Across the US, the arts community is under siege. The president’s proposed 2026 federal budget calls for eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), three cornerstones of cultural support for the arts in the nation. These proposals are not just symbolic cuts; they represent a dismantling of public investment in creativity, access and opportunity.

Arts and culture contribute $1.2 trillion to the US economy, support 5.4 million jobs and account for 4.2% of the gross domestic product—more than agriculture, transportation and outdoor recreation. These aren’t just feel-good programmes, they’re an economic engine that strengthens every sector.

The Trump administration has claimed it wants to ensure all Americans have access to the arts. Yet it has targeted the very agencies that make that access possible—especially in critical, vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities throughout the country. Over 60% of NEA grants support smaller arts organisations that serve audiences who would otherwise have limited access to arts programming and services.

The Cascading Effects of Declining Public Investment in the Arts

When federal support falters, the effects cascade, placing greater strain on already-limited state and local resources. In April, the NEH abruptly cancelled more than 1,200 grants, stripping humanities councils in all US states and territories of vital operating funds. These councils, which receive nearly 40% of the NEH’s programme budget, lost their primary support overnight—putting statewide cultural initiatives at risk and jeopardising access for millions of Americans. Additionally, the administration has sought to eliminate IMLS, cutting off grants that support early childhood education, programming for people with disabilities and rural broadband access—critical on-the-ground services in many communities.

While the administration overlooks how the arts sustain communities, the evidence is clear. Every US congressional district benefits from federal arts and culture funding, from healing programmes for military families to arts education and free public performances. These investments strengthen communities, and it’s our representatives’ duty to protect them.

Read the full article about public investment in the arts by Erin Harkey at The Art Newspaper.