Opportunities to Take Action Against Federal Agency Cuts

Dawn Heinen, Digital Communications Manager

a work on paper that depicts the top half of a male figure with crossed arms. It's clouded over with a layer of beeswax. The face is obscured by a large, black scratch out.
Blindfolded, by Eben Haines (Grantee ’18). Graphite, acrylic, beeswax on paper-mounted panel, 8″ x 5″ x 1″, 2016.

As Congress is currently accepting funding requests for FY26, Americans for the Arts has released a time sensitive resource guide to help people advocate against funding cuts to federal agencies. This marks the latest in a series of such resources created to help amplify the voices of the cultural sector during this volatile time.

Your voice as a local arts leader/creator carries significant weight with Congress. When legislators hear directly from constituents about the impact of arts and cultural funding in their districts, it makes a real difference in their decision-making.

Please email AND call your members of Congress today. It is important that you include in your communication how important these federal agencies are to you and/or your cultural organization and the community your work serves.

Here are some recently created advocacy tools to help you shape your emails and/or call scripts:

Americans for the Arts’ Appropriations Guide walks you through exactly how to submit funding requests for:

  • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
  • National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
  • Arts Education Programs
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting

American’s for the Arts – Standing United: Protecting America’s Arts and Cultural Future

American Alliance of Museums – Urgent: Act Now to Save IMLS

American Library Association – Show Up for Our Libraries

MASSCreative – Look Up your Elected Decision Makers

MASSCreative – Creative Sector Advocacy Week April 28 – May 2, 2025

MASSCreative – Creative Sector Advocacy Day at the State House April 30, 2025

Mass Cultural Council blog posts:

Mass Humanities – Take Action on NEH Cuts

Mass Nonprofit Network and The Boston Foundation – The Shifting Federal Landscape: Massachusetts Nonprofits Raise the Alarm event on May 5, 2025.

National Endowment for the Arts – Fact Sheet and Talking Points

Additional Advocacy Resources from MASSCreative

Resources and Guides
Write a Letter to the Editor
Advocacy 101 Training (and slides)
Advocacy 201 Training (and slides)
Advocacy 301 Training: 501(c)3 Dos and Don’ts for Advocacy is being offered on April 18, 2025