Goals

-excerpt from the constitution of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Read the entire section.

MAASH Goals

• Win passage of the Creative Challenge Index, an innovative proposal to reinvigorate creative learning in our schools
• Promote arts education and after-school programs.
• Advocate for politically viable increases in funding for the arts, sciences and humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
• Reauthorize and fund the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund.
• Support the MCC with grass roots advocacy on behalf of the cultural districts initiative.

MAASH Report - 2009

In seven years, we have made remarkable progress in our work to educate the people of Massachusetts about the economic, social, and educational value of the arts, sciences, and humanities. In 2002, state cultural funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) was slashed by 62 percent - one of the most drastic cultural funding cuts in the nation. Thanks to your help and advocacy - state leaders have increased funding for the MCC budget nearly $5 million and the Legislature has created a committee dedicated to arts and culture, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. And, the Legislature has voted to support as much as $250 million over ten years for investments in cultural facilities across the Commonwealth.

In 2002, each of the nine candidates running for Governor refused to endorse restoration of cultural funding with variations of the same answer: "I love the arts, sciences, and humanities; but we can't restore funding until the economy recovers." Politicians viewed arts and culture as a luxury, frills that are among the first to cut when government tightens its belt. Now, MAASH and its members have persuaded our leaders that arts and culture are one of our economic development tools.

Creative Challenge Index

The Creative Challenge Index was filed as House #393 in the last session and was reported out favorably by the Joint Committee on Education. At the close of last year’s formal session, a decision was made to push the Creative Economy Council Bill and allow the Creative Challenge Index to be considered in the informal session last fall. However, all action in the House was hamstrung by a liquor license dispute in Weston.

The Creative Challenge Index has been filed again for the new legislative session. MAASH sought to increase the number of sponsors for the bill, securing 59 legislative co-sponsors, including 8 Senators. Rep. Daniel Bosley (D-N. Adams) and Senator Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) are the lead sponsors.

The Creative Challenge Index is a first in the nation proposal to offer a counterweight to the standardized tests required by No Child Left Behind. Standardized tests were implemented to ensure accountability of the schools. However, its emphasis on testing rote learning has diminished the opportunities for creative work. Since school test scores are published, schools have great incentive to teach to the test at the expense of arts education and other areas.

Working with key legislators, MAASH proposed the Creative Challenge Index to create a new measure of accountability for our schools. In the first year, a commission—comprised of legislators, business and community leaders - will establish the Index to measure how many opportunities schools provide for students to engage in the practice of creative work, by taking a project from inspiration to revision to fruition. Through the index, schools can be rewarded for creative opportunities.

The Creative Challenge Index will establish incentives for schools to foster creative skills through arts education and other innovative educational opportunities. Schools that provide opportunities for creative work in the visual arts, music, drama and dance will rise in the Index. Schools that engage students in a broad range of other creative activities - such as science fair projects, debate club, fashion design, photography, creative writing, filmmaking, animation, graphic design or architecture – will also be recognized. Our students need this creative practice not only to succeed in our new economy, but to realize their potential as human beings.

UPMIFA

Working closely with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, MAASH played a key role in advocating for the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA). UPMIFA will ensure that public charities use the best investment practices in managing endowments while giving charities more flexibility in using resources to meet critical needs. Under current laws, a public charity cannot use so called "underwater" endowment funds, where market losses have driven the fund value below its principal. UPMIFA will free these funds to provide charities with desperately needed operating cash to maintain jobs and services.

UPMIFA has already been adopted by 34 states with pending legislation in 12 others. Drafted by the national Uniform Law Commission (www.upmifa.org), UPMIFA is endorsed by the American Bar Association, The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, The National Association of College and University Business Officers, and many Massachusetts organizations: including the Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH). Governor Patrick signed UPMIFA into law on July 2, 2009.

Vote No on Question One

MAASH worked to engage the cultural community in the 2008 national and local elections, and provided 10 training sessions to educate non-profit cultural organizations about the Question One ballot referendum.

MAASH became a partner in the Vote No on Question One coalition in May of 2008 and worked to block this reckless ballot initiative. If passed, Question One would have eliminated the state income tax and cut the state budget by an estimated 40%. A similar message nearly passed in 2002 with 45% of the vote. Arts and culture relies in part on state investment through the MCC. If Question One had passed or garnered more than 40% of the vote, the Legislature would have gotten the message that voters want reduced state investment. Consequently, MAASH made defeating Question One a priority.

MAASH organized phone banks and presented 10 town meeting style trainings across the state to educate the cultural community about this issue. Question One was soundly defeated with 70% of the voters voting “No.”

Please take the time to support MAASH. We have come a long way, but there is still much to do. We must continue to advocate for increased MCC funding and annual appropriations for the Cultural Facilities bill. To build on our success, we need continued investment in advocacy through MAASH from you and your colleagues. Get information about joining MAASH.