Federal Advocacy Resources
Dear Advocates,
Recent developments at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are deeply troubling, as hundreds of grants for local projects have been canceled and significant staff reductions raise serious doubts about the agency’s ability to meet its statutory mandates. Additionally, the White House has proposed eliminating the NEA in the latest FY26 budget proposal, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), both of which have also experienced significant grant cancellations and staff reductions in recent weeks.
We need advocates to ask Congress to sustain and protect both funding and staffing for the National Endowment for the Arts, a highly efficient agency that offers a substantial return on investment and supports consensus values cherished by all American communities. Urge your representatives to continue decades of bipartisan support by allocating at least $209 million for the NEA in the FY2026 Interior Appropriations bill.
MCA asks that you do these two items ASAP:
- Call your Congressional Representatives(click the link to find your Representatives to call them directly)
- Email your Congressional Representatives (click the link to access our Action Alert)
- Please share any and all of these resources! (there are more resources below, please take the time to review and share them)
The NEA and state arts agencies, like the Maryland State Arts Council, support arts activities that boost economic productivity, improve educational outcomes, foster civic cohesion, facilitate good health, and preserve our cherished heritage and traditions for future generations. Now is the time to protect that investment. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!
For organizations interested in sending a direct letter to their Congressional representatives, a template can be found HERE.
Finally, MCA has put together some information and resources regarding the Federal response on our website; you can find that BELOW. We will be updating this with new information as it comes in. There is also information about the appeals process for those who received a termination letter from the NEA this past weekend.
MCA is ready to stand strong with all of our Maryland and National Advocates during this challenging time. Please reach out with any questions.
ONWARD!
Nicholas Cohen
MCA Executive Director
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This accordion below contains some resources artists and organizations may find of some use in advocating to our federal government.
U.S. Regional Arts Organizations Joint Statement on the National Endowment for the Arts
About the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations
The United States Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs)—Arts Midwest, Creative West (formerly WESTAF), Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, and South Arts—are a collective of six nonprofit arts service organizations committed to strengthening America’s infrastructure by increasing access to creativity for all Americans. The USRAOs partner with the National Endowment for the Arts, state arts agencies, individuals, and other public and private funders to develop and deliver programs, services, and products that advance arts and creativity. Together, the USRAOs work to activate and operate national arts initiatives, encourage, and support collaboration across regions, states, and communities, and maximize the coordination of public and private resources invested in arts programs. In 2024, they invested over $33.6 million across the United States and Jurisdictions, through nearly 3,000 grants that reached more than 1,300 communities. Learn more at usregionalarts.org.
Click HERE for their statement and for other important actions for NEA grantees to take and for ways to get involved in national campaigns.
Guidance for NEA Grantees Facing Termination or Withdrawl of Funds
Please click the link below to access the document:
Creative States Coalition Federal Advocacy Resources
Creative States Coalition Federal Advocacy Resources
HOW TO TAKE ACTION: Based on Principles and Data
Council of Nonprofits Resource
The Council of Nonprofits published a “what to do when your federal grant is terminated” checklist. Click the link below to see their list:
Film Festival Alliance Resource
The Film Festival Alliance has a great checklist, sample documents, and more that they published on BlueSky:
https://bsky.app/profile/ffalliance.bsky.social/post/3locamczp622r