A Note about the NEA
By now you have likely heard the news regarding the intentional dismantling of the National Endowment for the Arts. On Friday, the President of the United States — unsurprisingly — announced, through his proposed budget, the desire to eliminate the NEA and its sister agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities. Twelve hours later, at 9:00pm, hundreds of letters were sent to arts organizations across the country, in every creative discipline, announcing the termination and recission of millions of dollars in direct grant support.
To the best of our knowledge, every current grantee in Western Pennsylvania received one of these letters, including City Theatre. We were informed that our project did not meet the new priorities of NEA. We call bullshit.
The project supported by this approved grant — which was recommended by a national panel of theater experts, vetted by NEA staff, approved by the National Council on the Arts, and contracted in December 2024 — was the world premiere production of Another Kind of Silence by LM Feldman, which will launch our 2025–2026 season in September.
What has made this play ineligible and unworthy of the NEA’s support? Could it be its commitment of Deaf artists, as it will be performed bilingually in ASL and English? Or its celebration of finding true love? Controversial stuff.
We intend to appeal this decision, and if there are legal pathways to pursue with our peers, we will do that as well. But the damage has already been done.
On Monday, it was announced that all discipline directors — theater, dance, literature, music, arts education, etc — were resigning. Many were joined by their entire department teams. There are reports that over 50% of the NEA staff will be departing.
These are individuals who have devoted their careers, and their expertise, to art-forms that unite our communities and bring beauty to our lives. They are dedicated servants tossed aside for no reason beyond ignorance, grievance, and a disdain for creative expression.
Are we speaking too boldly? Being too reactionary? Unfortunately, silence is complicity in this moment and we — a 50-year-old cultural organization that has benefited from decades of support from the NEA — must not be quiet when our entire field is under attack. This is personal to us.
So, what are we asking?
This is not a fundraising appeal, though we would be foolish not to accept donations if you feel so inclined.
This is a call to action. And here’s how you can help — both for City Theatre and arts organizations across the land.
First: attend a show — ANY show at ANY venue. Even better? Subscribe.
Second: Speak up and share the facts about what is happening here and what will be lost if the NEA is decimated. More on that below. We mustn’t put our heads in the sand. There are so many worthy causes under assault — from science to education to rule of law. But the arts matter (as do the humanities and public broadcasting). Let’s all rally our friends to salvage what makes us human.
Third: contact your elected officials and ask them to intervene to save the NEA and stop these grant terminations.
We know we’re preaching and we know this feels political. But this is existential to us. We must speak up and beg of you to join us in this fight, in whatever way feels right to you. See a play. Make a gift. Call a Senator. Just…Act.
The Facts about the NEA (for when you call Congress):
Look, the National Endowment for the Arts does amazing things, and it costs taxpayers almost nothing. All funded projects require a 1:1 match — the ultimate public/private partnership. For every dollar awarded by the NEA, it leads to $7 of additional local support. It costs you $0.60 and makes up 0.003% of the Federal budget. The NEA is the largest supporter of arts and culture in the country — an industry with economic impact of $1.1 trillion (4.3% of GDP) and an amazing return on investment. Forty percent of all NEA dollars immediately go the states — so, its elimination would also impact the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Over the last 20 years, the NEA has prioritized utilizing art as therapy for individuals with disabilities, military veterans, and to prevent prison recidivism. It brings Shakespeare and poetry and Jazz and songwriting to students across the country. It provides critical grants to mid-size theaters on Pittsburgh’s South Side along with those in rural America and New York City — and every Congressional district in the country. And each grant is made under just two basic criteria: artistic excellence and artistic merit.
Can’t we all agree these are good things? And that our world needs more of this, not less?
