Vermont Arts Council

Arts Council Response to Federal Action

**This page is from May/June. If you are looking for current resources, please visit our Advocacy page.

Resources

As federal actions and disruptions impact so many aspects of our lives and communities in Vermont, we continue to be motivated by the power of the arts and humanities to heal, to connect, and to inspire.

Federal Updates: In early May, after a review by the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) issued termination notices for many direct grants nationwide. This move followed the administration’s targeting of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In addition, the White House released its FY26 budget request, recommending the elimination of funding for multiple agencies and programs, including the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

What Does This Mean For Vermont?

As it currently stands, the Vermont Arts Council continues to be funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Our annual NEA grant funds around 40% of our budget each year. The current year’s NEA funding remains intact, and our FY26 state grant was approved by the NEA’s National Council on the Arts in May. Last year NEA funding enabled us to fund over 366 grants to artists, art organizations, and arts projects in all 14 counties in Vermont. Importantly, we are aware of several Vermont-based grant recipients who have received terminations notices from the NEA. This is a serious blow to the vitality of our creative sector and will have significant impacts in Vermont.

Why Does This Matter?

  • The arts support our local economies, bring our communities together, and enrich our lives in every corner of the state. In 2023, the Vermont arts and culture sector was a more than $1.2 billion industry.
  • The NEA plays a vital role in helping communities to thrive through the arts. Its work touches more than 24 million Americans each year. In Vermont, the NEA has contributed almost $10 million since 2020 to supporting arts, culture, and creativity. Read more about that impact here and its return on investment here. 
  • American taxpayers want to be able to count on government to keep its commitments. The abrupt termination of active grants is counterproductive. Each of these terminated grants had already passed a rigorous review process. Grantees, in turn, had already made commitments to their communities, workers, and venues. Turning back on those promises hurts our local economies.

What You Can Do

  • If you’ve lost NEA grant funding, we urge you to submit an appeal by the official deadline provided in your termination notice. View Americans for the Art’s May 7 webinar on Emergency Guidance on NEA Grant Cancellations for more information.
  • Apply for Vermont Arts Council grants! Our grant programs are funded by a combination of state, federal, and private funds and remain open. We continue to support the vital work happening around the state.
  • Contact our elected officials in Congress, share your story, and thank them for their continued leadership in helping to preserve and sustain the arts in Vermont. To learn more and find out ways you can get involved in sharing the power and promise of the arts in Vermont, visit our Advocacy Center. 
  • Keep informed about what our creative sector partners, Vermont Humanities and the Vermont Library Association, are doing in their efforts to respond to the dismantling of the NEH and IMLS.
  • Make more art, experience more art, and support your local communities! 

As Vermonters, we’ve weathered challenges before, and together, we will face this one—with heart, determination, and the unwavering belief that the arts and culture matter now more than ever. Thank you for all that you do to support the creative spirit of Vermont.  

Resources

Catherine Crawley May 6, 2025