10 Practical Reasons We Need to Defend the National Endowment for the Arts

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President Donald Trump's administration has renewed efforts to defund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), proposing for the fourth consecutive year a budget that would zero out the agency. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has staffed the current administration, continues to promote its 1997 report 'Ten Good Reasons to Eliminate Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts' as a key reference in debates. This article, originally published in 2020 and republished in response to these developments, systematically rebuts each of the Heritage Foundation's arguments against the NEA, beginning with the claim that private support alone is sufficient.

British Museum did not remove Palestine from labels due to pressure campaign, museum sources say—as backlash continues

Over 200 cultural figures, including musician Brian Eno and writer Laleh Khalili, have signed an open letter condemning the British Museum for allegedly removing the word "Palestine" from labels in its Ancient Levant gallery. The letter, published in March, accuses the museum of historical revisionism and links the action to pressure from the advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel, while also criticizing the museum's broader ties to Israel.

M HKA Remains Museum, SMAK Plan Scrapped

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The government of Belgium's Flanders region has reversed its controversial plan to close the M HKA contemporary art museum in Antwerp and transfer its collection to the SMAK museum in Ghent. Under a new plan called "M HKA 2.0," the museum will retain its collection, its museum status, and continue its programming, while SMAK will be operated by the regional government.

british taxpayers to underwrite 1 billion loan to cover bayeux tapestry while its shown in the uk 1234768203

France’s Bayeux Tapestry will be loaned to the British Museum in 2026, with the UK Treasury providing an indemnity guarantee of approximately £800 million ($1 billion) to cover potential damage or loss during transport and display. The guarantee, part of the UK government’s indemnity scheme, is a contingent liability—no upfront payment is required unless something goes wrong. The tapestry will travel by truck via the Channel Tunnel in a specially designed crate, displayed behind protective screening, and remain in London until July 2027. The loan is part of a broader cultural agreement between Britain and France, announced by President Emmanuel Macron during his July state visit to London.

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The Louvre will raise ticket prices by 45 percent for non-E.U. visitors starting January 14, 2026, with tickets increasing to €32 ($37) for travelers from the U.S., U.K., and China, while E.U. visitors continue to pay €22. The price hike, announced on November 27, is expected to generate €15–20 million annually to fund modernization plans, following intense criticism over aging infrastructure and a $102 million jewel heist in October. The museum also faces structural issues, including the temporary closure of parts of its Sully wing due to fragile support beams, and has implemented an €80 million security master plan.

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The Smithsonian Institution has been forced to close its 21 museums in Washington, D.C., indefinitely due to a continuing U.S. government shutdown that began on October 1. The National Gallery of Art had already closed the previous weekend. The Smithsonian had initially used its own funds to stay open, first planning to close on October 6 and then extending operations through October 11, but the ongoing shutdown—stemming from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over health care policy—has now made closure unavoidable. The shutdown also threatens upcoming programming, including a planned Grandma Moses survey at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and a portraiture competition exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, which has already been postponed.

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Donald Trump has ordered a national park to remove a famous 1863 photograph of an enslaved man known as 'The Scourged Back,' which shows his scarred back from brutal whippings. The Washington Post reported the order on September 15, citing anonymous sources, and noted that multiple national parks are affected by directives targeting signs and exhibits related to slavery. The specific park impacted was later identified as Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia, with the President's House Site in Philadelphia also potentially affected. The order follows a broader crackdown on what the Trump administration calls 'corrosive ideology' in American museums, including a March executive order targeting Smithsonian-run institutions.

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The White House published an article on its website denouncing a range of artworks, exhibitions, and objects at the Smithsonian Institution, continuing President Donald Trump's protest against the museum network. The list included previously criticized shows, such as one about sculptures as signifiers of power at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture's displays on 'white dominant culture.' It also named new targets: a painting of a Black trans woman as the Statue of Liberty by Amy Sherald (which was pulled from a National Portrait Gallery show due to alleged censorship), Rigoberto A. González's 2022 painting 'Refugees Crossing the Border Wall into South Texas,' a stop-motion portrait of Anthony Fauci commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, and a papier-mâché Statue of Liberty from a workers' rights protest. The administration also objected to wall texts at the National Museum of the American Latino and the National Museum of American History's LGBTQ+ History display.

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The British Museum has disputed a Telegraph report claiming it removed the word 'Palestinian' from wall texts under pressure from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). The museum stated that while some text was changed last year, using 'Canaanite descent' for a specific historical period, it continues to use 'Palestinian' as a cultural identifier where appropriate and that the changes predated the UKLFI letter. Museum director Nicholas Cullinan denied the changes were a response to the group's complaint, expressing frustration over the situation.

