MACT

In partnership with Americans for the Arts and its advocacy affiliate Arts Action Fund, arts industry leaders from rural towns to major urban centers gathered on Capitol Hill March 3-4, 2025 to bring a message directly to Congress: Federal arts funding is a critical catalyst for economic growth and community development nationwide.

The nonprofit arts and culture sector generates $151.7 billion in economic activity and supports 2.6 million jobs nationwide. While the federal investment through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) amounts to just 62 cents per person, this strategic funding plays a central role in catalyzing local and state support, helping drive this significant economic impact nationwide. These advocacy meetings come at a crucial time as Congress considers FY2025 funding levels for the NEA, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and other federal cultural agencies. Increased federal investment would further amplify the NEA’s proven ability to spark economic growth across America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector.

WHEN: March 3-4, 2025

WHERE: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

WHY IT MATTERS:

• 54% of Americans support increasing federal arts funding
• 92% of Americans agree: Every student deserves a quality arts education
• 79% believe arts and culture play an important role in supporting local economies and jobs
• Support transcends political divisions, with 4 in 5 Democrats and 3 in 5 Republicans and Independents favoring government funding for nonprofit arts and culture organizations

WHO:
Arts advocates representing diverse communities across the U.S., including:

• Jim Speirs, Arts South Dakota
• Jennifer Stevens, Boise Department of Arts and History
• Ed “Tiger” Verdin, Louisiana Partnership for the Arts
• Lisa Hanson, Culture Works Dayton
• Patricia Wilson Aden, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
• Jeff Robinson, South Carolina Arts Alliance
• Kim Wilson, South Carolina Arts Alliance Board Member
• Silvia Filippini-Fantoni, Westmoreland Museum of American Art
• Margaret Keough, Mid America Arts Alliance

PRIORITY ISSUES:
Federal Funding Priorities:

• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
• Arts Education Programs
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Advocates will also request that two tax policy issues are included in 2025 tax reform:

• The Charitable Act: Restores charitable tax deduction incentives for non-itemizers, helping non-profit arts organizations secure vital community support.
• The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act: Updates the Qualified Performing Artist tax deduction income ceiling from $16,000 (unchanged since 1986) to $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for married joint filers.

Let your Senators and Repesentatives know that you support the arts. The Arts Action Fund provides resources for arts supporters to engage with their Members of Congress through the Arts Action Center at www.artsactionfund.org/arts-action-center.