SUMMARY

Boston’s cultural revival continues. Tourism figures are up and the Institute for Contemporary Art—Boston’s first new museum in a century—opened to national acclaim in late 2006. The new collaborative effort, ArtistLink, is working toward improving resources for individual artists in the Bay State by taking a leadership role in locating work/live spaces and identifying health care opportunities and financial support. Coordinated efforts by Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH), the Massachusetts Cultural Council  and the Boston Foundation  resulted in new legislation that established the Cultural Facilities Fund, which provides $13 million to build and renovate cultural venues. Through the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events, Boston celebrates its growing cultural and ethnic diversity through festivals, parades and community-based projects. Open Studios, held in almost every Boston neighborhood, provides a showcase for more 2000 artists annually. However, despite increased recognition of the importance of art, culture and the “creative economy” to the region’s well being, the sector struggles to secure consistent sources of funding, reverse a decline in attendance at some larger cultural venues, fund a growing number of small arts organizations, and, in light of the region’s high cost of living, create an environment in which individual artists can thrive.

CONTEXT  

Boston’s arts and cultural sector consists of a broad range of dance and theater companies, world-class museums, community art centers, nonprofit theaters and performance spaces, a lively literary community, large and small music organizations, public art, heritage tours, in- and after-school arts programs, film festivals, “art in the park” performances, individual artists’ work, highly regarded schools of art, design professionals, and a multitude of restaurants, multicultural celebrations and spectacles that express the region’s growing racial and ethnic diversity. More than 16,000 artists live in Greater Boston; all of whom contribute to the region’s “creative economy” and help make Boston a destination for artists, students, creative-class workers and tourists. Massachusetts also benefits financially from the tax revenues created by Boston’s creative economy. Statewide, in 2005, cultural tourism generated $9.8 billion in economic activity.

Key Trends

	The "creative economy" is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to tourism and regional competitiveness. As Boston continues to become more ethnically diverse and culturally vibrant, creative organizations are building audience participation in diverse communities More »

Accomplishments & Developments

	The new Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) opened along Boston’s waterfront on December 10, 2006. The Cultural Facilities Fund passed the legislature as part of the Commonwealth’s Economic Stimulus Bill. Late 2006 Executive-level State Budget cuts hurt funding for Massachusetts’ cultural sector. More »

Challenges

	High work and living costs in Boston are pushing out artists and venues to  more affordable satellite cities. Boston is challenged to make arts education an “across-the-board” priority. Total operating revenue among Boston’s large cultural institutions is stagnant or declining despite the recent rise in one-time donations from the philanthropic community.  More »