Dear Massachusetts Congressional Delegation,
For over 50 years, funding for National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have supported small, medium, and large cultural institutions in Massachusetts to help develop and showcase new and innovative art forms and to bring vibrancy and creativity to our neighborhoods. This critical support at the national level is just as integral to social wellbeing as adequate food, housing, income, and the pursuit of meaningful work.
Public investment in arts organizations and programs is the only way to ensure that everyone has access to their benefits, which include delaying the aging process by engaging in music, writing, and dance; building resilience among veterans and their families with community art projects and classes; and improving student performance across all academic disciplines with sequential arts education from K-12.
As supporters of the arts, culture, and the humanities, we thank you for your work to restore funding to the NEA and NEH. We urge you to once again ensure this work continues by supporting a funding level of $170 million in FY20 for both the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.