Update: federal and state funding for the arts, culture, and creative economy
Create Wisconsin Advocacy Update | Monday, April 14, at 1 pm
Join us for up to date information on federal funding for arts and culture
and the FY2025-2027 state budget process.
Recent plans for significant cuts in and elimination of federal funding for the arts, culture, and creativity will affect the availability of community engagement programs such as free education opportunities for youth and adults, grants to rural museums and historical societies, community storytelling projects, and programming tied to America’s 250th birthday. These drastic actions will affect access, quality of life, education and engagement in communities large and small throughout Wisconsin and across the country.
Join Create Wisconsin for an advocacy update on Monday, April 14 at 1 pm, for the most up to date information on federal funding for arts and culture, including what’s happening with the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). We’ll talk about the response from national advocates, and what you can do on the local level.
And, we’ll have an update on the state budget process and what you can do to grow Wisconsin’s investment in the arts and creative economy (click here for the latest update and action alert).
We’ll make sure there’s time for discussion and questions. Be there. Register now.
See below for the most recent information on federal funding for the arts and culture.
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INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS) UPDATE
4/4/2025 - A lawsuit was filed by 21 State Attorneys General to stop President Trump's Executive Order #14238 from dismantling 3 federal agencies that provide services and funding for museums and public libraries, mediation services, and minority business development. Specifically, the Institute of Museum and Library Services was forced to place 85% of its staff on administrative leave and cancel all open grants on 3/31/25. This lawsuit is led by the Attorneys General of New York, Hawaii, and Rhode Island and are joined by Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington state, and Wisconsin.
The lawsuit argues that the executive order violates the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by eliminating the programs of agencies without any regard for the laws and regulations that govern each source of federal funding. The coalition argues that the President cannot decide unilaterally to override laws governing federal spending, and that this executive order unconstitutionally overrides Congress’ power to decide how federal funds are spent.
► Read more about this update.
► Read the IMLS reduction of staff memorandum.
► Take Action for the Institute for Museum and Library Services, from the American Alliance of Museums.
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NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH) UPDATE:
4/4/2025 - The Trump administration made drastic cuts at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), by placing 80% of its staff on indefinite administrative leave and cancelling all open grants issued under the Biden administration. These extreme cuts were made by DOGE, part of Elon Musk’s government restructuring effort. The move has drawn strong criticism from humanities advocates, who warn that it could devastate Wisconsin Humanities and other state humanities councils and cultural institutions that rely on NEH funding.
► Read the full statement from the National Humanities Alliance.
► Take Action with the National Humanities Alliance.
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NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA) UPDATE:
As of 4/7/25, the NEA’s status is uncertain. We know that DOGE will be visiting the agency this week. We also know that there are advocates for the NEA within the Trump Administration who have been working to minimize the damage to the agency’s programs and effectiveness. We will update this page and other channels as information becomes available.
