MASSCreative

08/13/2026

Layanie and Anisa are enjoying the Tables Upon Tables Conference at Mechanics Hall in Worcester! They're embracing the theme "Many Fights, One Movement" and feeling grateful to learn, connect, and strategize at this cross-sector convening hosted by Alternatives for Community and Environment, Homes for All Mass, New England Community Project, NECP, Transportation for Massachusetts, Massachusetts Voter Table, and Community Labor United.

08/11/2026

New England arts and culture institutions have suffered major funding losses totaling $13.5 million from federal, state, and philanthropic sources in 2025, according to a new regional survey. Those cuts resulted in the loss of 720 jobs.

“'We believe in the power of the artist’s voice. We believe in the power of the advocate’s voice. And so I think this is the time where we continue to get loud,' said [Emily Ruddock]."

MASSCreative published results of a recent survey of New England arts and culture institutions that shows a loss of $13.5 million from federal, state, and philanthropic sources in 2025. 720 jobs were also lost .

08/10/2026

Join us this Wednesday in Somerville!

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cultural-land-trusts-101-a-community-meeting-tickets-1993349266315?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join for a community meeting about cultural/creative land trusts, Wednesday, August 12, 6-7:30pm, as part of ’s Faces, Places & Spaces exhibition at the Somerville Museum. Learn about trusts, why they're useful for protecting artist workspaces & why they need community support. In partnership with the Somerville Arts & Culture Division, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston & MASSCreative. Free w/RSVP: https://culturaltrust101.eventbrite.com

08/06/2026

Massachusetts organizations reported 171 jobs impacted by funding cuts in 2025 in a recent survey - the highest number of any New England state.

"The loss of these investments will result in real economic hurt for our communities," said Emily Ruddock, MASSCreative's executive director.

They reported losses in state funding, individual donations and private-sector grants.

08/05/2026

We checked in with New England arts organizations earlier this year and asked them to share if they were impacted by federal, state, or philanthropic funding cuts in 2025.

125 organizations reported $13.5 million in lost funding, resulting in 720 full-time and part-time jobs impacted, increased reliance on state and local funding, and decreased programming that supported youth, low-income populations, and other vulnerable communities.

You can find more survey results on our website. This survey was conducted in partnership with Arts4NH, Cultural Alliance of Maine, Connecticut Arts Alliance, NEFA, and Vermont Creative Network.

www.mass-creative.org/priorities/2026-federal-impact-survey-results

07/21/2026

TAKE ACTION!

We need you to contact your state senator and ask them to co-sponsor five priority amendments to the Senate’s Mass Wins Act before they’re voted on tomorrow and Thursday.

We have another chance at getting the Creative Space Act through the Senate this week! Urge your state senator to co-sponsor amendment #29.

Visit our website to learn more about priority amendments and to find resources to support your advocacy.

https://www.mcan-ma.org/take-action/senate-mass-wins-act

07/20/2026

“ We cannot allow municipalities to wait until they have some special money to do an extra thing for the arts community anymore,” said Emily Ruddock. “We have to stand up structures like land conservationists have, like we have for affordable housing, like we have for our schools, to make sure that artists are able to stay in their communities.”

Read more about the Creative Space Act 👉🏽

https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/07/20/creative-space-act-massachusetts-artist-displacement

The Creative Space Act would allow municipalities to establish a trust fund to acquire cultural spaces threatened by displacement. Advocates say the legislation would protect artist workspaces against the pressures of a tight real estate market.

07/17/2026

We are so fortunate in Massachusetts to have Mass Humanities as collaborators, visionaries, archivists, and storytellers.

Mass Humanities' "Promises of the Revolution" tells the stories of our revolutionary ancestors who were never given their deserved space in history books or outright erased. This year, they worked with GBH to produce four short films to explore the ideas, people and places that continue to shape Massachusetts. We had the privilege of enjoying the film screening at GBH's studios this week and now you can enjoy them from home.

Thank you Mass Humanities, GBH, Q***r History Boston, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, WordPowered - formerly WriteBoston and the Marblehead Museum for telling these stories.

https://masshumanities.org/watch-heading-home/

07/16/2026

MASSCreative has a new Director of Organizing! Layanie Oscar has joined our team and will be leading our community organizing, training, and programming.

Layanie (she/they) is a relational organizer who brings her love for community and conversation to her organizing and advocacy work. They recently worked as the Field Manager for the Massachusetts Voter Table and have led regional voter education programs, including working on successful ballot wins like the Fair Share Amendment and Work and Family Mobility Act.

We're excited for you to get to know Layanie and see her in community 🥳

07/10/2026

We have great FY27 news! Gov. Healey signed the FY27 Budget yesterday approving $27.3M for Mass Cultural Council - their highest operating budget ever 🎉

The final budget includes a $25K stipend for the Massachusetts Poet Laureate and $758K in earmarks for local cultural projects.

More policy news ~ the House passed their economic development bill on Wednesday and adopted Amendment #78 adding the Mass Cultural Council as programmatic partners to a new creative economy grant. The other amendments that the MASSCreative Action Network advocated for were not adopted in the House bill. We'll turn our advocacy to getting them included in the Senate.