By SHARON EBERSON
The cuts have been expected, but now that the axe has come down, arts and culture organizations nationwide are feeling the pain and contemplating next steps.
The Trump Administration has started canceling National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants, affecting hundreds of arts groups across the United States.
Organizations began receiving emails notifying them of the withdrawal and termination of their grants late on Friday.
“The updates, which came from a generic ‘arts.gov’ email address, appeared in grantees’ inboxes just hours after President Trump proposed eliminating the agency entirely from the federal budget,” reported National Public Radio, which was slated to receive two grants from the NEA, totaling $65,000.
In a blog post on Friday, Patrick Fisher, the head of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, wrote, “This is a time for courage. I call on artists and arts organizations to be bold in their resistance, but I also call on the broader public to stand with them. We must defend individuals and institutions that speak out against injustice, or whose values, identities, or very existence are under attack. And I urge policymakers to do the same — not to remain silent when it matters most.”
Last week, the Arts Council organized a letter-writing campaign with other local arts nonprofits and sent letters to a group of local elected officials asking for their support. Follow-up plans are underway.
Already, some organizations are encouraging Pittsburghers to stand with them and help with donations.
An email to patrons today from Rene Conrad, executive director of the New Hazlett Theater, urged patron support for a program she called “a lifeline” to local artists:
“The National Endowment for the Arts has terminated its support of our Community Supported Art (CSA) Program – a devastating loss of critical funding that directly supports Pittsburgh’s next generation of bold, brilliant artists. Sadly, this is just one more step in a growing and troubling trend of government disinvestment in the arts.”
The termination emails, according to Theatre Communications Group’s American Theatre Magazine, stated:
“The NEA is updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President. Consequently, we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities. The NEA will now prioritize projects that elevate the Nation’s HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions, celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, foster AI competency, empower houses of worship to serve communities, assist with disaster recovery, foster skilled trade jobs, make America healthy again, support the military and veterans, support Tribal communities, make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful, and support the economic development of Asian American communities. Funding is being allocated in a new direction in furtherance of the Administration’s agenda.”
American Theatre added that, of 148 grants offered last fall to various theater projects, “the one that could definitely be characterized as going to a ‘Hispanic Serving Institution,’ the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance, also received a notice last Friday rescinding a grant of $20,000 to support the next iteration of Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival.”
Americans for the Arts released this statement, in part, on the NEA grant terminations:
“Any attempt to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – by eliminating funding, reducing staff, or canceling grants – is deeply concerning, shortsighted, and detrimental to our nation. NEA grants have touched every American, supporting projects in every Congressional district and helping the arts reach parts of the country, including often overlooked rural communities. From supporting our nation’s service members and their families experiencing trauma to funding inspiring performances and engaging arts education programs, the NEA plays a vital role in the lives of millions of Americans and the thousands of nonprofit and governmental arts and cultural organizations that bring America’s story to life.”
OnStage Pittsburgh would like to know if your organization is affected by NEA cuts, how they will affect your programming, and ideas for possible action. Please contact Sharon Eberson at mustseepittsburgh@gmail.com.
Categories: Arts and Ideas
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