PA Humanities Report: Federal Arts Funding Cuts Threaten Pennsylvania's Cultural Sector

In July 2025, PA Humanities released a report indicating that over 90% of Pennsylvania's arts and cultural organizations anticipate adverse effects due to significant federal funding cuts implemented by the Trump administration. The "CultureCheck 2025" report highlights that 62% of the more than 400 surveyed organizations may need to postpone or cancel programming as a result of these reductions.

The cuts primarily stem from rescinded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), both facing potential elimination under the administration's fiscal policies. Since 2020, Pennsylvania has received over $123 million in federal arts funding, which has been crucial given the state's low per-capita spending on the arts compared to neighboring states.

Patricia Wilson Aden, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, expressed concern over the potential impact of these cuts, stating that they could "erase years of hard-won progress." She emphasized that arts and culture are not luxuries but lifelines for communities.

The economic implications are significant. In 2023, the arts and culture sector contributed $30.4 billion to Pennsylvania's economy. Nationally, the sector added $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023, accounting for 4.2% of the GDP.

The Trump administration's budget proposal for 2026 includes the potential elimination of the NEA as part of broader government downsizing aimed at reducing the $1.3 trillion federal deficit. This marks the administration's second attempt to shut down the NEA, with previous efforts blocked by bipartisan support in Congress.

Katherine Maher, CEO of NPR, condemned the funding cuts as "an attack on vital civic institutions and contrary to public interest."

The reduction in funding threatens community engagement initiatives, particularly those aimed at underserved populations. Emerging artists and smaller institutions may face significant challenges in sustaining operations and fostering new talent. Given the arts sector's substantial contribution to the economy, these cuts could have broader financial repercussions for the state.

The recent federal arts funding cuts have placed Pennsylvania's cultural institutions at a critical juncture. The potential long-term damage to community engagement, artistic development, and the state's economy underscores the importance of addressing these challenges through policy intervention, public support, and innovative funding strategies.