What Is At Stake

A unique combination of private and public funding and box office receipts come together to support the nonprofit performing arts. A critical source of federal support for performing arts organizations around the country comes from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Through direct grants and support to state arts agencies, the NEA awards more than 1,000 grants each year to nonprofit performing arts organizations for projects that encourage artistic creativity. Despite overwhelming support by the American public for spending federal tax dollars in support of the arts, the NEA has never recovered from a 40 percent budget cut in the mid-nineties and its programs are seriously underfunded. The Performing Arts Alliance (PAA) and other arts advocates work hard each year to strengthen support for the NEA in Congress.

What We Are Asking Right Now

We urge Congress to support a budget of $176 million for the NEA in the FY 2009 Interior Appropriations bill to restore funding for the creation, preservation, and presentation of the arts in America through the NEA’s core programs—Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America: Reaching Every Community, Federal/State Partnerships, and Learning in the Arts.

Recent Activity

House Interior Subcommittee Approves NEA Increase

June 18, 2008
The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $15.3 million increase for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in the FY09 Department of Interior Appropriations Bill, for a total budget of $160 million in FY09. The President has requested a budget of $128 million which would be a $16 million decrease from the agency’s FY08 budget. The bill is scheduled to be considered by the full committee on June 18.

President’s FY09 Budget Request Includes Cut to NEA

February 4, 2008
President Bush released his FY09 budget request which serves as a starting point for the Congressional Appropriations process. A large cut has been proposed to the National Endowment for the Arts. Last year, the NEA recieved a historic $20.3 million increase as part of the FY 2008 budget. This year the President requested a $16.3 million dollar decrease in funding for the agency for a total budget of $128.4. This figure is identical to the President’s FY 2008 budget request even though Congress approved a final budget of $144.4 million for the agency for FY08.

Congress Ends Year By Approving Large Increase for NEA

December 2007

Congress passed a $20.3 million increase in NEA funding for FY08. The increase is the single largest one for the agency in more than 30 years. The total for NEA is $144.7 million and reflects the years of advocacy since the NEA's budget was severely cut in 1995.

FY 2008 NEA Appropriations Timeline