Publicly funded art programs are on the Trump administration’s chopping block, particularly the National Endowment for the Arts. And organizations like The Creative Coalition and the many arts programs that rely on NEA funding are hoping that some private politicking, in addition to public pressure, can save the arts programs the Trump administration seems intent on destroying.
Much like the many other programs Donald Trump and Republicans are trying to kill, the NEA is a congressionally established organization that funds art-related projects and programming nationwide, from summer concerts to school art programs. Trump’s budget proposal calls for eliminating the NEA entirely, and hundreds of grants have already reportedly been pulled from projects across the country.
As conservatives in Congress determine which federal programs to slash as they look to offset massive tax cuts largely designed to favor the wealthy, several celebrities with The Creative Coalition, an entertainment industry-focused advocacy group, trekked to Washington, D.C., to attempt to convince lawmakers not to slash the funds. In late April, the organization hosted what it called a “Right to Bear Arts” gala in the capital, attended by actors like “The Sex Lives of College Girls” star Pauline Chalamet, comedian Tig Notaro, and “White Lotus” star Jason Isaacs.
Since then, the group has been largely focused on meeting with Republicans, given the party’s present control in Congress. The NEA is exactly the kind of organization that Congress should support, because it’s “the perfect example of a public-private program,” The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk told me.
“Investing in our communities through the arts makes for better and more productive citizens,” she said.
Bronk points out that cuts to the NEA are also hurting programs’ ability to raise private funds, since the NEA acts as a sort of “Good Housekeeping seal of approval” that lets philanthropists know which programs they can reliably invest in.








