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Ann Wicks, Communications Director & Co-Accessibility Coordinator
Direct: 617-423-1390
The NH State Council on the Arts is facing elimination from the state budget.
On June 18, the NH Legislature’s Committee on Conference review of the House and Senate budget versions moved to adopt the Senate version. That version funds one staff member – six current staff are losing their jobs - and creates the Granite Patron for the Arts Fund, a fundraising mechanism that will put the Council in direct competition with the nonprofit arts and cultural organizations it was created to serve. Upon receiving notice of an approximately $1M grant from the National Endowment for the Arts – which would require a match from the state – a request was made to amend the decision. Upon further discussion, the committee agreed not to pursue funding a match, knowing they are missing out on the federal funds, a portion of which came from NH taxpayers.
There will be no grantmaking, no support for nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists and their small businesses, no Poetry Out Loud, no creative economy work, no arts education and arts in health promotion, and no fostering of the state’s traditional arts. Though it remains in name and statute, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts will have nowhere near the impact it has had in prior years.
The budget will be delivered to the Governor by June 26. If the above scenario concerns you, you may contact Governor Kelly Ayotte or call 603-271-2121 and remind the Governor about the important cultural, economic, and health benefits the arts provide in your community. You may also want to contact your Senator and Representatives in advance of their full budget vote on June 26:
Contact Your NH House Representative
(6/9/25) After issuing an executive order in May to cut future funding for NPR and PBS, the current administration is attempting to claw back two years of approved Congressional funding through a rescissions package. The bill could be voted on the House floor as soon as Tuesday, June 10. Both NPR and PBS have filed lawsuits challenging the order.
You can help by contacting your US House Representative or visit www.ProtectMyPublicMedia.org.
Contact your Members of Congress
The White House proposed budget includes no funding for the NEA, NEH, and IMLS.
On June 6, U.S. House Representatives - and Arts Caucus co-chairs - Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Michael Turner (R-OH) led more than 120 of their colleagues in urging President Trump to restore National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant funding approved by Congress.
Contact your members of Congress about the important cultural, economic, and health benefits the arts provide in your community.
Contact your Members of Congress
The Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) face significant budget cuts that will substantially reduce staff, cut programs, and rescind grants that have already been awarded.
Active Campaigns to Protect the Federal Cultural Agencies at Risk:
A lawsuit was filed on May 1, 2025, to reverse the administration's actions towards the NEH. Read the lawsuit announcement. On June 10, it was announced that two thirds of the agency staff has been laid off, and the agency plans to make half the amount of grants in this year.
As of May 21, staff at the Institute of Museum & Library Services are returning to work and grants in plaintiff states have been reinstated, but this is only temporary.
Let your Members of Congress know that you support the work of the NEH and the IMLS:
Contact your Members of Congress
This legislation passed the House on April 10. Learn how this will disenfranchise voters, and tell your Senators what you think.
Contact your Members of Congress
NEFA's grants and resources support artists and organizations in all six New England states. This work is possible through our partnership with New England's state art agencies, the National Endowment for the Arts, and additional funders.
Learn more about NEFA's partnership with the New England state art agencies
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