Arts Org will no longer finance cultural institutions with Dei programs: NPR

In a decision that rocked artistic organizations, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) declared on its website that it eliminated a financing program which supports diversity, equity and inclusion and the bad communities . Instead, the federal agency prioritizes programs which celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The NEA reduces the Grant Program Challenge America which mainly supported small organizations which have reached “the historically ill -served communities which have limited access to the arts compared to geography, ethnicity, economy and / or disability”.

Challenges subsidies of $ 10,000 in America funded a wide range of programs by artistic groups across the country, free or reduced prices for theater Tickets in Florida, for an arts program For Amerindian residents in a nursing nursing establishment in North Carolina.

The NEA encourages artistic groups to ask for subsidies for artist projects (GAP), which support projects which “celebrate the rich artist and the creativity of the nation by honoring the semi-printing of the United States of the United States of the United States of the United States America (America250) “.

Another change: NEA indicates that candidates for all subsidies must follow “All applicable executive orders” of the White House. The directives indicate that candidates “do not manage any program promoting” DEI or using federal funds “to promote gender ideology”.

A press representative for the NEA told NPR that acting president Mary Anne Carter was not available to comment.

“There is a wide frightening effect on the ground,” said Jamie Bennett, an acting co-PDG of the American defense group for the arts. He said that artistic groups wonder, for example: “How is a request for a celebration of the month of black history (would it) received?”

But Bennett, who worked for the NEA and the New York Cultural Affairs Department, says that he is not so worried, mainly because of the current management of the agency under the interim president, Mary Anne Carter . She was president of NEA during President Donald Trump’s first term.

“He is someone who is very devoted to this agency, to his mission, to support the right subsidy he makes and to support the staff,” explains Bennett, “and I have heard of several of How happy they were that she was back because they knew she understood the agency. “

However, other artistic organizations are unstable by changes.

Jenni Werner, executive artistic director of the New Harmony Project, wrote In an open letter, “at a time when racist, transphobic and sectarian voices are amplified at the highest levels of the federal government, the New Harmony Project will continue to be a fair, fair, anti-racist and anti-Oppressive organization.”

She continued: “We will prioritize people on the process, programs or federal funding.” The New Harmony Project received multiple Nea grants over several years.

The NEA is holding a webinar that will cover updates updates next Tuesday.

Edited by Jennifer Vanasco