WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS MEAN FOR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW ENGLAND
Image of George Washington statue in Boston Public Garden. Floating triangles to the left are decorative.
Earlier this year, the Trump Administration released its proposed federal budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which has had immediate impacts on arts and cultural organizations in New England. This budget included plans to eliminate funding for key federal cultural institutions: the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Many organizations that were already awarded grants from these agencies quickly received notice that their grants would be terminated.
A SWIFT AND DEEP IMPACT ON NEW ENGLAND
To understand the scope of the damage, MASSCreative partnered with Arts4NH, CT Arts Alliance, and the Cultural Alliance of Maine to conduct an impact survey. Our goal was to measure just how far-reaching the cancellations were for organizations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire, as well as quantify this impact for legislators and the general public.
Here’s What We Found:
89 organizations responded to the survey.
$4.2 million in total grant funding was rescinded across New England.
810 jobs were supported by these grants—many of which are now at risk.
63 grants were canceled, most of them from the NEA (73%).
These grants weren’t just supporting performances and exhibits. They were funding education, programming for marginalized communities, mental health programs, youth development, and so much more.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SURVEY
Total Funding Rescinded by State:
Massachusetts - $2,789,161
Maine - $1,205,000
Connecticut - $150,000
New Hampshire - $20,000
Jobs Impacted:
170 jobs were fully supported by grants that have been canceled
640 jobs were partially supported by grants that have been canceled
In total, 810 jobs have been affected by canceled grants
STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN
Massachusetts:
$2.79 million cut across 40 organizations
621 jobs supported by these grants
Communities served:
83% of organizations support youth and students
83% of organizations support BIPOC communities
69% of organizations support urban communities, while 33% support rural communities
Most impacted congressional district: Ayanna Pressley’s (MA-07) with 15 canceled grants
Maine:
$1.2 million cut across 12 organizations
139 jobs affected
Communities served:
92% of organizations serve youth and students
75% of organizations serve urban communities, while 67% support rural communities
58% of organizations support aging populations
Connecticut:
$150,000 cut across 7 organizations
40 jobs affected
100% of responding organizations used grants to support youth and students
New Hampshire:
$20,000 rescinded (from 2 NEH grants)
7 jobs affected
100% of organizations served youth and rural communities
Who Loses When Grants Are Canceled?
The ripple effects of these cuts go far beyond job loss or budget shortfalls. These grants supported programs for:
Youth and students (85% of respondents)
BIPOC communities (76%)
Urban (68%) and rural (42%) residents
Veterans (20%), aging populations (37%), and people with disabilities (12%)
In many cases, the money had already been partially spent, and organizations were left scrambling to figure out how to fill the gap—respondents reported a total of $1.5 million they’ve already spent that will not be reimbursed.
WHAT NOW?
These cuts illustrate a troubling picture for the future of arts and culture in the U.S.—especially in local communities that rely on federal support to ensure the arts are accessible to all. This data tells the story of after-school programs, local jobs, and historical preservation efforts that will be lost. When the funding disappears, so do the countless opportunities it creates.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 1 PM, the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability will host an informational, invite-only hearing on the effects of changing federal policies and funding cuts to the creative and tourism economies in Massachusetts. MASSCreative will use this survey data to inform legislators about the broad harm inflicted by these cuts.
We encourage members of the arts and culture sector who have lost federal funding, anticipate losing federal funding, or rely on arts and cultural programs that have been impacted by lost federal funding to submit written testimony to the committee before Tuesday, July 22nd at 5 PM. It’s critical that the Legislature hears from us about what these clawbacks mean for communities and that it’s documented in public record.
Visit our Take Action blog for more information.
