As creatives, community builders, and culture makers, we face a pivotal moment for our sector’s future. The Trump administration’s recent attacks on arts and humanities funding represent an existential threat to America’s vibrant cultural infrastructure. Recent developments—from mass cancellation of NEA grants to proposed elimination of major cultural agencies—demand that we stand together. [Sources: NPR, Seattle Times]
The Unfolding Crisis in Our Creative Ecosystem
The current assault on cultural funding is unprecedented in its scope and speed. Hours after President Trump proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts from next year’s federal budget, hundreds of arts groups across the United States received notifications that their grants had been suddenly withdrawn. [Source: NPR]
The administration has categorized the NEA, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under “small agency eliminations” in the 2026 budget proposal. [Sources: Seattle Times, ARTnews]
The impact is already reverberating through our creative communities. Theaters were expecting $3.73 million in NEA funding this year, with individual grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Organizations like Berkeley Repertory, Central Stage in New York, and countless educational nonprofits have had their funding abruptly terminated. [Sources: Playbill, NPR]
Meanwhile, the NEH has seen 65% of its staff fired and $65 million cut from its $210 million budget. [Source: ARTnews]
These cuts aren’t simply about balancing budgets—they represent a deliberate effort to control cultural expression. The administration has explicitly redirected funding toward projects that align with specific political priorities while terminating awards that don’t. A form letter to affected organizations stated that the NEA would now prioritize projects related to “the 250th anniversary of American independence, AI competency, houses of worship, make America healthy again, support the military and veterans,” and other administration priorities. [Source: Playbill]
Why We Often Work in Isolation (And Why We Can’t Afford To Now)
A significant challenge to mounting an effective resistance is the fragmented nature of our creative sector. Artists and arts organizations often operate in isolation, with different disciplines, regions, and organizational types rarely collaborating effectively.
As explored in Tilt West’s roundtable on “Creative Silos and the Pressure to Conform,” some artists and organizations find “solace and focus in working alone,” while others “thrive in collaborative environments”. This natural tendency toward isolation may provide individual benefits, but it severely limits our collective power when facing existential threats. [Source: Tilt West]
The infrastructure of arts funding has historically reinforced these divisions. Different disciplines compete for the same limited resources, creating a risky collaboration environment. Competition for audiences, donors, media attention, and grants has often reinforced boundaries between organizations rather than breaking them down. [Source: Grantmakers in the Arts]
When Arts Censorship Threatens Our Democratic Values
The current situation extends beyond budget concerns—it challenges the democratic principles we value as community builders. As the Pittsburgh Arts Council notes, “The suppression of the arts is often one of the first signs of rising authoritarianism”. Creative expression inherently disrupts control, sparks dissent, and helps people imagine alternatives to the status quo. [Source: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council]
The warning signs are clear:
- Increased censorship and content restrictions: Beyond funding cuts, we see attempts to control what art can be produced and shown. The administration’s restrictions on “gender ideology” in arts funding prompted a First Amendment lawsuit from the ACLU. [Sources: ACLU, American University]
- Defunding or closing arts institutions: The systematic withdrawal of public funding from theaters, museums, and arts organizations that foster free expression. [Source: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council]
- State-controlled cultural narratives: The administration funds only state-approved art while restricting independent voices, as evidenced by President Trump appointing himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center and specifically targeting specific performances. [Sources: Brookings, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council]
These patterns mirror global authoritarian trends. In countries like Kenya and Russia, artistic freedom violations have targeted LGBTQ+ artists through similar regulatory mechanisms. [Source: Brookings]
Learning from Success: Models for Creative Unity
Despite these challenges, history offers examples of effective resistance through unity. During previous funding crises, arts advocates developed strategies that remain relevant for our community:
1. Building Powerful Advocacy Networks
Americans for the Arts has built the State Arts Action Network with 53 members across 42 states. This infrastructure provides a ready-made platform for coordinated advocacy efforts. [Sources: Americans for the Arts, Arts Action Fund]
