Yesterday, an e-mail from our friends at Americans for the Arts alerted us that the Trump Administration has released their FY2018 budget, titled A New Foundation for American Greatness.
Unfortunately, this administration’s interpretation of “greatness” does not include government-supported arts programs.
This so-called “skinny budget” provides just enough money to the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services “for expenses necessary to carry out the closure” of these agencies; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS) is slated to be cancelled in 2019.
Needless to say, if you value the arts, now is the time to contact your representatives in Congress and the Senate. Ask them to save the arts. Tell them personal stories of how the arts have positively affected you.
On their website, Americans for the Arts lays out a great argument for the value of arts in our towns and cities. They also plainly state what we have to lose should these arts programs be cut.
“With only a $150 million annual appropriation, the NEA’s investment in every Congressional District in the country contributes to a $730 billion arts and culture industry in America, representing 4.2 percent of the annual GDP. This arts and culture industry supports 4.8 million jobs and yields a $26 billion trade surplus for our country.”
You can find specific examples for your state by clicking here to see a breakdown of NEA grants for 2016.