Quick Links:

Background and Action Steps

On Monday, February 12, the White House officially announced plans to eliminate federal funding for arts and culture, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), for FY 2019. Find more about what’s at stake below.

Your actions will make a difference! Here are five action steps you can take right now:

1. Call your representatives: Calling your legislators is the most effective way to reach them. Use our phone script to urge your representatives to not eliminate federal funding for the arts.

2. Send emails directly to your representatives: Use our webform to ask them to #SaveTheArts. (Don't live in the general Philadelphia region? Head to this page to send your emails.)

3. Post on social media: Check out our social media toolkit below for suggested tweets and #SaveTheArts graphics.

4. Sign up for arts advocacy alerts for more updates as this budget is debated by Congress in the coming weeks.

5. Donate to support our advocacy efforts with a monthly or one-time donation.

Your support is critical in the coming weeks as Congress develops the federal budget. Please stay tuned for updates as the budget process and our response to it evolve. Every one of us must speak out against these proposed cuts - make your voice loud, and be heard!. With your help, we can ensure that the arts remain accessible and affordable for all.

What’s at stake?

Below is a chart that contains the White House budget requests for the cultural agencies.

The Trump Administration’s proposed FY 2019 budget calls for the termination of our nation's cultural grant-making agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

Key Federally Funded Arts Program/Agency *(in $ millions)*	U.S. House FY 2018 Proposal *Passed 9/14/17*	U.S. Senate FY 2018 Committee Proposal	Final FY 2018 Funding	President Trump’s FY 2019 Budget Proposal
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)	$145	$150	TBD	*Termination
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)	$145	$150	TBD	*Termination
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)	$231	$235	TBD	*Termination
Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)	$445 (plus $0 for interconnection system)	$445 (plus $20 for interconnection system)	TBD	*Termination
Assistance for Arts Education	$0	$27	TBD	$0

Source: Americans for the Arts

In the News

Washington Post, February 12: Trump’s budget eliminates NEA, public TV and other cultural agencies. Again.

Hyperallergic, February 12: Trump’s Proposed 2019 Budget Would Slash Arts Funding in Attempt to Close NEA and NEH

#SaveTheArts Social Media Toolkit

Social media is a simple and effective method for reinforcing our message to elected officials. Below you’ll find graphics to share and suggested language for social media posts. Make sure to tag your representatives in your messages:

Senator Pat Toomey: @SenToomey
Senator Bob Casey: @SenBobCasey
1st Congressional District’s Representative Bob Brady: @RepBrady
2nd Congressional District’s Representative Dwight Evans: @RepDwightEvans
6th Congressional District’s Representative Ryan Costello: @RepRyanCostello
8th Congressional District’s Brian Fitzpatrick: @RepBrianFitz
13th Congressional District’s Representative Brendan Boyle: @CongBoyle

Need to find someone else? Find your senators’ accounts on this Twitter list and find your representative’s account on this Twitter list.

Download these graphics to show your support for the campaign:

Click the thumbnails below for larger versions you can save.

Facebook post:

Twitter post:

Facebook Profile Photo/Twitter Profile Photo/Instagram:

Phone Script

Read our guide to calling your representatives and when you’re ready to call, look up your representatives.

Phone Script in Support of the NEA, NEH, IMLS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Hello! Thank you for taking my call. I'm a constituent from [CITY/TOWN] and I am calling to express my support for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. I understand President Trump is considering eliminating the NEA and NEH, IMLS and privatizing our public broadcasting.

Do you know what [elected official]’s position is on this proposal?

Thank you. As a constituent, I hope that the [congressman/senator] will reject all attempts to terminate or reduce the size and scope of the NEA, NEH, IMLS and to privatize public broadcasting. These institutions create jobs, educate children, support arts learning at any age, and promote access to the arts in every community across America.

Thank you again for your time.

Advocacy ToolKit: #SaveTheArts