May 20, 2026 | republished from The Creative Coalition
A $72 million reduction to the National Endowment for the Arts would undermine economic growth, education, and cultural access across the nation.
Washington, DC (May 20, 2026) – Today, the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee released its Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bill proposing $135 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). While the bill rejects the Trump Administration’s call to eliminate the NEA entirely, it nonetheless imposes a devastating $72 million cut — a staggering 36 percent reduction from the current funding level of $207 million.
If enacted, this proposal would inflict the greatest harm on small cities, rural towns, and underserved communities across America — the very places where modest federal arts investments often make the greatest difference. In countless communities, the arts are not a luxury; they are an economic engine, a source of civic identity, a driver of tourism and local business, and a critical lifeline for education, mental health, and cultural connection.
At a moment when the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and honor the richness of our shared cultural heritage, reducing federal support for the arts sends precisely the wrong message. The arts are among America’s greatest exports, one of our most powerful tools of diplomacy and unity, and a proven catalyst for economic growth in communities of every size.
There is still time to prevent these harmful cuts. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet released its proposed funding level for the NEA for FY 2027. The Creative Coalition urges arts advocates and citizens across the country to contact their United States Senators and demand continued funding for the NEA at its current level of $207 million.
“The Creative Coalition strongly urges Congress to reject these damaging cuts and fully preserve funding for the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Tim Daly. “In communities across America, especially rural towns and small cities, the arts are often among the last remaining drivers of economic vitality, civic pride, and cultural life. When federal arts funding is reduced, communities lose far more than performances or exhibitions — they lose jobs, tourism, educational opportunities, and a sense of shared identity.”
“The National Endowment for the Arts has a unique ability to reach communities too often overlooked and underserved,” said Robin Bronk. “These proposed cuts would deprive millions of Americans of access not only to artistic expression and cultural heritage, but also to the documented economic, educational, and social benefits the arts deliver every day. At a time when our nation should be investing in unity, creativity, and opportunity, we should be strengthening the NEA — not dismantling it.”
The Creative Coalition continues its longstanding advocacy for the NEA through initiatives including its annual Arts Advocacy Day and national public service campaigns such as the PSA featuring Iain Armitage calling on Americans to protect the arts. The message is simple but urgent: our stories, our creativity, and our cultural expression are fundamental to the strength, resilience, and future of the United States. Preserving full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts is essential not only to safeguarding America’s cultural legacy, but also to sustaining economic prosperity and opportunity in communities nationwide.
About The Creative Coalition: Founded in 1989 by leaders from the arts and entertainment industry, The Creative Coalition is the nation’s premier nonpartisan 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to advancing the arts as a fundamental pillar of society. Led by actor and President Tim Daly, The Creative Coalition educates its members on key public issues and champions influential public service campaigns, including #RightToBearArts, highlighting the essential role the arts play in shaping our world.
###
CONTACT:
TCC@pmkentertainment.com