In April 2003, the Boston Foundation convened the Cultural Task Force in response to an earlier Foundation report which revealed an unfavorable funding environment for Bostons cultural organizations. Task Force members were leaders from the nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate sectors. The job of the Task Force was to identify strategies with the greatest potential for supporting every segment of the cultural sector and to set forth a new action agenda for changing how public and private philanthropies invest in Massachusett’s cultural assets. The Task Force conducted its work through five committees each exploring separate issues collaboration, cultural facilities, philanthropy, travel/tourism, and public policy. In February 2004, the entire Cultural Task Force assembled to review its work and discuss the committee' recommendations. This publication presents the results of these Task Force meetings including background information for each issue, case studies, the committee' recommendations, and the proposed action agenda.

This publication is a result of a series of meetings held from April 2003 through March 2004 by the Cultural Task Force made up of leaders from the nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate sectors whose job was to develop strategies that would enhance the revenues and resources available to Massachusetts’ nonprofit cultural organizations.