August 2025
Advocacy Alert: Your Voice Issues Extra Than Ever
CRITICAL FUNDING DECISIONS AHEAD
The stakes couldn’t be increased for arts and humanities federal funding. Right here’s the place we stand.
The Numbers: The Senate Appropriations Committee permitted $207 million for FY26 whereas the Home Appropriations Committee permitted $135 million (35 % reduce) for the NEA and NEH. Advocates are inspired to induce their Members of Congress to help the Senate’s quantity within the ultimate FY26 appropriations invoice. Further funding updates:
- A New York district courtroom decide issued a preliminary injunction halting the $175 million value of Nationwide Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants on First Modification violations.
- The Senate Labor-HHS-Schooling appropriations invoice marks $291.8 million for FY26, a slight reduce from final yr’s $294.8 million degree.
- Federal funding for the Company for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was rescinded, prompting an official wind-down after over 50 years of service to native stations and communities. Learn CPB’s full assertion and take motion by way of Shield My Public Media.
Current Progress: July’s Legislative Fly-Ins introduced advocates from 9 states to fulfill with appropriations leaders. These well timed advocacy efforts, mixed with voices from throughout the humanities neighborhood, helped construct help for the Senate’s robust $207M advice.
What’s Coming: We’re getting ready for doable Home flooring amendments in September that would additional threaten funding ranges. This implies our advocacy focus has expanded from appropriations committee members to ALL 435 Home members. It’s not too late to share your opinion – e-mail Congress and inform them to guard the NEA and NEH.
Why This Issues: Degree funding at $207M can be an unbelievable win, demonstrating Congress’s dedication to valuing arts and humanities no matter different pressures. Federal arts funding isn’t a “nice-to-have” – it’s about constructing wholesome, vibrant communities and the inventive, assured workforce America wants to remain aggressive.
Photograph: Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski (center) accepting an unique piece of artwork from Arts Motion Fund Resident Artist Carrie Tillis. With them is the Individuals for the Arts State Captain Benjamin Brown.
“I was honored to join the July Fly-In to advocate for continued funding for the NEA and NEH. Meeting with Senator Lisa Murkowski—who chairs the subcommittee overseeing these agencies—was a key moment to express Alaskans’ strong support. Thanks to her leadership, $207 million was secured for both agencies, matching last year’s funding and far exceeding the House proposal. This result underscores the impact of strategic, collective advocacy.”
Benjamin Brown
Chair, Alaska State Council on the Arts
Individuals for the Arts State Captain
Need assistance getting began? Our Appropriations Toolkit has a template e-mail, op-ed steering, and a press launch to make your advocacy efforts much more efficient.
AUGUST RECESS: YOUR MOMENT TO INFLUENCE POLICY
Congress isn’t on trip – they’re again of their dwelling districts and states, away from DC pressures and extra accessible to neighborhood voices. The August recess runs by way of Labor Day, proper earlier than crucial fall funding selections.
Prime Timing: District work durations are THE finest time to interact – legislators are again dwelling and able to meet constituents.
Your Energy: You voted them in, they work to symbolize you, and your opinion issues. Energetic voters get heard, and officers prioritize making these constituents completely happy.
Motion Steps:
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Make your Home consultant a prime precedence. With all 435 members of the Home now crucial to arts advocacy, prioritize contacting your native consultant.
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Have interaction by way of a number of channels. Attend city halls, schedule district workplace visits, and attain out through cellphone calls and emails—every interplay helps amplify your message.
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Search for alternatives to attach. Examine your consultant’s web site for upcoming public conferences and proactively name their workplace to request an arts-focused appointment.
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Spend money on constructing relationships. Private connections established now will probably be influential as key funding selections method in September. Educate and advocate with influence.
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Share why the humanities matter by combining private tales with compelling knowledge. Use our High Ten Causes to Help the Arts reality sheets to spotlight native influence and successfully inform your elected officers.
ARTS EDUCATION FUNDING CRISIS: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED
The Disaster: OMB initially withheld $6B in training funding that helps arts packages. Whereas advocacy strain compelled the administration to launch these funds, we should keep vigilant for potential future rescissions.
Replace: The Senate Labor-HHS-Schooling appropriations invoice contains a slight improve for Title I-A and degree funding for different well-rounded packages. The invoice cuts the Help for Arts Schooling program by roughly 14 %.
The Actuality: 2+ million college students nonetheless have NO entry to arts training, with highest-poverty faculties dealing with the best gaps. Arts training reduces power absenteeism by as much as 50% – precisely what post-COVID college students want. Our Arts Schooling FY2026 reality sheet has further knowledge and examples to assist make the case. Advocates may have a chance to succeed in out to Home appropriators who will take up training appropriations after the August recess.
Excellent Timing: As households enter “back to school” mode, this funding disaster connects on to your August recess advocacy efforts.
Save the Date: September 14 – 20, 2025
Designated by Congress in 2010, Nationwide Arts Schooling Week highlights the advantages of and wish for arts training. The timing is right – Congress returns from recess with contemporary deal with training priorities and back-to-school momentum. Keep tuned for upcoming data, webinars, and advocacy toolkit particulars in late August.
Individuals for the Arts is a nonprofit group working each day to construct recognition and help for the extraordinary and dynamic worth of the humanities and to guide, serve, and advance the various networks of organizations and people who domesticate the humanities in America. Help our work to make sure that each American has entry to the humanities by making a present on the hyperlink under. Thanks!
