We have submitted a formal appeal to the National Endowment for the Arts regarding the recent withdrawal of funding for our 2025 En Foco Fellowship Program. We believe this decision stands in contradiction to the NEA’s updated priorities, which emphasize support for Hispanic-serving institutions and projects that uplift the nation’s diverse artistic heritage. . This Fellowship is more than a grant. It is a space where cultural preservation, creative expression, and professional advancement converge. We urge the NEA to reconsider this decision, and we remain committed to providing opportunities that reflect the richness of our communities. . Thank you for standing with us as we advocate for equity, representation, and justice in the arts. . Image Credits: 1. Mariana Yampolsky, Pallaso de Tlaxala, (Tlaxala clown), 1994. 2. Sophie Rivera, Leaper, Men at Work series, No Date. 3. Sophie Rivera, Terracotta Goddess, Double Exposures series, No Date. 4. Mariana Yampolsky, Caricia (Caress), 1989. 5. Sophie Rivera, Webcrawler, Men at Work series, No Date. 6. En Foco’s early “Street Gallery” traveling exhibitions, 1978. Collection of Nueva Luz Study Center. 7. Mariana Yampolsky, Danzante con Bicicleta, 1988. 8. En Foco at the 1974 Puerto Rican Festival, 1974. Collection of Nueva Luz Study Center. 9. Mariana Yampolsky, Las Mecedoras, 1980. 10. Sophie Rivera, Untitled, No Date. 11. Pablo Delano, Hubcap City, East 149th Street, 1986. . . . . #enfoco #enfocoinc #nationalendowmentforthearts #funding #donate #support (fb)

On May 5, 2025, En Foco (along with countless other arts non-profits) received the news of the loss of another critical source of funding, the National Endowment for the Arts. . We do not intend to take this loss laying down and are in immediate talks for appealing the decision. As of now, it’s still business as usual for En Foco as we continue to support our artist community. . Support matters now more than ever. Donate, subscribe to Nueva Luz, and spread the word. Write to your elected officials and demand the return of arts funding. Our stories deserve to be seen, heard, and preserved. Together, we protect our legacies. . . . . #enfoco #nationalendowmentforthearts #supportthearts #donate #getinvolvednow (fb)