FEDERAL ARTS ADVOCACY
Protect the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities
FY26 NEA/NEH Appropriations Toolkit June 2025
Resources Provided:
Email Template
Press Release Guidance + Sample Write-Up
Draft Op-Ed, Letters to the Editor, and Talking Points
Social Media Graphics (Editable)
As supporters of Oklahoma's arts and culture sector to urge your continued leadership in securing at least $209 million in FY 2026 appropriations for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
These federal cultural agencies have an outsized impact in Oklahoma. From Lawton to Ada, from Tulsa to small towns across the state, NEA and NEH dollars help sustain community theaters, preserve tribal heritage, power public libraries, and equip educators with tools that reach beyond the classroom. Your past support has made possible grants to organizations that are shaping lives and economies in your district and beyond.
Sign the petition to support the arts in Oklahoma
Your voice matters—and today, you have the choice to use it to stand up for the arts, culture, and heritage that shape Oklahoma.
Every signature sends a clear message to Congress: our communities value creativity, education, and access to the arts.
Why sign the petition?
Our state's creative sector delivers. Oklahoma's arts nonprofits generate over $5.4 billion in direct economic activity and support nearly 49,000 jobs—more than agriculture and forestry combined. This impact extends to local restaurants, hotels, and businesses that thrive when cultural events draw residents and tourists alike.
Yet this system is under threat. Recent federal disruptions have halted NEH grants already awarded—including funding for Oklahoma Humanities. Programs for veterans, disaster recovery, and rural outreach have been gutted midstream, despite bipartisan congressional intent. Communities like ours are left in limbo.
We cannot celebrate America's 250th anniversary without the artists and institutions that tell our story. The NEA and NEH are crucial partners in that effort—and in building a future where every Oklahoma child has access to arts education, and every community has a stage, a gallery, or a library to gather and grow.
Congress must reaffirm its commitment. We ask you to champion full funding for the NEA and NEH in FY 2026, ensuring that Oklahoma's voices, histories, and talents are part of the national celebration—and our shared future.
Let’s make sure every Member of Congress hears what their constituents already know: investing in the arts is investing in America’s future!
Post About Your Support on Social Media
Caption:
Federal cuts to arts & humanities funding threaten everything from youth programs to veteran support, from small theaters to public murals. NEA & NEH grants are being rescinded Programs are at risk across the country—including YOURS
Here’s how to take action:
Sign the letter to Congress
Call your Rep. if they sit on the Appropriations Subcommittee
Share your story with us
Join our webinar on (date) @ (time)
Link in bio for resources & action steps
Let’s make sure arts and culture stay strong in every corner of America.
#ProtectTheNEA #SupportTheHumanities #ArtsAdvocacy #CreativeCommunities #FundTheArts
Additional Resources Availible in the Americans for the Arts Toolkit for FY26 NEA/NEH Appropriations Toolkit June 2025
