Well, here we are again.

President Trump once again has proposed to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting AND the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

This cannot stand.

While they've tried to cut culture before, this is now the second time a President's budget has called to zero out these important institutions. (The first time being President Trump's attempt last year).

The arts, humanities, and public broadcasting are a significant contributor to Utah's economic success.

  • As cultural businesses, we employ over 79,000 Utahns and generate over $3.5 billion in earnings (data as of 2015).
  • We are the #1 state in the country for arts participation. Our audiences go out to eat, travel, stay in hotels, pay for parking, and are generating even more money for Utah's economy.
  • Utah arts organizations receive around $1.6 million from the National Endowment for the Arts
  • Utah cultural organizations receive around $700,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
  • $9,400,410 million dollars comes annually to Utah thanks to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (source). KRCL receives $100,000 annually. KUER receives $280,000. KBYU receives $3,529,354 in a combination for its TV, radio, and other services. About 18 percent of KUED's budget, or $1,702,498, comes from CPB. KUED delivers $8,133,498 in total services. For every dollar appropriated to KUED via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Utahns receive $4.78 in services. The cost to tax payers for these services comes to 57 cents a year. For a complete list of Utah stations receiving support from CPB, click here.
  • That $11.7 million in federal funding for Utah organizations is a significant part of our success.


** National Arts & Humanities Advocacy Day is Tuesday March 13, 2018. We will hand deliver your signatures to Utah's federal delegation as part of our meetings in DC! **

Dear Senator Hatch, Senator Lee, Congressman Bishop, Congressman Stewart, Congressman Curtis, and Congresswoman Love:

President Trump is the first president in American history to propose eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). We thank you for working last year to preserve these important entities, and we ask you to work to support them again.

Arts, humanities, museums, libraries, and public broadcasting are a significant contributor to Utah's economic success.

  • As cultural businesses, we employ over 79,000 Utahns and generate over $3.6 billion in earnings (data as of 2015).
  • Utah is the #1 state in the country for arts participation. Our audiences go out to eat, travel, stay in hotels, pay for parking, and are generating even more money for Utah's economy.
  • Utah arts organizations receive around $1.6 million from the National Endowment for the Arts
  • Utah cultural organizations receive around $700,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
  • $9,400,410 million dollars comes annually to Utah thanks to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (source). KRCL receives $100,000 annually. KUER receives $280,000. KBYU receives $3,529,354 in a combination for its TV, radio, and other services. About 18 percent of KUED's budget, or $1,702,498, comes from CPB. KUED delivers $8,133,498 in total services. For every dollar appropriated to KUED via the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Utahns receive $4.78 in services. The cost to tax payers for these services comes to 57 cents a year. For a complete list of Utah stations receiving support from CPB, click here.
  • That $11.7 million in federal funding for Utah organizations is a significant part of our success.

These federal dollars are controlled locally. Indeed, NEA is the only federal program with a state partnership in which 40% of the NEA budget is given directly to state arts agencies. State arts agencies, such as our Utah Division of Arts and Museums, receives the bulk of these dollars and re-grants it out to cultural organizations all over the state. National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities represent the only federal granting agencies that distribute funds to organizations in ALL congressional districts.

Utah has a rich tradition of supporting the arts and humanities in our state. We ask you to represent the majority of Utahns who support funding for the arts, humanities, and public broadcasting. Culture is part of who we are as a state. Every dollar from the federal government represents a $9 boost to the economy.

Culture WORKS. As your constituents, we urge you to support arts, humanities, and public broadcasting.