Several hundred American artists have signed a letter calling on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to roll back restrictions on grants to institutions with programming that promotes diversity or "gender ideology."
The letter, signed by 463 writers, poets, dancers, visual artists, and others, including Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights Jackie Sibblies Drury, Lynn Nottage, and Paula Vogel, objects to new requirements for grant applicants that the NEA put in place this month to comply with executive orders signed by President Trump.
One of the requirements is that applicants "not operate any programs promoting 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws"; the other is that federal funds not be used "to promote gender ideology," referring to an executive order, prompted by Mr. Trump's concern about public policy toward transgender people, that declares that American policy is "to recognize two sexes, male and female."
The artists argue that these restrictions are a violation of the NEA's mission to support a wide range of artistic expression and that they will have a chilling effect on the arts in America. They also point out that the restrictions are based on a misunderstanding of what "diversity, equity, and inclusion" and "gender ideology" mean.
"In some ways this just feels like déjà vu all over again," said Holly Hughes, a performance artist who was one of the so-called NEA Four, denied funding by the agency in 1990 because of concern from conservative critics. "These funding restrictions are a good barometer for who is the easy punching bag in American culture at the moment."
The artists are calling on the NEA to reconsider these restrictions and to continue to support a wide range of artistic expression.
9 Comments
Rotfront
I am glad that the NEA is taking steps to ensure that its funding is being used effectively. I believe that the agency should be accountable to the public for how it spends its money.
Karamba
This is an outrageous attack on the arts and a blatant attempt to silence diverse voices. The NEA should be ashamed of itself!
Matzomaster
These restrictions are based on ignorance and bigotry. The NEA should be supporting all artists, not discriminating against them.
Rotfront
The NEA should be ashamed of itself for caving to the Trump administration's hateful agenda.
Matzomaster
I am glad that the NEA is taking a stand against the radical left. I believe that the agency should be promoting art that is unifying, not divisive.
Michelangelo
This is a blatant violation of the NEA's mission to support a wide range of artistic expression. This is censorship, plain and simple.
Leonardo
These restrictions are based on a misunderstanding of what "diversity, equity, and inclusion" and "gender ideology" mean. The NEA needs to educate itself.
Katchuka
I believe that the NEA should be supporting artists who are creating art that is accessible to everyone. I believe that art should be for everyone, not just for the elite.
Barachiel
I believe that the NEA should be supporting artists who are creating art that is relevant to the American public, not art that is trying to push a specific agenda.