May 14, 2019
From: Isaac Brown, Legislative Counsel
Vol. 19:05

Today, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee released its draft budget for fiscal year 2020. The bill includes a proposed funding level of $167.5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts—a significant increase from the agency’s current allocation of $155 million.

The subcommittee plans to meet tomorrow to mark up the legislation. Therefore, if you happen to be represented by a member of the subcommittee, please consider contacting their office to convey the value of the National Endowment for the Arts:

1. Urge that your representative support the subcommittee’s proposed FY2020 funding level of $167.5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.
2. Mention that 40% of all grant funding allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts goes directly to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations through the federal-state partnership.
3. Highlight a recent initiative or event that your state arts agency has been able to undertake, in part due to support it has received from the National Endowment for the Arts (either directly or through the federal-state partnership).

This is exciting news for all of us. However I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Trump administration remains committed to its proposal eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts. It is critical that we all continue to be diligent in making the case for the arts endowment. Please get in touch if you have any questions.