Performing Arts Alliance January Advocacy Update

January 25, 2023

As we begin 2023, this update from the Performing Arts Alliance shares advocacy news, actions you can take to support the arts in the U.S., and an upcoming grant deadline for the National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects. Chorus America is an organizational member of the Performing Arts Alliance, which advocates for America’s professional nonprofit arts sector before Congress and key policy makers.

Advocacy Action

As the new congressional session gets started, we urge you to build on your relationships with your elected officials! It is essential for arts stakeholders to build relationships with their federally-elected members of congress so they know who their constituents are.

You have the best access and opportunity to let them know the impact of the performing arts in your community, convey what the performing arts community needs, and how your priorities align. These relationships will make all of the difference when a vote comes down to just one or two congress members.

In your conversations, please also urge them to join the House Congressional Arts and STEAM caucuses and the Senate Cultural caucus.

Please refer to the 2023 congressional calendar (as published by Roll Call) to determine when and where to best participate in PAA advocacy initiatives. Congressional leadership can be found on Congress.gov, and membership of Congressional committees and subcommittees is in the process of being finalized.

Advocacy Updates

The new two-year session of the 118th Congress commenced on January 3, 2023. One of the last major actions of the 117th Congress was passage of H.R. 2617, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, that provides funding for the federal government for the current fiscal year, ending September 30, 2023. The President signed the legislation on December 29. The law provides record-setting support for:

  • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): $207 million for FY23, ($27 million increase over FY2022 enacted funding levels)
  • National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): $207 million for FY23
  • The Legacy IRA Act

The funding increase will support popular initiatives like the NEA’s military healing arts program and the NEH’s "A More Perfect Union" initiative to highlight the nation's shared history.

The NEA is the only funder, public or private, that provides access to the arts in all 435 congressional districts, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, so these are wins that truly every American can celebrate!

NEA's Grants for Arts Projects

The deadline for the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) first round of FY2024 Grants for Arts Projects is quickly approaching! The first part of the first round of applications is due on Thursday, February 9th, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET.

According to the NEA, the Grants for Arts Projects is the principal grants program for U.S. based organizations that supports public engagement with, and access to, various forms of art across the nation, the creation of art, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life.

Stay Tuned!

The 118th Congress is divided, with the Democrats in control of the Senate and the Republicans in control of the House. It will be essential for advocates to respond to Action Alerts and send messages to your elected officials when constituent advocacy is called for. The Performing Arts Alliance looks forward to continued partnership with grassroots advocates to advance the interests of the performing arts in Washington. Please stay tuned for upcoming updates and calls for action