Arts organizations in North Texas losing support from the National Endowment for the Arts
Here's the revised version of the article with the requested modifications:
The Backstage Drama of Grants:
A wild twist in the cultural landscape unfolded this past Friday as the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) yanked funding from cultural institutions across the nation – including half a dozen in North Texas. The flip-flop comes just hours after President Trump proposed eliminating the NEA altogether from the federal budget.
"We're bucking traditions and shaking up the creative industry," the NEA declared in a brisk email to art groups, reviewed by The Dallas Morning News and KERA. The memo further read that funding was now earmarked for projects that would:
- Boost popularity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions.
- Celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
- Fostering AI competency.
- Empower religious spaces for community service.
Earlier in February, the NEA had scrapped the 2026 Challenge America grant program – a move that left many recipients like Ballet North Texas and Flamenco Fever flabbergasted about their funding status. The newest revelation has added to the confusion, as several organizations probed the new guidelines to discern whether they qualified for grants.
Gritting Teeth and Gritter Shows
Let’s take a peek at the affected local organizations in North Texas:
Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Franky D. Gonzalez's Dallas Hedda – currently showing at the theatre – was awarded a $15,000 grant. Minutes into their second night of previews, Gonzalez received the sobering news that the funds had been suspended. The money, budgeted for artist payment, costumes, and production needs, had yet to materialize. The theatre is mulling over the appeal option provided by the NEA. For now, they're hatching strategies to plug the funding gap and ensure the artists are compensated. "The show must go on," Gonzalez asserted.
Ballet North Texas
Selected as a 2025 Challenge America grantee, BNT expected a $10,000 annual grant to help stage sensory-friendly performances and fund their sensory access programs. $10,000 meant to commence in March had not been forthcoming, and the NEA terminated the grant come Friday. "We're scrambling to fundraise," said executive and artistic director Nicolina Lawson. BNT is opting to appeal the decision ethically while juggling ways to reduce costs and maintain quality performances.
Dallas Theater Center
$25,000 was granted for their production of Shane. The theater splurged $25,000 on the play in February, expecting partial reimbursement. But alas, the email terminating their funding arrived Friday. "We've got a hole of $25,000 in our budget," groused Executive Director Kevin Moriarty. The DTC plans to appeal the termination but doubts it'll make much difference, given the policy adjustments.
Deep Vellum
Awarded a $20,000 grant to support publishing four international authors' debut books, the organization is now in the lurch following the termination of the open grant. Founder Will Evans has yet to hear back from the NEA, leaving him in a whirl of confusion and chaos.
Flamenco Fever
A $10,000 Challenge America grant was intended to back a spring residency featuring numerous flamenco performances and classes. However, the funds never arrived, and the residency has been reduced to a bare-bones program. Flamenco Fever is contesting the decision and exploring how the new priorities might apply to their organization.
Kitchen Dog Theater
Awarded a $20,000 grant last year, the theater was informed of its termination last Friday. The company has expressed their solidarity with the mission to offer accessible space for diverse plays and playwrights and has urged their supporters to voice their opinions about the importance of the arts and the NEA to their local, state, and national representatives.
Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization
The NEA granted $10,000 to support their annual summer program, facility renovations, and their production Harriet Tubman, Take My Hand and Follow Me. They received an email terminating their funding, leaving them scrambling to plug the gap while submitting an appeal and maintaining transparency with the community about their financial predicament.
Pegasus Media Project
Last year, Pegasus received a $30,000 grant for an immersive choose-your-own-adventure experience. They received $20,000 in January but were informed of the termination of the remaining $10,000 grant. The organization also applied for a $50,000 grant for their student-run film festival, but they were unsure if they would receive it, given the recent NEA policy changes. Despite losing NEA funding, Pegasus will persevere with their projects.
The Welman Project
Awarded $74,900 to increase arts access in Fort Worth's underserved communities through a maker space and tool library, the Welman Project received termination emails about their grant on two separate occasions. The organization spent money after being assured of reimbursement, leaving them in a precarious position as they prepare to appeal the decision.
Transform 1012 North Main Street
The Welman Project spearheads a coalition of organizations called Transform 1012 North Main Street, which received a $35,000 grant to transform a former Ku Klux Klan auditorium into a community center. But, just as the Welman Project, the coalition received a termination email regarding their grant. "The stormy days ahead feel daunting," said Executive Director Taylor Willis of the Welman Project. "We'll weather the storm together, fighting for arts access and equity in our communities."
Arts Access is a collaborative arts journalism platform, powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.
This community-funded journalism initiative receives support from the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, The University of Texas at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef, and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control over Arts Access' journalism.
- The NEA's revised guidelines for funding have left many community organizations in North Texas, including Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Ballet North Texas, Dallas Theater Center, Deep Vellum, Flamenco Fever, Kitchen Dog Theater, Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization, Pegasus Media Project, and The Welman Project, grappling with funding issues in their finance sector, as they struggle to maintain their education and self-development projects.
- As the NEA has prioritized funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions, community organizations in North Texas, such as Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Ballet North Texas, Dallas Theater Center, and the Welman Project, are seeking clarity on whether education-and-self-development initiatives in their respective communities qualify for the newly earmarked grants.
