ArtPride keeps you updated on the issues facing New Jersey's arts community and the actions you can take to support our state's creative industry. Want to stay informed? See the Bill Tracker and sign up below to start receiving Action Alerts by email and we'll let you know how you can help ensure lawmakers and community leaders at the local, state, and federal levels are informed about the impact the arts have on the lives of all New Jerseyans.


Immediate Action: Save the NEA!

Arts advocates — please read this critical update. The Trump administration is actively moving to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Grants are being rescinded, grant cycles are being disrupted, and a full elimination of the NEA is proposed for the FY26 budget.

We must act NOW! Here’s how you can make a difference:

Contact your Congressional Representatives IMMEDIATELY: Demand they oppose all cuts to current grants and support full NEA funding in FY26 at $209 million. Use our one-click action alert to send a pre-written email today.

📢 Spread the Word:
Share this urgent call on social media, email, and within your...

Stand with NEH and Protect the Humanities in NJ

UPDATE AS OF 4/4/2025 - The Trump administration made drastic cuts at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), placing 80% of its staff on indefinite administrative leave and canceling all open grants issued under the Biden administration. These extreme cuts were made by DOGE, part of Elon Musk’s government restructuring effort. The move has drawn strong criticism from humanities advocates, who warn that it could devastate state humanities councils and cultural institutions that rely on NEH funding.

► Read the full statement from the National Humanities Alliance.


On Monday, March 31, 202,5 we learned that the Department of...

Help Protect IMLS from Harmful Cuts

*UPDATE AS OF 5/1/2025*: 

A D.C. Federal District judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This decision responds to a lawsuit filed by the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which challenged the legality of President Trump's executive order aiming to eliminate the agency. The restraining order prevents further staff layoffs and grant terminations at IMLS while the court
evaluates the case.

► Read more about this update.
 

*UPDATE AS OF...

Tell Governor Murphy and Your Legislators to Maintain the Arts Budget for FY26

According to the recently released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study for New Jersey, the nonprofit arts and culture sector is a significant industry that generated $532 million in total economic activity during 2022. This spending supported nearly 10,000 jobs, generated more than $432 million in household income for local residents, and delivered $116 million in tax revenues to local, state, and federal governments. The study delivers a resounding message: When government invests in arts and culture, it is investing in an industry that stimulates the economy, supports local jobs, and contributes to building healthy, vibrant, and livable...

Support the Live Theatre Tax Credit Bill (S3503)

The Live Theatre Tax Credit Bill (S3503) aims to augment New Jersey's arts and entertainment industry by incentivizing commercial live entertainment producers to choose our state as a destination for launching pre-Broadway productions and/or national tours, through mutually beneficial partnerships with New Jersey nonprofit theaters. With the recent film tax credit as a percent, the live theatre tax credit will be crucial for enhancing New Jersey's competitiveness with neighboring states, and has the potential to boost New Jersey’s economy by generating jobs, increasing local, regional, and out-of-state tourism, and ensuring that it remains a...