With the deadline for federal funding set to expire on March 14, Republicans and Democrats are working to find common ground that will allow a continuing resolution (CR) to pass. A CR is a temporary funding measure that keeps the government operating at current spending levels when a formal appropriations bill has not been enacted. The most pressing question in the deliberations is how to account for cuts in federal programs already implemented by the Trump administration. Democrats are seeking protections to ensure that further cuts will not be made after a spending deal is reached, but the administration has indicated that more reductions are forthcoming.

While it is far too early to know how these talks will play out, we remain hopeful that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will emerge from these negotiations with level funding for the remainder of the fiscal year. As we approach the March 14 deadline, we will monitor the discussions closely and keep you up to date.

Representing YOU in DC!

Utah Cultural Alliance aims to represent you in every space where public policy decisions are made, and resources are being distributed. 

This week, we were in DC and meeting with your Congressional representatives to advocate for continued cultural support, freedom of expression, and a hands-off approach to your programming. The following are highlights of our visit:

• Federal-State Partnerships and the Arts Speakers included Mary Anne Carter, Senior Advisor Office of the Chair, NEA, and Pam Breaux, President and CEO of NASAA.  Both highlighted how arts, culture and humanities strengthen our nation.  Mary Anne Carter specifically called out how our industry hit an all-time high in 2022, contributing $1.1 trillion to the US economy, accounting for 4.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) and supporting 5.2 million jobs. Additionally, from 2021 through 2022, arts and cultural exports continued to increase; the trade surplus rose from $15.5 billion to $21.0 billion.
• Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Chief Counsel of Government and Public Affairs & Executive Director, Americans for the Arts Action Fund provided a real time update on the tenor and tone of the Capitol as Tuesday night also saw President Trump's address to the Joint Session of Congress.
• Your delegate team was able to meet with staffers from your Congressional representative’s offices and deliver a commissioned print by Fell Design with images of arts and culture icons representing each of the districts.  In addition, we left behind our state economic one-sheet, and fact sheets which focused on NEA/NEH, Arts and Rural Development and Creative Economy.  
• Our message was clear: We champion public investment and funding for arts and creativity, particularly in rural and remote communities.  We call on the 119th Congress to support arts, culture, and the creative economy with Congressional action in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and renewed unleashing of innovation and economic opportunity.
•  We kept our conversation focused on 3 asks: support for $209 million in FY25 Federal Budget for NEA/NEH of which Utah receives $1.5 Million that directly impacts programming like POPS; support for the PATPA (Performing artist Tax Parity Act); and support for the Charitable Giving Bill which Congressman Moore is sponsoring.

It was an honoring representing all of you at our meetings and demonstrating how our sector is the most valuable asset our nation has.