September 2025
Advocacy Alert: Your Voice Issues Extra Than Ever
STRONGER TOGETHER: NATIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK LAUNCHES CRITICAL SEPTEMBER PUSH
As Congress returns from recess and college students head again to class, federal schooling funding is restored—proof that when AFTA and 600+ companions elevate our voices, advocacy works.
However challenges stay. With the FY26 price range deadline approaching, Congress will quickly debate amendments that would eradicate Nationwide Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding—the most important federal supply for arts schooling. Nationwide Arts in Schooling Week (September 14–20, 2025) is our second to behave.
This 12 months’s theme—Stronger Collectively for Arts in Schooling—underscores the facility of collective motion. Collectively, we are able to present policymakers that arts schooling is important, equitable, and deserves federal funding. Our message is obvious: each scholar deserves the chance to create, innovate, and thrive by means of the humanities.
Be a part of our Defend the NEA/NEH marketing campaign and add your voice to 1000’s united for the humanities and humanities nationwide.
OUR ARTS EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Along with defending NEA funding, our advocacy this week focuses on three key legislative priorities:
-
HBCU Arts Act
Helps arts applications at Traditionally Black Schools and Universities, defending their legacy as facilities of Black inventive excellence. This funding sustains applications, collections, and college students—making certain HBCUs stay cultural leaders. -
Arts Schooling for All Act (H.R. 2485)
The primary federal invoice to ensure lifelong, equitable entry to arts studying—increasing Okay–12 alternatives, supporting neighborhood applications, and shutting gaps that go away 2+ million college students with out arts schooling. -
Nicely-Rounded Schooling Packages
Preserves and grows federal investments like Title I-A, Title IV-A, and AAE grants—vital funding that ensures each little one, irrespective of their zip code, has entry to arts and artistic studying.
Collectively, these priorities strengthen HBCUs, develop entry for underserved college students, and shield colleges most liable to shedding arts applications.
And the general public agrees: 92% of Individuals consider each scholar deserves a high quality arts schooling—overwhelming, bipartisan help we are able to’t ignore
Now it’s time to show that help into motion. Once we come collectively—educators, dad and mom, college students, and advocates—lawmakers can’t overlook our name.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD THIS WEEK:
-
Contact Congress: Take motion this #ArtsEdWeek—inform lawmakers we’re stronger along with arts in schooling.
-
Share Your Story: Publish why arts schooling issues in your faculty or neighborhood utilizing #ArtsEdWeek.
-
Amplify the Motion: Obtain our social media toolkit and encourage your networks to affix.
SEPTEMBER FUNDING SHOWDOWN: NATIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION HANGS IN THE BALANCE
First, some excellent news: our voices are being heard! The Senate Appropriations Committee accepted degree funding ($207 million) for each the NEA and NEH—a direct rejection of the administration’s proposal to eradicate each businesses solely.
However the battle isn’t over. Congress should move a brand new price range by September 30 to maintain the federal authorities open, and the Home simply launched the Labor-HHS-Schooling appropriations invoice that funds arts teaching programs. We don’t know precisely when vital votes will occur—which is why advocates have to contact their representatives now, earlier than these selections are made.
Why this issues for Nationwide Arts in Schooling Week: The NEA is the most important funder of arts schooling in communities nationwide and a catalyst of private and non-private help for the humanities. When federal arts funding is threatened, native arts teaching programs really feel the impression first—particularly within the rural and low-income communities that rely upon these assets most.
STRONGER TOGETHER: YOUR ADVOCACY TOOLKIT
We’ve made advocacy straightforward. Obtain all the things it’s essential to work collectively throughout Nationwide Arts in Schooling Week:
-
E-newsletter & Web site Content material: Prepared-to-use copy to put up in your web site or ship to your networks, encouraging your neighborhood to take motion.
-
Social Media Templates: Shareable graphics and posts for Fb, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
-
Accomplice E mail Template: Pre-drafted e-blast textual content, topic traces, and key messages to shortly mobilize your viewers and drive advocacy.
-
Legislative Priorities & Key Messaging: Clear speaking factors on why NEA/NEH funding, the HBCU Arts Act, Arts Schooling for All Act, and well-rounded teaching programs matter—good for sharing with decision-makers, the media, and your supporters.
Calls to Motion & Assets: Hyperlinks to downloadable one-pagers, reality sheets, and motion portals to make advocacy easy and efficient.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Keep related with upcoming studying alternatives.
OFFICE HOURS
Friday, September 12 at 2:00 PM ET
Join with our advocacy workforce throughout a particular session of our Workplace Hours Collection, bringing collectively three mini-panels on innovation, federal coverage, and native motion.
-
Capitol Hill Leaders: Members of Congress and workers share how advocates can guarantee arts schooling stays a federal precedence.
-
State & Native Advocates: Study profitable methods from the sphere with powerhouse leaders:
- Lynn Tuttle, Govt Director and CEO, American String Academics Affiliation; Music IS Schooling Coalition
- Dr. James Weaver, CEO, Music for All; Music IS Schooling Coalition
- Nelle Stokes, Founding Govt Director, Magic Field Manufacturing
- Danielle Laurion, Lead Trainer, Omaha South Dance Division
-
Nationwide Perspective: Violinist Adrian Anantawan, AFTA’s Johnson Fellow, presents his Digital Chamber Music Initiative to develop entry to music-making for all.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
Tuesday, September 16 at 3:00 PM ET
AFTA will highlight arts leaders from throughout the nation throughout our Neighborhood Conversations Collection, who’re driving impactful work of their communities. Contributors will join in small-group breakouts to share improvements and techniques for strengthening arts schooling.
IN OTHER NEWS
Nominate an Arts Champion: Know a metropolis council member who champions the humanities? Nominate them for the 2025 Public Management within the Arts Award, offered on the Nationwide League of Cities’ Annual Convention in Salt Lake Metropolis this November. Nominations shut October 10.
Individuals for the Arts is a nonprofit group working every single day to construct recognition and help for the extraordinary and dynamic worth of the humanities and to steer, serve, and advance the various networks of organizations and people who domesticate the humanities in America. Assist our work to make sure that each American has entry to the humanities by making a present on the hyperlink beneath. Thanks!
