By Rick Winterson

     State Sen. Jack Hart (D-Boston) is the co-chairman of the Joint Committee on tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, along with state Rep. Eric Turkington (D-Falmouth).  This Committee was formed last year because tourism, arts, and culture not only contribute to quality of life, but also are key factors in the economic well-being of Massachusetts.

     The most recent cultural forum was held in the historic Old South Meeting House last Wednesday, October 19.  Mary Kelly, the Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (the MCC), opened the forum.  In his remarks which followed, Hart referred to the critical importance of the arts and cultural institutions, both to Boston and to the entire state.

     Late in September, the MCC released $6.5 million in grants for FY 2006, $1.7 million of which ended up in our own Suffolk county area.  Early in October, the Massachusetts House approved a fund to invest upwards of $20 million in the state’s cultural facilities.  If approved in the Senate, the fund could provide support of $250 million over ten years to a wide range of cultural organizations.

     Hart and the 20 or so speakers who followed him listed some impressive economic figures: 25 to 30 million tourists visit Massachusetts each year.  They spend just over $11 billion here, making tourism the state’s third largest industry.  Non-profit cultural organizations have annual payrolls totaling $250 million and spend $1.1 billion in-state.

     Other forums have been or will be held in Salem, Stockbridge, Plymouth, and Provincetown.