STATE BUDGET CUTS FORCE MCC TO CUT PROGRAMS, STAFF

Source

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2009

Contact: Greg Liakos, Communications Director 617-727-3668 x343 or
Rob Watson, Communications Coordinator 617-727-3668 x268

STATE BUDGET CUTS FORCE MCC TO CUT PROGRAMS, STAFF

(Boston, MA) In response to state budget cuts, the board of the Massachusetts Cultural Council approved a spending plan for the current fiscal year that calls for cuts to a range of grant programs supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences statewide, and also cuts staff and spending at the agency itself.

The MCC’s state appropriation for Fiscal Year 2010 was reduced from $12.7 million to $9.7 million—a cut of just over 23 percent. In response, the MCC eliminated five full-time staff positions, cut administrative spending, and ended several partnerships and initiatives. Taken together, these decisions allowed the agency to lessen the impact of the budget reduction and ensure that no organization, school, or local cultural council sees its grant cut by more than 23 percent.

“This is a very difficult year,” said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. “But we have done our best to manage this significant budget cut as equitably as possible, and to preserve as much money as we can for our core grant programs for nonprofit cultural organizations, communities, schools, and artists.”

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About the Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Massachusetts Cultural Council promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.

The MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists.