Dear Arts and Culture Leaders,
The cancellation of National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants, while not unexpected, marks the next step in a deeply troubling pattern of government disinvestment in the arts. This ongoing pattern of disregard not only threatens vital funding for organizations and communities nationwide—it challenges the very infrastructure that supports cultural expression, economic opportunity, and community well-being. We must respond strategically and in solidarity to protect what we’ve built and ensure the arts remain a national priority.
Let me be clear: the NEA is essential. The NEA reaches every Congressional district, supporting programs that reflect the full spectrum of American communities—from rural arts initiatives and veterans’ healing programs to youth education, local festivals, and the preservation of our cultural heritage. These cancellations take away what brings people together, weaken the local programs that help communities thrive,
and go against the values that hold us together as a country.
Our Immediate Response
Our organization has taken swift, coordinated action to support the field and help navigate this critical moment:
- We’ve issued a formal statement condemning these actions and calling for the full restoration of NEA funding.
- We are in direct contact with Congressional leaders, emphasizing the real impact these cuts will have on their constituents.
- We are gathering community-level data and stories to personalize and strengthen advocacy efforts across the country.
- We are convening a national coalition of arts and culture organizations to ensure a unified and powerful voice.
- We are deploying advocacy tools to equip you with messaging, data templates, and media support.
If You’ve Lost NEA Grant Funding: Submit Your Appeal Immediately!
If your organization has been affected by the recent NEA grant cancellations, we strongly urge you to submit an appeal by the official deadline, which was in the email grantees received from the NEA. Note that depending on your grant category, deadlines vary with some as early as Friday, May 9.
This step is critical for several reasons:
- Filing an appeal preserves your standing and ensures your organization is counted in any future coordinated action.
- It sends a clear signal to federal agencies and lawmakers about the scale and seriousness of this disruption.
- It helps us build a unified field response, allowing our collective voice to reflect the full scope of the damage.
Even if you’re unsure about the outcome, we encourage you to submit the appeal. This is new ground for all of us, and every submission adds to the larger picture—helping to inform advocacy efforts, guide legal understanding, and shape potential policy solutions. Please don’t navigate this process alone—reach out if you need help.
Additional Resource Links:
- Holland & Knight: What Recipients Need to Know if a Federal Grant Is Terminated by the Government
- National Council of Nonprofits: A Nonprofit Checklist: What to do When Your Federal Grant or Contract is Terminated
- To support your appeal, our friends at the Film Festival Alliance and Modern Language Association have developed step-by-step guidance and templates to get you started.
Take Action Now
We urge all organizations and grantees to take these immediate steps:
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Connect with Your Elected Officials
Share your story. Personalized outreach is critical at this moment. Remind them of the irreplaceable value of the arts in your community.- Use our Arts Advocacy Alert to send an email to your elected officials.
- Refer to our Arts Advocacy Alert phone script when calling your Members of Congress.
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Or use this template to send a letter via the U.S. Postal Service with a personalized note to your elected officials.
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Join us for a live webinar on Wednesday, May 7 at 4:00 PM ET to provide art leaders with clear next steps, including how to file an appeal, evaluate your options, and connect with advocacy experts and peers. Register
Now.
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Complete the National Pulse Survey to help us quantify the harm and amplify your voice with lawmakers:
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If you are an arts and culture organization, please complete the survey by EOD Friday, May 16. The survey will only take six minutes to
complete. -
If you are able to share this survey with your local network of arts and culture organizations, please forward the survey using our email template for distribution.
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If you are an arts and culture organization, please complete the survey by EOD Friday, May 16. The survey will only take six minutes to
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Share your story! Americans for the Arts is collecting powerful, personal stories from across the country to show how the arts transform lives and communities. Submit your story.
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Connect with your local and state arts organizations
- See a list of state arts agencies from our friends at NASAA.
- See a list of AFTA state captains to connect with at the state level.
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Use the LAA Wayfinder to find local arts agencies in your community.
- Visit our campaign landing page and scroll down to download our social media toolkit and access ready-to-use graphics, captions, and resources to help protect the NEA and advocate for the arts. Download Here.
Additional Resources
We are also coordinating with legal experts, advocacy partners, and Congressional allies. More materials, including talking points, press templates, and a policy impact tracker, will be shared in the coming days and weeks. If you need specific guidance, please reach out directly to our Government Affairs team at
advocacy@artsusa.org.
Resource Links:
- Act Now and Support America’s Museums with advocacy resources from the American Alliance of Museums.
- Stand up for libraries in America with more advocacy resources from the American Library Association.
- Advocate with the National Humanities Alliance with their resources.
- Join the Americans for the Arts Action Fund for free to stay informed and to become an arts champion.
Why This Matters
The NEA is not an optional investment—it’s an essential one. Its grants support creative expression, mental health services for veterans, student achievement, and job creation in all 50 states and every Congressional district. Arts and culture contribute $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy and support 5.4 million American jobs.
We cannot afford to let this decision go unanswered.
We know this is a moment of stress and uncertainty—but also one of immense opportunity. We can turn this challenge into a turning point—building a stronger, more connected, and more impactful arts sector that serves everyone, everywhere.We will continue to stand beside you—amplifying your stories, defending your work, and fighting for a future where the arts are truly valued.
Erin Harkey
CEO, Americans for the Arts