Push the envelope. Watch more at art21.org/shahziasikander. (fb)

A word from our Executive Director ⤵️ Like so many museums and arts institutions across the country, Art21 was recently notified that our National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant was terminated. The NEA pledged $85,000 to support the production of and free access to Art in the Twenty-First Century, the longest-running educational television series about art and artists in the United States. While this news was not a shock, it signals a major disruption to small and mid-size organizations across the country, most of whom offer artists a first opportunity to express their voice and serve communities that would not otherwise have access to arts and cultural spaces. Unfortunately, the time horizon needed to secure funding for these projects in the making will not cover for this loss immediately, and there will be ripple effects felt for years to come. Let’s be clear: the arts will endure. The cultural sector is supported by many sources, both public and private, that share Art21’s belief that access to art is not a privilege for the few, but a human right for all. The show will and must go on! As a first step forward, Art21 is appealing the termination of our grant and advocating for the importance of federal support of the arts writ large. The NEA was Art21’s first funder and kickstarted the organization in its early days. Public support is an important partner in our mission to bring artists’ words and works to classrooms, homes, and communities across the country. At the same time, we are calling for a broader community of supporters to step in and reassert the value of the arts. Advocacy, collectivity, and coalition building are critical in times like these. We encourage you to continue supporting the artists and arts organizations you love and we invite you to join us to make your voices heard to Congress directly by the following links below. Your support is crucial to the future of art everywhere and ensures artists’ voices remain a visible and vibrant part of our shared society. In solidarity, Art21 Tina Kukielski Susan Sollins Executive Director and Chief Curator 👉 Urge Congress to Protect Legally Awarded Funding: https://www.congressweb.com/AAM/91/ 👉Urge Congress: Save Public Media: https://protectmypublicmedia.org/ (fb)