MAASH is a broad-based, statewide organization that serves as a unified voice for the cultural community of Massachusetts. MAASH identifies significant issues of importance to the industry and works to influence legislation and public opinion.

MAASH is a not-for-profit corporation registered as a 501(c)4 lobbying organization and is supported by membership dues. MAASH was founded in 1992 to respond to threats in the state legislature to eliminate state support for the cultural community and funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

MAASH continues to advocate on behalf of the Massachusetts cultural community with its core of volunteer advocates drawn from individual artists, concerned citizens and representatives of non-profit cultural and scientific organizations throughout the Commonwealth.

Since 1992, MAASH has helped to increase funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council budget from $3.5 million in 1992 to $19.1 million in 2001. MAASH has also strongly advocated for funding of cultural facilities expansion and improvements through state grants and loans. MAASH played an important role in winning passage of the legislation establishing a state tax deduction for charitable gifts in 1991 and defeating initiatives creating content-based restrictions on state arts grants.