Their Arts Action Fund has given over $250,000 to 410 candidates on both sides of the aisle with an 85% win rate, demonstrating the impact of strategic political engagement. [Source: Arts Action Fund]
2. Legal Challenges to Unconstitutional Restrictions
The American Civil Liberties Union and arts organizations are challenging the NEA’s “gender ideology” restrictions on First Amendment grounds. Legal resistance is growing, with a lawsuit over NEH cuts and a judge ruling in IMLS’s favor. These efforts highlight the importance of defending constitutional principles through the courts. [Sources: ACLU, Artnet News]
3. Economic Impact Messaging
Research by Americans for the Arts shows the arts and culture sector generates $151.7 billion in economic activity. [Source: Broadway News]
In Florida alone, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generates $4.68 billion annually and supports over 132,000 full-time jobs. This economic argument has proven effective in securing bipartisan support for arts funding. [Sources: LinkedIn, Arts Action Fund]
Five Ways We Can Build Unity Now
To overcome our isolated tendencies and build effective resistance, we as a creative collective should:
1. Transcend Disciplinary Boundaries
Community-based arts organizations demonstrate how to work across traditional divides, forming “partnerships that cross silos and sectors to connect art organically with other areas such as health, community development, humanities, and social justice”. We must emulate these examples by forming coalitions that span artistic disciplines, organizational sizes, and geographic regions. [Source: Grantmakers in the Arts]
2. Focus on Opt-In Rather Than Universal Consensus
Effective coalitions don’t require complete agreement on all issues. Research on nonprofit arts partnerships shows that successful collaborations allow organizations to “opt in” to specific initiatives rather than seeking universal consensus, which often dilutes messaging. This approach allows for rapid, focused responses while respecting organizational autonomy. [Source: CSUN]
3. Leverage Existing Advocacy Infrastructure
Rather than building new organizations from scratch, we should connect with established advocacy networks like Americans for the Arts’ State Arts Action Network. These groups have expertise, relationships with legislators, and proven strategies for influencing policy. [Source: Americans for the Arts]
4. Tell Personal Impact Stories
Beyond statistics, effective advocacy requires personal stories about how the arts impact communities. We should collect and share compelling narratives about how our work transforms lives, strengthens communities, and drives economic activity. [Source: Mid-America Arts Alliance]
5. Engage Audiences as Advocates
The millions of Americans who attend arts events represent a powerful potential advocacy force. We should educate our audiences about funding threats and provide simple ways to take action, such as contacting legislators or attending advocacy events. [Source: Arts Action Fund]
What’s at Stake for Our Creative Community
The stakes of this moment cannot be overstated. Beyond immediate financial impacts, increased government control and censorship of the arts threaten:
- Vibrant local economies: Arts funding stimulates local economies by attracting tourism, enhancing quality of life, and fostering innovation. [Source: LinkedIn]
- Educational opportunity: Arts education fosters social and emotional development, helping students build confidence, resilience, and critical thinking skills. [Source: LinkedIn]
- Cultural diversity and inclusion: Arts programs provide platforms for marginalized voices and build more cohesive communities by fostering empathy and cultural awareness. [Source: LinkedIn]
- Democratic discourse: The arts create spaces for critical thinking, challenging established power, and imagining alternative futures—all essential elements of a healthy democracy. [Source: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council]
A Call for Creative Collective Action
We face a critical inflection point. We can continue operating in isolation, competing for dwindling resources while fundamental supports are dismantled, or unite across traditional boundaries to mount an effective resistance.
By building coalitions that span disciplines, regions, and organizational types, developing compelling economic and social impact messaging, engaging in strategic legal challenges, and mobilizing millions of arts supporters as advocates, we can protect not just funding streams but also the essential role of creative expression in American democracy.
The history of arts funding in America shows that bipartisan support is possible when advocates speak with a unified voice. Now is the time for us to overcome our siloed tendencies and build the collective power needed to help our creative communities survive and thrive for generations to come. [Source: Seattle Times]
Ready to join the movement? Connect with Creative Collective to learn how you can contribute to our advocacy efforts and help strengthen our creative ecosystem in Essex County and across the North Shore.
