Why is this important? Boston’s cultural organizations and institutions act as catalysts for the local and regional economy. To achieve this, Boston’s cultural organizations—from world-class institutions to the smallest community-based groups—rely on a mix of public, private and philanthropic contributions in addition to earned income. Insufficient investment from these sources prevents Boston’s cultural institutions from realizing their potential and, at worst, threatens their survival.How are we doing?
According to the New England Cultural Database,New England Foundation for the Arts(NEFA) grants to organizations and individuals in 2006 continued to decline and reached a 10-year low. In 2006, grants to cultural organizations totaled at $25,000, whereas grants to cultural organizations had previously reached an annul high of $6 million. NEFA grants to other types of organizations and individual artists also followed this trend, with no money being granted to such entities in 2006. In previous years, NEFA grants to nonprofit organizations reached $2.4 million and combined grants to individuals reached a high of $130,000. However, federal grants increased for Boston’s cultural community in 2006. Among selected major cities, Boston ranked 4th in National Endowment for the Arts grants per capita. At more $3 per capita in 2006, Boston was ahead of 15 major cultural hubs, including New York and Los Angeles, and behind only Minneapolis, Atlanta and Denver. |  | |
"Total contributed income per capita Boston PMSA & selected PMSAs, 1999"
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"New contribution data released in 2007"
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"National Endowments for the Arts, Grants per Capita, 2006"
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"New NEA grant data by state released in 2008"
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