Artists protest new NEA restrictions

Hundreds of artists signed a letter sent to the National Endowment for the Arts asking it to reverse policy changes made as a result of recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.

“We oppose this betrayal of the Endowment’s mission to ‘foster and sustain an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States’,” the letter said.

Annie Dorsen, a New York-based writer and theater director who spearheaded the effort, shared the letter with NPR. She said it was signed by 463 artists from a wide variety of disciplines, including playwrights Lynn Nottage and Paula Vogel.

“Trump and his enablers may use doublespeak to claim that support for artists of color amounts to ‘discrimination’ and that funding the work of trans and women artists promotes ‘gender ideology’ (whatever that is). But we know better: the arts are for and represent everybody. We can’t give that up,” the letter said.

Dorsen told NPR she sent the letter privately to the NEA on Tuesday morning. She also shared it with The New York Times, who were the first to report on it.

The NEA did not respond to requests for comment.

Calling for a rollback of compliance rules

The letter specifically called for the NEA to roll back compliance rules for the Grants for Arts Projects, which now require applicants to abide by two executive orders issued by Trump. One states applicants should not “operate any programs promoting ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws”; the other, which targets transgender and other LGBTQ+ arts programming, states that federal grants must not be used to “promote gender ideology,” with reference to an executive order recognizing only “two sexes, male and female.”

NPR attended an NEA workshop Tuesday afternoon for arts groups planning to apply for grants. Questions were not taken in the session, but had to be sent in advance. No mention was made of the new restrictions.

“ The First Amendment is one of the most cherished principles that this country was founded on. And we all like to think of this being a country where artists have the right to self expression, as we all do,” said Dorsen. “So this action by the NEA is more than concerning, because it seems to suggest that through these sort of weird executive orders and the applications of them to certain agencies, that freedom is being taken away bit by bit.”

The letter comes amid a growing number of artist-led protests against the Trump administration, including one involving dancers in Washington, D.C,. in connection with Trump dismissing leaders of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and making himself chair.

“ The issue is not over now that we’ve sent this letter,” Dorsen said. “It’s a signal to them that we know what’s happening and we’re not staying silent about it.”

Edited by Jennifer Vanasco.

 

Trump plans to share new tariff rates this week as deadline for deals approaches

The administration keeps shifting its plans when it comes to trade negotiations. The latest expectation is that most countries will receive new tariff rates this week that would go into effect on Aug. 1.

Inside the evolution of Biosphere 2, from ’90s punchline to scientific playground

The venture, privately funded to start, is now run by the University of Arizona. And today, scientists there are quietly plugging away at research they hope will help us all adapt to the Biosphere 1 — that is Earth, and the climate change we are causing to it.

The war in Gaza divided a historic Brooklyn co-op. Here’s what happened next

Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, members of the Park Slope Food co-op have been debating whether to ban Israeli goods from the shelves.

Defunct oil wells are a national problem. Finding them is the first step

There could be about a million 'orphan' oil and gas wells across the U.S. As they age, they can leak greenhouse gases or unhealthy chemicals.

‘The worst day of my life:’ Texas’ Hill Country reels as deaths rise due to floods

Dozens of people have died in the Texas Hill Country. Scores of others are missing or unaccounted for. As rescue crews continue to search for victims, those who survived are coping with the loss.

Are seed oils actually bad for your health? Here’s the science behind the controversy

Health Secretary RFK Jr. has said vegetable oils, like canola and soybean, are 'poisoning Americans.' But many researchers say the evidence isn't there. So, what does the science say about seed oils?

More Front Page Coverage