Federal Rapid Response
The federal arts and culture landscape is evolving quickly. This page includes opportunities to take action for arts and culture, resources, and opportunities to remain notified about future actions and resources specific to your work.
April 16 2025: Our federal cultural agencies are confronting existential threats—and the stakes could not be higher.Â
This is the time to act. We must rally around our democratic principles and demand that our elected officials safeguard and rebuild our arts and cultural infrastructure—not simply for its own sake, but for its power to strengthen communities, protect free expression, and uphold our collective humanity.
Immediate priority: protect the NEA & restore NEH and IMLS. We must push for robust support for the National Endowment for the Arts ahead of executive action, even as we fight to restore essential funding to the NEH and IMLS.
Take Action: Congress and Attorneys General
Take action and tell your networks to contact members of Congress and the Illinois attorneys general.
Get Others Involved
Our Rapid Response Toolkit contains helpful talking points, social media posts, and outreach tips to help you get your friends and neighbors involved.
View the Impacts of Federal Grants in Illinois
This interactive map uses data from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services from 2021 to present to show the impact of federal funding cuts on our state.
Other Links and Actions
Nonprofit Board Supports
We’re gathering materials and planning future gatherings focused specifically on how to support nonprofit boards in the current federal climate. Interested in staying in the loop? Fill out the form.
Legal Consultation
We’re also gathering names of people interested in being connected to legal supports and actions on behalf of the arts community.
Temperature Check Survey
Arts and culture businesses and organizations: our one-minute temperature check asks about current financial health, which is critical information for our advocacy right now.
News You Can Use
National Endowment for the Humanities
- Trump Administration Cuts to NEH Grants Leave Illinois Humanities Facing $1 Million Shortfall (WTTW)
- Today In Culture, Tuesday, April 8, 2025: Klaus Mäkelä Returns To Chicago | How NEH Slashes Affect Illinois | Water Tower Place Conversion (New City)
- Funds cut for cultural groups (Politico Illinois Playbook)
- Abrupt $1 million loss for Illinois Humanities after Trump cuts funding tap (WBEZ Chicago)
- Abrupt $1 million loss for Illinois Humanities after Trump cuts funding (WCBU Peoria)
- DOGE is Cutting NEH Cultural Funding to Illinois and Across Country (EIN News)
Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Files Lawsuit to Protect Illinois Library and Museums (River Bender)
- SIUE loses grant for high school library program, cites Trump Administration (Fox2 Now)
- Libraries and museums in Illinois are hit by Trump executive order (WGLT)
- Prison libraries brace for staffing and program cuts after IMLS funding loss (Correction 1)
Standing with National Campaigns
In addition to the advocacy actions we have provided above, there are numerous cultural advocacy efforts across the country you can view for additional context and information.
- American Alliance of Museums – Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Campaign
- American Library Association – Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) FAQ
- National Humanities Alliance – National Endowment for the Humanities Statement
- Federation of State Humanities Councils – National Endowment for the Humanities Campaign
Visit the Help Desk
Come to the to Help Desk and let us know (or ask questions about) how federal cuts will affect you. While we may not be able to provide answers about every specific scenario, we’re collecting information to share with our partners and shape our advocacy.Â
