At the end of October, the state House of Representatives passed a $3.65 billion spending package aimed at COVID-19 recovery. The package is currently up for debate in the state Senate. If it passes and is signed by Gov. Charlie Baker, $125 million would go toward the cultural sector.
Michael Bobbitt, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, joined Boston Public Radio to talk about how the American Rescue Plan Act money from the state could be used, what the cultural sector needs to recover from the pandemic, and the council's latest efforts to promote racial equity in the arts.
Although cultural institutions have come a long way since the shutdowns of March 2020, Bobbitt believes the effects of the pandemic on the arts will not disappear any time soon. “I think this COVID crisis is going to last for a few years,” he said. “I don't see audiences the way we've seen prior to the pandemic, anytime soon.”
Bobbitt said the challenge of recovery is twofold. “Certainly the hesitations about being inside of venues … that’ll be the case for a while,” he said, even in venues that require proof of vaccination and masking. “We're also dealing with financial crisis, so being able to produce shows and concerts and dances and stuff takes resources.”
With hesitance toward in-person cultural events persisting, Bobbitt says the spending package is vital. “What I hope is that our state legislature will do everything they can to pump some money into the cultural sector,” he said. “I think we're going to be vulnerable for a while.”
Bobbitt added that financial support for the arts and culture sector would have a chain reaction, helping other industries that benefit from people visiting cultural institutions. “The health of the cultural sector directly benefits the health of the economic sector,” he said. “Double down, give us more money, we'll put more money back into the commonwealth.”
If the state passes the spending package, Bobbitt hopes to use the money from American Rescue Plan Act funds to simultaneously help the sector recover, while supporting the Cultural Council’s racial equity goals. Last month, the Massachusetts Cultural Council launched its first ever racial equity plan.
Bobbitt expects the plan to make the grant distribution process more equitable, helping underrepresented artists navigate the application process. He says the first part comes from looking internally to eliminate bias in the grant deliberation process, while also seeking to break down barriers in the grant writing process, such as for artists for whom English is a second language, or who do not have the time or experience to put towards grant writing.
“I think the second part is really making sure that the investment that we make into the cultural sector is equitable, that we are really using the money to make sure that everyone in the Commonwealth regardless of where you are in the caste system can really experience our support where you should,” Bobbitt said.
Bobbitt believes diversifying the arts and culture world would not only improve equity, but also go back towards helping make the sector more financially stable. “I think when organizations become more racially equitable, they're going to see more people coming to their institutions, which could in fact help you grow your financials and become more stable,” he said. “So I'm hoping that this plan will inspire people and we can support them along the way.”
Bobbitt is the executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
