The state Legislature has approved an economic development bill that preserves the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s role as an independent agency within state government. The bill also calls for establishing a commission to study how schools foster student creativity. The Governor has indicated that he intends to the sign the bill into law.
The Legislature rejected an earlier version of the legislation that would have placed the MCC under the umbrella of a new quasi-public agency called the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership, along with the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, the Massachusetts Film Office, and other agencies. The House and Senate eventually concluded that marketing and tourism were not central to the MCC’s core mission of supporting the nonprofit arts and cultural sector, and removed the agency from an earlier provision of the bill establishing the new umbrella agency. The creation of the Mass. Marketing Partnership was one of many provisions in the legislation intended to streamline state government agencies dealing with economic development and make their work more efficient.
In particular, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and his leadership team sought to preserve the MCC’s longstanding role in state government as the sole agency responsible for fostering the health and vitality of the nonprofit cultural sector through grants, services, and advocacy. Leading this effort were Rep. Brian Dempsey of Haverhill, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies; members of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development led by its House Chair, Rep. John Keenan of Salem; and Rep. Steve Walsh of Lynn, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administration & Regulatory Oversight.
“We thank our supporters in the Legislature for recognizing that the arts, humanities, and sciences together represent a unique sector of Massachusetts that delivers unique public value,” said Walker. “The version of this legislation passed by both chambers will do much to foster economic development in Massachusetts, and the MCC looks forward to working with other branches of state government to ensure the cultural sector continues to contribute to that development and to the quality of life in our state.”
The bill also establishes a commission to study how schools foster student creativity. Entitled the Creative Challenge Index, the measure would set up a commission to develop an index that would “rate every public school in the Commonwealth on teaching, encouraging, and fostering creativity in students.” The MCC would have a seat on the commission along with representatives from organizations involved in education, business, advocacy, and public policy.
That provision was spearheaded by Rep. Martha Walz of Boston, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, and by Senate President Pro Tempore Stan Rosenberg of Amherst. It was also supported by Reps. Keenan and cosponsored by Reps. Keenan, Walsh, and Dan Bosley of North Adams. The Creative Challenge Index has been a central advocacy goal of the Mass. Advocates for Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (MAASH) and Arts|Learning.
