• The Trump administration is cutting federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), significantly impacting cultural institutions.
• Museums across the Bay Area, Quad Cities, and Vermont are facing losses of funding, leading to program cancellations, staff reductions, and deferred maintenance.
• Affected organizations are seeking alternative funding sources, including private donations and legal action, while urging community support for the arts.

The Trump administration's recent cuts to federal funding for the arts and humanities are having a ripple effect across the United States. The cuts target institutions supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), impacting museums, cultural organizations, and arts programs. These funding reductions are forcing institutions to make difficult decisions, including program cancellations, staff layoffs, and deferred projects. The cuts are triggering a search for alternative funding sources and inspiring efforts to rally community support for the arts.

• What: Federal funding cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are impacting arts and cultural institutions across the United States.
• Who: The Trump administration, NEA, NEH, museums (SFMOMA, de Young, Asian Art Museum, Putnam Museum), cultural organizations (Vermont Humanities, Quad Cities Cultural Trust), and various arts programs.
• When: The cuts were announced and implemented in April and May 2025, with ongoing impacts and future uncertainties.
• Where: The impact is felt nationally, with specific examples highlighted in the Bay Area (California), Quad Cities (Iowa/Illinois), and Vermont.

The federal funding cuts pose a significant threat to the arts and humanities sector. Museums are facing reduced budgets, leading to program cuts and staff reductions. These cuts also affect the ability of these institutions to serve their communities. The long-term impact of these cuts could be substantial, potentially leading to a decline in arts education, cultural preservation, and community engagement. The reliance on private funding may increase, potentially creating inequities in access to arts and culture.

How do you fill that part of the budget? Or are you having to make cuts in order to do that?

These grants are like a badge of honor. They’re peer-reviewed, and they’re super competitive, so when you can tell another funder that a project has received IMLS support, it shows that it has been rigorously reviewed. In terms of day-to-day operations, [federal funding] is a small part of our budget.

For Vermont Humanities specifically, it works out to be just about $800,000 for the rest of the year. So that is not a insignificant part of our budget.

There's a huge network here, and we're all invested in each other's success, and we're all invested in making sure that every Vermonter has meaningful arts in their life.

The cuts to federal arts and humanities funding are creating widespread uncertainty and challenges for cultural institutions. While some organizations are exploring alternative funding sources and legal challenges, the long-term impact remains to be seen. Community support for the arts is being emphasized as a crucial factor in mitigating the negative effects of these cuts and ensuring the continued vitality of the arts and humanities sector.