Trump’s cuts: Statement by NEA Chairman Jane Chu

Jane Chu © Steve Peterson
Jane Chu © Steve Peterson

Statement from National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu on the FY 18 Budget

March 16, 2017 – ‘Today we learned that the President’s FY 2018 budget blueprint proposes the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts. We are disappointed because we see our funding actively making a difference with individuals of all ages in thousands of communities, large, small, urban and rural, and in every Congressional District in the nation.

We understand that the President’s budget request is a first step in a very long budget process; as part of that process we are working with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prepare information they have requested. At this time, the NEA continues to operate as usual and will do so until a new budget is enacted by Congress.

We expect this news to be an active topic of discussion among individuals and organizations that advocate for the arts. As a federal government agency, the NEA cannot engage in advocacy, either directly or indirectly. We will, however, continue our practice of educating about the NEA’s vital role in serving our nation’s communities.’

National Endowment for the Arts – News round up
Los Angeles Times: ‘Trump budget would eliminate funding for National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities’ –  Christie D’Zurilla

‘The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities are among the independent agencies earmarked for zero funding in the 2018 budget blueprint released Thursday by the Trump administration.

The NEA and NEH are among 19 agencies the proposal targets for elimination of funding, along with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, to name a couple.’

 The Washington Post: ‘Trump wants to cut the NEA and NEH. This is the worst-case scenario for arts groups’ – By Philip Kennicott and Peggy McGlone

‘A community orchestra performance, a new work from an emerging playwright, art therapy for a returning veteran, local ­library classes in Braille, free standardized-test preparation, and Bert and Ernie. Thousands of such programs could be gutted under President Trump’s proposed budget.’

The Independent: ‘Donald Trump proposes to scrap arts funding from NEA to federal funds for PBS channel and NPR radio’
Funding was introduced to legislation in 1965 because ‘any advanced civilisation’ was expected to value the arts and humanities

‘Donald Trump has proposed eliminating both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, in a move that would see the worst fears of arts groups around the US realised.’

Get in touch with how the cuts might impact your organisation. Email the editor Maria Roberts maria@lewisbusinessmedia.co.uk | Twitter @IntArtsManager