The Massachusetts Cultural Council buget will grow by $2 million, or 12 percent, to $18 million for the current fiscal year, which began July 1. The increase for the state arts agency was part of a state budget passed by the state Legislature and then signed on July 31 by Gov. Charlie Baker. That puts the budget at its highest level since 2002.
Language in earlier drafts of the budget that would have prohibited using any of the new funds to directly support artists was eliminated from the final budget. Restrictions on agency travel and funding of cultural districts were also removed in the final version.
“The agency will invest the additional resources in nonprofit organizations, communities, artists, schools and creative youth development,” it said in a press release.
Previously: Artists Won’t Share In Mass Cultural Council Budget Increase?
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