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MAPC Advocates for the Arts

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MAPC Advocates for the Arts

Written by Norman Abbott, Senior Government Affairs Specialist

January 24, 2024 - Hundreds of advocates from across the Commonwealth braved the weather for a celebration of Massachusetts’ arts and culture sector. Organized by MASSCreative and co-hosted by MAPC, ArtsBoston, Dunamis, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, MASSCreative, Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and The Network for Arts Administrators of Color (NAAC), the event brought together arts leaders and advocates to lobby for crucial funding and arts and culture legislation.  

The day not only featured remarks from several speakers including Governor Healy, Lt. Governor Driscoll—where they highlighted a $500,0000 increase for the Mass Cultural Council, but also the chairs of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, Rep. Mindy Domb and Senator Paul Mark. The speaking program was peppered with dynamic and participatory performances from poet Amanda Shea, vocalist and song-writer Candida Rose and the Boston Music Project’s New Orleans-style Brass Band. Each performer and the myriad additional exhibitors and artists helped to showcase the various styles and mediums of the sector from across the state.  

MAPC’s Executive Director Marc Draisen, helped deliver the day’s call to action. As a former legislator he familiarized new and blossoming advocates with the best ways to push for change—including how to maximize the impact of your meeting with your elected officials. Among the tips provided to new and veteran advocates was to request that your Representative send a letter to the Speaker of the House in support of the Creative Sector Legislative Agenda and ask your Senator to send a similar letter to the Senate President.  

In advance of this event, MASSCreative and MAPC have been working together to help pass our shared priorities from the 2023-2024 Creative Sector Legislative Agenda including:  

The PLACE Act (H.3246 / S.2190): Filed by Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. Steve Ultrino, Sen. Paul Mark, and Sen. Robyn Kennedy, this bill would allocate a percentage of construction costs on any state-owned property, or public funding granted to new construction projects exceeding $200K, towards a public art fund. The fund would be used to create and maintain public art in Massachusetts and would codify the process for commissioning public art, making it easier for cities and towns to engage their residents in developing relevant and inclusive public art for all. Examples of MAPC’s work in this space include: 

The Creative Space Preservation Act (H.3241 / S.530) Filed Rep. Dan Cahill and Senator Liz Miranda This bill enables municipalities to adopt a defined property use for creative maker space and performance or exhibition space. It would enable cities and towns that adopt the property use definitions to establish trust funds to hold assets and property for the creation and preservation of creative spaces, giving them more tools to keep artists in their communities. Examples of MAPC’s work in this space include: 

The Downtown Vitality Bill (H.228 / S.130) Filed by Rep Cabral and Senator Cronin this bill would require the Commonwealth to set aside 5% of the receipts from sales from online retailers to be dispersed as grants to sustain or provide technical assistance to business improvement districts, cultural districts, parking benefit districts, or other district management entities approved by the Executive Office of Economic Development. The bill also establishes a Downtown Vitality Advisory Board composed of 15 members including MassDevelopment, Mass Cultural Council, Gateway and non-Gateway municipalities and underrepresented communities. Examples of MAPC’s work in this space include: 

The Cultural Equity in Tourism Bill (H.3244 / S.2194) Filed by Rep Pat Duffy and Senator Jake Oliveira, this bill would establish a grant program within the Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel to support tourism marketing and promotional expenses for arts and cultural organizations. The fund would prioritize arts and cultural organizations and events that seek to amplify the stories of historically marginalized or underrepresented cultures. By increasing local and regional tourism to more culturally diverse spaces and events, Massachusetts can support economic vitality for everyone. 

Additionally, MAPC is hoping to see the passage of additional arts and culture legislation including:  

  • Artist Work Space Tax Credit Bill (H.2789) Filed by Rep Ferrante, this bill establishes a Massachusetts artist workspace tax credits credit in the amount of $20 million. The funding will be split among as many qualified artist workspace projects as possible with the goal of increasing the Commonwealth's stock of artist workspace. The program will be overseen by the Commissioner of Revenue and Department of Housing and Livable Communities. 

MAPC’s legislative priorities—including our arts and culture priorities—are grounded in MetroCommon 2050, Greater Boston’s regional land use and policy plan to make the region more equitable, more prosperous, and more sustainable. Policy changes are one of the core tactics to make this plan a reality. Greater Boston is full of unique places and experiences that bring joy and foster diversity and social cohesion. MAPC’s arts and culture legislative priorities are primarily selected for their ability to further those experiences as well as “promote cultural development and preservation, public art and public realm design”. You can find a list of MAPC’s legislative priorities including our arts and culture priorities here. To learn more contact Norman Abbott, MAPC’s Senior Government Affairs Specialist at [email protected].