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As the U.S. government shutdown enters its third week, museums that had remained open are now closing. The National Portrait Gallery (NPG), part of the Smithsonian Institution, postponed its exhibition “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today,” originally set to open October 18, after the Smithsonian’s surplus funds run out on October 11. The National Gallery of Art (NGA) closed on October 1, leaving two major works by Houston-based multimedia artist Dario Robleto—the film *Until We Are Forged: Hymns for the Elements* and the sculpture *Small Crafts on Sisyphean Seas*—inaccessible to the public.

Portland Art Museum announces major gift to endow Museum’s top position from Portland’s “First Family of the Arts”

The Portland Art Museum announced a $13.5 million gift from the late Arlene Schnitzer and the Schnitzer family, the largest individual donation in the museum's 132-year history. The endowment names the museum's director position, currently held by Brian Ferriso, as the Arlene & Harold Schnitzer Director. The Schnitzers, known as Portland's 'First Family of the Arts,' have supported the museum for nearly half a century through acquisitions, exhibitions, capital campaigns, and the creation of the Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art and the Schnitzer Sculpture Court. The gift is part of the museum's Connection Campaign, which will culminate in a transformed campus opening November 20.

US National Gallery of Art receives $116m gift to continue nationwide lending programme

The National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC, has received a landmark $116 million donation from the Mitchell P. Rales Family Foundation to permanently endow its Across the Nation lending programme. Launched in spring 2025, the initiative has already reached around 900,000 visitors at ten partner institutions, including the Anchorage Museum and the Mint Museum, by loaning works from the NGA's collection at no cost—covering transport, installation, insurance, and marketing. The next cycle will run from autumn 2027 to 2029, with new partners to be announced.

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A partial U.S. government shutdown occurred after the Senate passed a funding package but temporarily blocked additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Unlike the previous shutdown, this one does not affect major cultural institutions; the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) remain open because their funding was approved on time.

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Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares inaugurated an exhibition titled “Half the World: Women in Indigenous Mexico” at the Cervantes Institute in Madrid, featuring over 400 works on loan from the Mexican government. At the press conference, Albares acknowledged that Spain's colonization of Mexico caused “pain and injustice” toward indigenous peoples, but stopped short of issuing a full apology. This follows a 2019 letter from former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador demanding an apology from Spain and the Catholic Church for the conquest, which Spain rejected. Current Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has reiterated the demand, calling the original letter “very diplomatic” and criticizing Spain's response as “undiplomatic.”

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The Museums Association (MA) in the United Kingdom has proposed a new code of ethics that, for the first time, explicitly mentions fossil fuel companies. The guidelines recommend that museums transition away from sponsorship by organizations involved in environmental harm, human rights abuses, or other activities misaligned with museum values, and instead seek ethical funding that serves community interests. MA members will vote on ratifying the changes from September 15 until the annual conference on October 7, with the last code updated in 2015.

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The Smithsonian Institution issued a statement asserting its independence after President Donald Trump claimed he fired National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet. The statement did not name Sajet or Trump directly but affirmed that all personnel decisions are made by the Secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch, with board oversight. It followed reports that Sajet continued working despite the supposed firing and that the Trump administration had compiled a 17-point list of grievances against her. The statement also noted the Board of Regents directed the Secretary to ensure unbiased content in Smithsonian museums.

Settlement allows Institute of Museum and Library Services to continue operations

The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have reached a settlement with the Trump administration to restore the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The agreement follows a year-long legal battle sparked by an executive order that placed the agency's entire staff on administrative leave and attempted to dismantle the federal body. The settlement ensures the IMLS can resume awarding grants, conducting research, and operating programs while reversing previous staff terminations and grant cancellations.

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The Pritzker Architecture Prize has issued a formal statement defending its selection process following the release of legal documents detailing past ties between foundation director Tom Pritzker and Jeffrey Epstein. The Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the prestigious award, emphasized that its jury operates with complete independence and remains focused on architectural excellence despite the controversy surrounding Pritzker’s previous association with the disgraced financier.

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Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright's Los Angeles masterpiece, faced potential closure after Mayor Karen Bass proposed a budget on April 21 that cut $283,000 in city funding and eliminated three of four staff positions, threatening its operations and UNESCO status. The Department of Cultural Affairs warned the cuts would make the property inoperable, but after advocacy from the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and others, Bass fully restored funding, allowing the house to retain its two full-time staff and UNESCO designation.

