Contact your representatives to support the NEA
The most vital step you can take to show your support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in the upcoming federal budget negotiations is to contact your congressional representatives to express your support, and ask them to stand with the NEA.
The federal budget blueprint released on March 16 proposes to entirely eliminate agencies like the NEA and other culturally focused departments, and the arts community has quickly galvanized to drive strong expressions of support for the NEA. The NJSO is joining organizations such as the League of American Orchestras and ArtPride New Jersey to build awareness of the budget process and the importance of contacting your representatives to tell them of your backing of the NEA.
While the NJSO currently receives indirect funding from the NEA through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, our concerns extend to smaller communities throughout the country that receive essential funding for arts and artists through the NEA. The NEA supports programs that provide arts access—sometimes the only access available—to communities in red and blue states alike, and is a significant funder of arts education programs in disadvantaged schools nationwide.
The most important step to take at this time is to contact your representatives in Congress and tell them you support the NEA. Tell them that it is important to you that they stand for the NEA and other cultural agencies in the upcoming negotiations.
Contact your representatives!
By email:
- Easily find your representatives and send an email through Voter Voice, sponsored by the Americans for the Arts Action Fund.
By phone, mail or fax:
By social media:
Use the find links above to determine your federal representatives, then search for them on social media and post your support! Be sure to tag your post with #SavetheNEA.