Sign-on Letter in Support of the National Endowment for the Arts 

More information on the funding situation

KFTA Statement on NEA Funding

Kentuckians for the Arts strongly opposes the recent federal actions regarding the National Endowment for the Arts.

NEA grants that had been approved for projects, including some in Kentucky, were terminated and/or withdrawn. Massive NEA staff reductions were announced. The White House has proposed eliminating the NEA completely in the FY26 budget.

These actions will have devastating effects on Kentuckians. The arts are a vital part of our state’s heritage, economy, and community life. NEA funding supports Kentucky arts programs and projects through direct grants to community organizations as well as by providing statewide funding through the Kentucky Arts Council. The impact of this funding improves the lives of Kentuckians in many ways, supporting programs for children, activities that improve the wellbeing of veterans and seniors, and public artworks and performances. The NEA support would be very difficult to replace.

The NEA was created 60 years ago because lawmakers recognized that every American, regardless of their age, background, location, or income, deserves the opportunity to discover their own creativity, and to experience the artistic expressions of others. The NEA has always efficiently used its small portion of the federal budget to implement this purpose, and for that reason has received continuous bipartisan funding. 

As Kentucky’s statewide arts advocacy organization, Kentuckians for the Arts will be working in the days ahead to defeat these short-sighted and harmful cuts to NEA funding and capacity. We urge Kentuckians to contact Senators McConnell and Paul and Kentucky’s U.S. Representatives to let them know that Kentucky communities need them to restore the grant funding and to continue bipartisan commitment to funding in next year's budget.