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Germany's Stuttgart Higher Regional Court ruled that Ravensburger, a German toy manufacturer, can continue using Leonardo da Vinci's *Vitruvian Man* (c. 1490) in its puzzles, dismissing a claim by Italy's Culture Ministry and the Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia. The Italian plaintiffs had sought a licensing agreement under a domestic cultural heritage law, arguing that commercial use of the image required their authorization, even outside Italy. The ruling reverses a 2022 Venice court decision that had ordered Ravensburger to stop production. The Italian parties may appeal to the German Federal Court of Justice.

The Politics of Russia’s Return to the Venice Biennale

Russia has announced its intention to return to the Venice Biennale in 2026, marking its first participation since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The proposed pavilion, titled "The Tree is Rooted in the Sky," plans to feature 38 participants from Russia and several Global South nations. The announcement has sparked intense backlash from the European Commission and culture ministers across 22 countries, who argue that Russia’s presence undermines democratic values and serves as a tool for "dark cultural diplomacy."

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Italy has announced a reduction in its VAT on art sales from 22 percent to 5 percent, the lowest rate in the European Union. The move, approved in a cabinet meeting and set to take effect within days, follows sustained pressure from Italian galleries, artists, auction houses, and art market players. The new rate must be approved by parliament within 60 days to become permanent. The change aligns with an EU directive allowing member states to lower taxes on art sales to at least 5 percent, and comes after the government initially resisted calls for reform.

Artists and scholars respond to White House’s list of Smithsonian grievances

Over the weekend, artists, scholars, and concerned citizens responded to the White House's list of objectionable Smithsonian Institution exhibits and texts, released under the heading 'President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian.' The list includes bullet points targeting exhibits on white culture, LGBTQ+ history, Afrofuturism, and works by artists such as Ibram X. Kendi, Ayana V. Jackson, Hugo Crosthwaite, Rigoberto A. Gonzalez, and Amy Sherald. Those singled out defended their work, with some comparing the administration's actions to Jim Crow-era censorship or Nazi Germany's 'degenerate art' campaigns, while others expressed pride in being included and vowed to continue making political art.

Arts and heritage organisations largely exempted from new UK regulations on memberships

The UK government has exempted charitable and heritage organizations from new consumer regulations that would have allowed members to cancel and receive refunds within a two-week cooling-off period. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), set to take effect next year, will not apply to membership schemes of qualifying cultural and heritage charities.

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Former Museum of Modern Art director Glenn Lowry has publicly defended billionaire collector Leon Black regarding his continued presence on the museum's board despite his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Lowry emphasized Black's financial commitment to the institution, specifically citing his role in preventing staff layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic and his decision to step down as board chair in 2021 to protect the museum from further controversy.

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The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., announced it will close starting October 5 due to the ongoing government shutdown, becoming the first major museum in the capital to do so. The Smithsonian Institution, which operates several other museums, is using its own funds to remain open at least through Monday. The closure threatens upcoming programming, including a major exhibition of Australian Indigenous art scheduled to open October 18, which is currently still listed as planned.

supreme court ruling advances trumps plan for mass layoffs of federal workers 1234747084

The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that had temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to lay off thousands of federal workers. The initial lawsuit was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), 11 nonprofits, and local governments from states including California, Texas, and Illinois, challenging Executive Order 14210. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissenter, while liberal justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor sided with the conservative majority. The ruling allows mass firings and reorganizations at 19 federal agencies, including the State Department and Social Security Administration, to proceed, though a separate injunction protecting sub-agencies of Health and Human Services remains in place.

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The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $1.4 trillion national budget that includes $162 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a $7.25 million increase over the previous year. This marks the largest one-year funding bump for the NEA in a decade, despite the Trump administration's repeated proposals to eliminate the agency entirely. The measure passed 297–120 in the Democrat-controlled House and also includes increases for the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and arts-based programs in the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Justice.

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Kim Sajet, the director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., continued coming to work despite Donald Trump claiming on Truth Social that he had fired her for being a 'strong supporter of DEI.' The White House provided the Washington Post with a 17-point list of grievances against Sajet, including her exhibition of a Trump portrait caption referencing his impeachments and January 6 insurrection, her donations to Democratic causes, and her comments about diversifying the museum. The Smithsonian Institution has not yet responded, and legal experts note Trump lacks authority to fire Sajet, as he does not sit on the Smithsonian board, though Vice President J.D. Vance and the Chief Justice hold ex officio positions.

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The Federation of State Humanities Councils and Oregon Humanities have jointly filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Oregon against the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The suit challenges what they describe as the disruption and attempted destruction of the NEH and 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils, seeking restoration of terminated grants and assurance that congressional appropriations continue to flow to these councils. The grants were canceled following extreme cuts by DOGE, prompting organizations to argue they can no longer effectively serve local communities without funding.