Well Yall, did you receive the letter from Zapplication today. I had it forwarded to me and all I have to say is good riddance to the federal government funding corrupt nonprofits, the arts and the institutions that keep our collective in a stagnancy programming that offers ZERO innovation and inspiration. None of it is art. Argue all day long. Your certainty and belief to academia, culture, the american dream, money...all of it has brought you to your awakening.
So artist learn; art was never about the above. Don't point the finger. Except the reality of your visitation into life.
For Zapplication trying to be a leading voice; art fairs no longer need to middleman their application process through ZAPP. All of it is unnecessary, except for this website. If MORE of you started being honest about your world view, sharing your real personality as an artist and disappointments....rather than worrying about being blacklisted things would be soooooo much different. But hey, so many of you chose to mask up. Here are the consequences.
Your silence created this suffering and it is way too late to fight to keep government and non-profits giving you the place to show and make money from the arts. Time to get community again, on a real level. Lets see what you have artists!
Zapp Email Below:
Dear valued member of our community,
On Friday, many active and pending grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) were abruptly terminated. This comes alongside the president’s proposal to eliminate the NEA entirely in the FY26 federal budget.
We at Creative West, along with the national collective of US Regional Arts Organizations, strongly urge Congress to restore the grant funding in support of arts, culture, and creativity that was passed during the last budgetary approval process, in addition to maintaining its broad bipartisan commitment to funding the NEA in next year’s budget.
When Congress passed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, it declared that “the arts and the humanities belong to all the people of the United States.” Since its inception, the NEA has played a critical role in broadening access to the cultural, educational, and economic benefits of the arts in every Congressional District. Federal arts funds support thousands of communities across the nation, including 678 counties that private foundations do not reach.
Read More About the NEA's Critical Impact
Speak Up for Federal Arts Funding
If you’ve benefited from National Endowment for the Arts support or seen the impact of public funding for arts and culture in your community, now is the time to share your story. Hearing from constituents helps legislators understand the real-world value of the arts.
Reach out to your Senators and Representatives to let them know:
- What public funding for the arts looks like in your community;
- How federal support for the arts has helped you or your organization;
- Why continued investment in the NEA, NEH, and IMLS matters.
Important Actions for Current NEA Grantees
If you have recently received a termination notice from the NEA, we strongly encourage you to file an appeal by Friday, May 9th.
If you have not received a termination notice, we strongly encourage you to stay current on reimbursement requests and to submit final reports as quickly as possible.
Thank you for all that you do to support arts, culture and creativity in your community.
In solidarity,
Christian Gaines
Creative West (formerly WESTAF) President & CEO and USRAO Chair
Torrie Allen, Arts Midwest President & CEO
Todd Stein, Mid-America Arts Alliance President & CEO
Juan Souki, Mid Atlantic Arts Executive Director
Harold Steward, New England Foundation for the Arts Executive Director
Susie Surkamer, South Arts President and CEO
Shannon Daut, USRAO National Director
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