THE 2025-2026 CREATIVE SECTOR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Written By Jaz

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Realizing a more equitable and inclusive creative sector through state-level ADVOCACY AND policy change.

 

In Fall 2024, MASSCreative completed its second statewide listening series where we asked artists, creatives, and members of the creative sector what they need to live, work, and create in Massachusetts. The MASSCreative Action Network analyzed this feedback and partnered with cross-sector allies and legislative champions to propose three bills this session, each directly informed by members of the creative sector, that will contribute to a stronger creative economy, increase the sector’s access to public funding, and both grow and maintain creative maker spaces in Massachusetts.

 

THE 2025-2026 CREATIVE SECTOR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

 

  • HD.3435 / SD.2058: An Act to grow and maintain space in cities and towns for the creative economy

    Sponsored by Rep. Dan Cahill and Sen. Liz Miranda

    The Creative Space Act establishes “creative space” and “presentation space” land restrictions to protect and develop new creative production and exhibition spaces in Massachusetts. Spaces that are primarily used for the creation and practice of art, culture and creative expression by artists, creative workers, and artisans could be protected through these definitions. Applicable creative space use examples include, but are not limited to, sketching, design, prototyping, writing, rehearsing, composing, and recording, as well as developing, expanding, and maintaining skills and competencies that support creativity.  


    The Creative Space Act also establishes the option for municipalities to create their own Municipal Creative Space Trust Fund to acquire, purchase, maintain, and otherwise hold onto creative maker space assets.


  • HD.4157 / SD.2012: An Act improving accessibility in the creative economy


    Sponsored by Rep. Dan Donahue and Sen. Paul Mark

    The ACE Act would create a grant program so that arts, culture, humanities, and interpretive science organizations can have additional resources to make their programs and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. 


    The ACE Act would be funded through a small percentage of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services budget and would establish a commission to set the criteria for grant eligibility. The commission would be made up of a majority of individuals with disabilities and experienced disabilities advocates.

  • HD.2277 / SD.1710: An Act establishing a program for local art and community engagement


    Sponsored by Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. Steve Ultrino, Sen. Paul Mark, and Sen. Robyn Kennedy

    The PLACE Act creates a percent-for-public-art program in Massachusetts. Under this bill, a percentage of public construction costs spent on Commonwealth-owned property would go to a public art fund to create and maintain public art. This bill creates a commission with representation from the creative community to set the criteria for eligible public art projects. 


 

The MASSCreative Action Network will provide opportunities to endorse this legislation and mobilize support for this work in early 2025.

 
take action
Create the Vote: Boston 2025

Create the Vote Boston 2025 will focus on educating candidates running for Mayor and City Council on the value, impact and needs of the creative community.

PAST ACTION: THE CREATIVE SECTOR’S FY26 BUDGET REQUEST LETTER TO GOV. HEALEY

The MASSCreative Action Network is continuing its long-term campaign of increasing the Mass Cultural Council’s budget to $35 million, or $5 per capita, by urging the Healey-Driscoll Administration to increase the Mass Cultural Council’s FY26 budget (0640-0300) to $28 million. We are also advocating for $17 million for the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund and Regional Tourism Councils. Sign on in support today!

MASSCREATIVE’S 2024 REFLECTION LETTER

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. 

MASSCREATIVE ACTION NETWORK’S 2024 ELECTION DEBRIEF

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.

Let’s Team Up to Get Out the Vote!

Help get the vote out and play your part for a stronger democracy.

PAST ACTION: LETTER URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE DATA

Take action today by joining MCAN in signing onto a letter urging President Biden to take executive action and instruct the Bureau of Labor Statistics to include the charitable sector in the Quarterly Census on Employment and Wages.

2024 MASSACHUSETTS General ELECTION VOTER GUIDES

Make sure you are prepared to vote on November 5: Check out our nonpartisan 2024 General Election Voter Guides.

2024 MASSACHUSETTS PRIMARY ELECTION VOTER GUIDES

Check out Create the Vote's nonpartisan election guides for the 2024 MA State Primaries to see who is running in your district.

THE CREATIVE SECTOR’S LETTER TO THE FY25 BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Read the sector’s letter to the FY25 Budget Conference Committee.

THE CREATIVE SECTOR’S LETTER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Read the sector’s letter to the Economic Development Bond Bill Conference Committee.

Resources
A Guide To Hearing And Giving Testimony

An important part of the governing process is public hearings. These occur on all levels of government (Federal, State, and Local). Understanding the hearing process and how you can participate will make you a more effective advocate for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector.

INSIDE THE STATE BUDGETING PROCESS

Maintaining and increasing public investment in the creative community requires constant and broad grassroots activism throughout the annual budget process.

NonProfit Organizations & Advocacy

There is a lot of misinformation on what a nonprofit can and cannot do when it comes to advocating for its interests and the needs of the communities they serve. Check out our Nonprofits and Advocacy Resource on how your organization effectively and confidently advocate for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector of all residents in the Commonwealth.

6/19/20 - POLICY & ACTION UPDATE WEBINAR

In this webinar, we took time to honor Juneteenth and Pride Month, and talked about the status of arts education funding and voting protections.

6/12/20 - POLICY & ACTION UPDATE WEBINAR

In this webinar, we discussed mapping our roles in a social change ecosystem, talked about proposed legislation to address COVID-19 voting options, the 2020 Census, and reviewed federal and state supports for the creative sector.

6/5/20 - policy & action update webinars

In this webinar, we had a community conversation about mapping our social change roles during times of crisis.

News
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MOAC CULTURAL INVESTMENT GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Last week, MOAC for the City of Boston announced that they are establishing a $10M multi-year Cultural Investment Grant funded through local ARPA appropriations.

Creative Sector Advocates Request $5 Per Resident in Healey’s FY24 Proposal

“Budgets are a reflection of our priorities: what we choose to spend public funds on is in direct relationship to what we value. The creative sector plays a crucial role in the vibrancy of our cities and towns. Artists, creative workers, and cultural organizations strengthen our connections to each other and our communities.” said Emily Ruddock, Executive Director of MASSCreative

Jaz
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