by 
Executive Director | Mass Cultural Council
Moderator | Culture as Prescription
Michael J. Bobbitt is a distinguished theater artist. He currently serves as the executive director of Mass Cultural Council; in this capacity, he is the highest-ranking public official in Massachusetts state government focused on arts and culture. Since 2021, he has led the Council through several initiatives, including the development of its first racial equity plan, securing and distributing $60.1 million in pandemic relief funding, and drafting a strategic plan for fiscal years 2024-2026. He has been appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve on both the Governor’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment and the newly established Massachusetts Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council. He recently received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, from Dean College.
