Senator.
Pro Tips:
1) Senate offices get a lot of communications every day. Keep your call brief, pleasant, and respectful.
2) Be sure to leave a message if you get a voicemail - staff always checks messages!
3) If you are asked a question but don’t know the answer, that’s okay! Ask for their email, and you can follow up afterward. Be sure to contact Team MASSCreative: we can help you find the answers you need.
Script:
Hello, Senator X. My name is [NAME] and I am a constituent in your district. I live at [ADDRESS].
I am calling today to urge you to co-sponsor two amendments: Amendment #171, filed by Senator Mark, and Amendment #322, filed by Senator Cronin.
Amendment #171 will increase line item 0640-0300 for the Mass Cultural Council to $26.7 million, matching the House budget’s final recommendation.
Amendment #322 would create the Downtown Vitality Fund to seed and support Cultural Districts, Main Street Associations, and Business Improvement Districts in Massachusetts.
These amendments will support a more inclusive and equitable creative sector for Massachusetts.
Other things to include:
Share with them what increased funding for the Mass Cultural Council means to you.
Share a sentence about your relationship to the creative sector.
Share a sentence about the role of arts and culture in your community.
Thank them for their time. If you want them to respond, repeat your name, phone number, and email address.
-
When your inbox gets full, what emails stand out? The messages from people you know, topics you care about, and emails that are heartfelt and personal. When you write your Senator and their staff, personalized messages stand out. Here are some talking points you can use when crafting your message.
Dear Senator X,
Include a greeting. State your address and that you are a constituent.
State why you are contacting them:
I urge you to co-sponsor two amendments: Amendment #171, filed by Senator Mark, and Amendment #322, filed by Senator Cronin.
Amendment #171 will increase line item 0640-0300 for the Mass Cultural Council to $26.7 million, matching the House budget’s final recommendation. The Senate Ways and Means Budget included $25.5 million for the Mass Cultural Council, which matches Gov. Healey’s recommendation, but is less than what the House adopted.
Amendment #322 would create the Downtown Vitality Fund to seed and support Cultural Districts, Main Street Associations, and Business Improvement Districts in Massachusetts.
These amendments will support a more inclusive and equitable creative sector for Massachusetts.
Ask your State Senator to co-sponsor Amendments #171 and #322.
Other things to include:
Share a sentence about your relationship to the creative sector.
Share a sentence about the role of arts and culture in your community.
Thank them for their time and support for district arts, culture, and creativity.
Include your name, address, and phone number (optional) in your signature.
-
Advocacy and organizing are about building community. When you take action on an issue, it’s meaningful, but when you get three folks in your network to join you in advocacy - that’s a movement.
Think of three people you know who live in Massachusetts and should support the creative sector. Maybe they are an artist with an important story to share or a longtime arts subscriber who loves showing off their local theatre, museum, or music group to out-of-town guests. Maybe they are your neighbor who always asks you about your advocacy for the creative community. No matter the reason, these are the folks you can organize into arts advocates.
Use this email template to share our advocacy campaign today.
Dear [Friend],
As you know, I care deeply about the creative community in Massachusetts and I want to share an opportunity to take action to advocate for increased state support. Right now, the Senate is debating its version of the FY25 Budget. This budget includes spending for our schools, healthcare systems, and creative community.
Will you join me in supporting increased public spending for the creative community and pro-arts policies in Massachusetts? I’m joining MASSCreative and advocates across the Commonwealth to request increased state support for the creative community.
Senator Mark of the Berkshires recently filed Amendment #171 to the Senate version of the budget to increase state funding for arts, culture, and creativity to $26.7 million - a $1.25 million increase from last year’s spending proposal.
Senator Cronin of Central MA filed Amendment #322 to establish the Downtown Vitality Fund to support local businesses and creative placekeeping.
Both of these amendments will create meaningful change for the creative community in Massachusetts. But we need more people to reach out to state senators and share their support. Will you join us?
You can quickly email your State Senator using this tool.
I’m happy to tell you more about this work. Thank you for considering!
