Legislature Recognizes Arts & Culture as Economic Development Tool
Feb. 1, 2005
"...it shall be the duty of legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences..."
"...to encourage private societies and public institutions, for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and a natural history of the country"...
-Excerpt from the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts written by John Adams
The Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, & Humanities (MAASH) joined with the Massachusetts Cultural Council to announce today the awarding of nearly $1 million in cultural economic development grants for projects to create jobs, revitalize communities, and enhance cultural tourism.
The John and Abigail Adams Arts Program for Cultural Economic Development was created by the Legislature from a proposal instigated by MAASH to use cultural resources to stimulate the state’s economy.
“MAASH thanks the many legislators who recognize the economic, social and educational value of the arts, sciences, and humanities,” MAASH Executive Director Dan Hunter said, “We especially want to thank Senate President Robert Travaglini. Senator Therese Murray, Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi, and Representative John Rogers.”
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts must capitalize on all its economic assets to restore our economy. However, the economic value of the arts, sciences, and the humanities has been overlooked as state budgets were slashed. Consequently, MAASH proposed that the state re-establish cultural economic development funding as part of last year’s economic stimulus package.
With support from key legislative leaders, cultural leaders, hundreds of supporters, and visionary mayors across the state; MAASH successfully advocated for cultural economic development funding, now known as the John and Abigail Adams Arts Fund. This fund creates incentives for non-profit cultural organizations to partner with city and local business leaders to use cultural resources to create jobs, enhance tourism, and revitalize communities.
Through this program, the Legislature recognizes that the arts, sciences, and humanities are a key part of our state’s competitive economic advantage.
* Arts and culture are a driving force in the state’s second largest industry—tourism. In its 2000 Creative Economy Initiative, the New England Council estimated that cultural tourism generates $6.6 billion in direct regional spending.
* Cultural non-profits have a statewide annual payroll of $248 million and spend an average of $1.1 billion in Massachusetts each year.
* According to the Center for Policy Analysis at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, cultural economic development grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council provided the seed that in one year generated $2.6 million in regional economic impact and created an additional 32 full-time equivalent your round jobs.
Many of the Massachusetts mayors recognize the value of cultural economic development funding. Of the 32 full proposals requesting funding, 24 of the partner organizations were city or town governments. The municipal project partners include cities and towns from all across the state from Adams to Amesbury and in sizes ranging from Boston to Northbridge. Even though it was funded at only $1 million in its first year, the MCC received letters of intent to apply from 52 different project partnerships. Many of these projects have already indicated that they will re-apply during the FY 06 budget year.
To further assist our economic recovery, MAASH is asking the Legislature to double the funding for the John and Abigail Adams Arts Fund in FY 06. In the Governor’s proposed FY 06 budget released January 26, the John and Abigail Adams Arts Fund was eliminated.
MAASH is an independent, statewide organization that serves as the voice for the Massachusetts cultural community. MAASH identifies significant issues of importance to the arts, sciences and humanities and works to influence legislation and public opinion. MAASH works to educate the people of Massachusetts about the economic, social, and educational value of arts and culture. MAASH is a not-for-profit corporation registered as 501 (c) 4 advocacy organization and is supported by dues from cultural organizations and supporters from across the state.
