Friends,
See below for a press release (PDF) from our national Federation of State Humanities Councils with an important update on our collective work to restore federal funding for the state and jurisdictional councils.
This injunction in Oregon is an important victory on a long road to ensuring states get the resources that Congress intended for humanities programs in local communities. Unfortunately, this doesn’t change the significant impact of the sudden cancellation in April of our NEH grants. In Vermont we are still facing a loss of 42% of our original FY25 budget, the loss of three full-time positions, and cancellation or pausing of several legacy programs.
We continue to urge anyone who is supportive of cultural programs in their local communities to donate to Vermont Humanities or the cultural organizations of your choice, and also contact our Congressional delegation to voice your support for the full restoration of the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the National Park Service.
Finally, please get out this summer and fall to enjoy and support these programs at your local library, community center, museum or cultural organization!
Thank you,
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup
Executive Director, Vermont Humanities
