Make Your Voice Heard
On October 25, the House Ways and Means Committee released its plan to disburse $3.65 billion of the more than $5 billion in federal funds allocated to Massachusetts via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The bill sets aside $125 million for restoration and support of the arts and cultural sector, 3% of the total spending plan.
This amount is disappointing, especially given the significant losses artists, cultural organizations and arts business have sustained since March 2020. The pandemic-related closure of museums and stages and the cancellation of musical performances, plays, and other live performances, 981 arts and cultural nonprofit organizations—which represent a sliver of the state’s creative economy—have reported $588.3 million in pandemic-related losses. Nearly 3,000 creative workers in Massachusetts lost over $30 million during that same time.
Before the pandemic, the arts and cultural sector generated over $25.5 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy and supported 142,578 jobs resulting in $13.6 billion in total compensation.
Rep. Fernandes, Vice Chair of the Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee filed amendment #109, which would increase the allocation to $175 million.
We have less than 24 hours to urge members of the House to co-sponsor the amendment before Thursday’s House debate.
Make sure your state representative supports the increase today.
Make Your Voice Heard
On October 25, the House Ways and Means Committee released its plan to disburse $3.65 billion of the more than $5 billion in federal funds allocated to Massachusetts via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The bill sets aside $125 million for restoration and support of the arts and cultural sector, 3% of the total spending plan.
This amount is disappointing, especially given the significant losses artists, cultural organizations and arts business have sustained since March 2020. The pandemic-related closure of museums and stages and the cancellation of musical performances, plays, and other live performances, 981 arts and cultural nonprofit organizations—which represent a sliver of the state’s creative economy—have reported $588.3 million in pandemic-related losses. Nearly 3,000 creative workers in Massachusetts lost over $30 million during that same time.
Before the pandemic, the arts and cultural sector generated over $25.5 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy and supported 142,578 jobs resulting in $13.6 billion in total compensation.
Rep. Fernandes, Vice Chair of the Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee filed amendment #109, which would increase the allocation to $175 million.
We have less than 24 hours to urge members of the House to co-sponsor the amendment before Thursday’s House debate.
Make sure your state representative supports the increase today.