Potential Cuts in State and Federal Budgets put Arts Funding at Risk
- Nuveen
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Recently, the House Appropriations committee proposed drastic cuts to funding for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The proposed cuts would decrease current funding levels by 35%. While these cuts are at the federal level and seem far away from the Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center (ACWL-Nuveen) and the community we serve in West Michigan, there is a trickle-down effect which is impacted by even more arts and culture funding at risk.
Earlier this year, Michigan Speaker of the House, Matt Hall, suggested eliminating $11M in funding for the Michigan Arts & Culture Council (MACC) from the FY2026 State of Michigan budget. MACC uses those funds to distribute grants to arts and culture organizations across the state. The MACC General Support grant, which is funded by the state and the NEA, has been a reliable source of support for the ACWL-Nuveen for many years. And while we normally apply for that grant in June, it is currently on hold until the state budget is passed, which means funding for 2026 is very uncertain. That grant is a lifeline for the ACWL-Nuveen: In 2025, we received $17,500 in support - $4,298 of which came directly from the NEA.
The ACWL-Nuveen uses these funds to support a wide variety of programming. This includes:
The popular FREE Summer Concert Series at the Montague Bandshell
Accessible arts education for all ages
A diverse and inspiring exhibition schedule
Numerous opportunities for local artists to share and sell their work
$17,500 is a significant amount of money for an arts non-profit our size - it's nearly 6% of our budget. And while 6% doesn't sound like a lot, it is when you consider that we operate on a break-even mentality. This means all the money that comes in through classes, fundraisers, and events, goes directly towards serving our community through accessible arts opportunities. A 6% decrease in funding would reduce the amount of arts programming we offer and/or increase the cost of those opportunities.
The ACWL-Nuveen and arts and culture organizations across the country need your help! The most direct way to show support is through donations and memberships, but it is also imperative that we let lawmakers know the importance of the arts in our community. How these opportunities help grow the economy, fund artists and musicians, provide a creative outlet for all ages, and contribute to the overall quality of life in White Lake and greater West Michigan. Please find contact info for your lawmakers below.
State Representative Curtis VanderWall
S-1386 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014, Lansing, MI 48909
State Senator Jon Bumstead
P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909
Rep. John Moolenaar
246 Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC 20515
Sen. Elissa Slotkin
291 Russell Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC 20510
Sen. Gary Peters
724 Hart Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC 20510
If you need additional resources, please reach out! Nuveen@artswhitelake.org
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