The logo for the national endowment for the arts (NEA) as we see in Washington, DC.
GRAEME SLOAN / SIPA USA / ALAMY LIVE NEWS
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GRAEME SLOAN / SIPA USA / ALAMY LIVE NEWS
Hundreds of artists have signed a letter sent to the National Endowment for the Arts asking him to reverse the political changes made following recent decrees issued by President Donald Trump.
“We oppose this betrayal of the endowment mission of” promoting and supporting an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States “, said the letter.
Annie Dorsen, a writer and director of theater based in New York who led the effort, shared the letter with NPR. She said that she had been signed by 463 artists from a wide variety of disciplines, including the Dramaturges Lynn Notage and Paula Vogel.
“Trump and his catalysts can use Doubespeak to assert that support for colored artists is equivalent to” discrimination “and that the financing of the work of trans and women artists promotes” gender ideology “(anything). We know better: the arts are to and represent everyone.
Dorsen told NPR that she had sent the letter in private to the NEA on Tuesday morning. She also shared it with The New York Timeswhich was the first to report it.
The NEA did not respond to requests for comments.
Call for a return of compliance rules
The letter specifically asked the NEA to reduce the rules of conformity for the Subsidies for artistic projectswho now obliges the candidates to respect two decrees Issued by Trump. One states Applicants should not “exploit programs promoting” diversity, equity and inclusion “which violate all the applicable anti-discrimination laws”; the otherWho targets transgender and other LGBTQ +artistic programs, declares that federal subsidies should not be used to “promote gender ideology”, in reference to an executive decree recognizing only “two sexes, men and women”.
NPR attended a NEA workshop Tuesday afternoon for artistic groups that plan to request grants. The questions were not taken in the session, but had to be sent in advance. No mention has been made of new restrictions.
“The first amendment is one of the most expensive principles on which this country has been founded. And we all like to think of what is a country where artists have the right to expression of self , as we all do, “said Dorsen. “So this action by NEA is only worrying, because it seems to suggest that, through this kind of strange decrees and applications to certain agencies, this freedom is gradually removed.”
The letter intervenes in the middle of an increasing number of protests led by artists against the Trump administration, including a involving dancers in Washington, DC,. in connection with Trump rejecting the leaders of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and being presided over.
“The problem is not finished now that we have sent this letter,” said Dorsen. “It is a signal for them that we know what is happening and that we do not remain silent on this subject.”
Published by Jennifer Vanasco.
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