NEA: We’ll get by without Trump

NEA: We’ll get by without Trump

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norman lebrecht

February 13, 2018

The National Endowment for the Arts has issued a quiet response to President Trump’s plans to defund it.

Statement from National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu

NEA logo. Three triangles in red, blue, and yellow with "Art Works." underneath.

Today we learned that the President’s FY 2019 budget proposes elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts. We are disappointed because we see our funding actively making a difference with individuals in thousands of communities and in every Congressional District in the nation.

In FY 2018 to date, the NEA has awarded 1,134 grants totaling $26.68 million to organizations and individuals in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, launched a national songwriting competition for high school students, convened four summits across the country as part of Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, issued a research report on the economic impact of the arts in rural communities, and distributed emergency funding to arts agencies in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, among other activities.

We understand that the President’s budget request is a first step in a very long budget process. We stand ready to assist in that process as we continue to operate as usual.

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.

Comments

  • Scotty says:

    How will they get by without government funding? The NEA is a government agency that is funded entirely by the taxpayer.

  • Byrwec Ellison says:

    No worries. Congress passed a two-year spending bill last week (signed by Trump) that funds the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities by $150 million annually as in past years. The president’s annual budget is political theatrics; it’s Congress that calls the shots on spending.

  • Patrick says:

    A single F-35 fighter jet = $160 million. We’re building 2,443 of them. How about we build 2,442 of them and fund the NEA/NEH?

  • Michael Comins says:

    Trump’s core supporters are only interested in military might, forcing women to carry unwanted fetuses to term, turning the USA into a “christian” nation despite the Constitution’s 1st amendment and keeping immigrants out. The arts, humanities and a liberal education are not on their bucket list.

    • The View from America says:

      lol

    • Steve P says:

      (1) True about military might.
      (2) Untrue. Yank ‘em right out – heck, retroa

      • Steve P says:

        Sorry, finger must’ve slipped
        (2) continued- retroactive up to 11 years old.
        (3) I don’t have a problem with some of the Christian virtues, but I don’t like how the European states mandate tithing.
        (4) I support the Canadian system of providing a “worthiness” rating: if you aren’t useful, then go build your own nation.

    • Greg Hlatky says:

      You left out lynching Negroes, copulating with near relations and shooting wetbacks from their pickup trucks.

      The arts and humanities are doing a fine job of destroying themselves, thank you. All the otherwise unemployable social-justice zampolits are seeing to that.

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