Cultural council: Baker vetoes will negate investments in the arts
At a time when many are touting the economic benefits of the state's cultural economy, arts and culture advocates are coalescing to urge lawmakers to overturn Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of $2.37 million in funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
According to the council, the veto would reduce its funding to $11.79 million and "negate" plans to increase investments in grant programs and to launch new initiatives, while requiring cuts to existing programs. The council's budget last year was $13.3 million.
The council's draft spending plan for fiscal 2016 calls for increasing grants to local cultural councils by as much as 10 percent, establishing new grant pools for arts and cultural festivals, and boosting grants to certain non-profits by as much as 10 percent.
"The Legislature’s budget would allow the MCC to reinvest in the work of the cultural sector in a number of exciting ways," council executive director Anita Walker said in a statement Monday. "We know these funds will return dividends to the Commonwealth through more livable communities, a stronger economy, and young people who are better prepared for the challenges they face. We want the Legislature to know what is at stake as they consider whether to sustain this hard-fought funding."
Baker included the council vetoes in a package of $162 million worth of vetoes he handed back to the Legislature on Friday. A two thirds vote is required in each branch to restore vetoed spending.
"I am striking language which earmarks funding for programs not recommended, and I am reducing this item to an amount consistent with my House 1 recommendation," Baker wrote in his veto message.
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