One of the first signs of a collective push towards the Trump administration's art initiative, hundreds of American artists have grants to institutions with programming that promote diversity or “gender ideology.” They are asking the National Fund for the Arts to roll back restrictions.
Among others who signed the letters of 463 writers, poets, dancers, visual artists and more were Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights Jackie Brothers, Drewry, Lynn Nottage and Paula Vogel. There is also one name with a historical resonance. Holly Hughes, a performance artist who was one of the so-called NEA Four in 1990, refused to be funded by the institution due to concerns from conservative critics at the height of the culture war of that era.
“In a way, this feels like deja vu again,” Hughes, now a professor of art and design at the University of Michigan, said in a telephone interview. “These funding restrictions are good barometers for those who are currently the simple punch bags of American culture.”
On Tuesday, the artist wrote to the NEA opposed the new requirements for grant applicants that the organization introduced this month to comply with the executive order signed by President Trump. One requirement is that applicants “do not operate programs that promote “diversity, equity, and inclusion” that violate applicable federal prevention laws.” The other is that federal funds “not being used to promote gender ideology” refer to an executive order prompted by Trump's concerns about public policy towards transgender people. . ”
The artist's letter asked the NEA to “reverse” the change and said, “It is wrong to abandon our values and does not protect us. Pre-submission only cultivates authoritarianism. ”
“Trump and his enablers promote “gender ideology” (whatever it is) that support for artists of color support is in favor of “discrimination” and funds the work of trans and female artists. We may use double spakes to argue that,” the letter adds. “But we know better. Art is for everyone and expresses it.”
The letter was sent to 26 NEA staff on Tuesday morning. The agency has not commented yet.
The letter writing efforts were spearheaded by writer and theatre director Annie Dosen, who was the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation's so-called Genius Grant in 2019, and a recent law school alumni. “The moment that signals the NEA and others who are aware that the artist knows what's going on and realizes they're not silent,” Dosen said.
The NEA change comes at the same time as Trump took over the control of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. He replaced numerous board members, and the new board appointed him as chairman of the center. Several staff members have been banished, with some artists resigning from their positions there or canceling appearances.
Several programming has also been cancelled, including the tour production of “Finn,” a musical touring for younger audiences. The show's creators believe the tour was cancelled because the show's self-acceptance message was considered problematic during the Trump era, but Kennedy Center officials financially run on tours from presenters across the country He says he didn't have enough interest to make it possible.
