<
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/03/nx-s1-5385888/sweeping-cuts-hit-nea-after-trump-administration-calls-to-eliminate-the-agency>
'The Trump Administration has started canceling National Endowment for the Arts
(NEA) grants.
Hundreds of arts groups of various sizes across the U.S. received 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.
Among those affected are the Berkeley Repertory Theater, Central Park Summer
Stage in New York City, and the Chicago-area arts education nonprofit Open
Studio Project.
"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," the email, several copies of which have been
shared with
NPR, stated in part. "Consequently, we are terminating awards
that fall outside these new priorities." The email includes a line saying the
recipient can appeal the decision within seven days.
The email states President Trump's priorities as being: "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."
The NEA did not respond to requests for comment. But arts groups have been
vocal about the cuts on social media, in online newsletters and in emails to
NPR.
"The work will go on, but right now I'm pretty discouraged," wrote Rob Lentz,
executive director at Open Studio Project, on LinkedIn. Lentz said his
organization's two-year grant supporting art for elementary school students has
been canceled. "The nonprofit sector is under siege by our own government, and
arts organizations are especially vulnerable. When chaos and cruelty are the
order of the day, all I can ask for is solidarity and resistance."'
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
