Dear Friends,
From my window, I can see the snow in our meadows melt away. I’ve been here over 13 years, and this changing of the seasons is always surprising, filled with promise. “What will happen next?”
The news is less promising, too loud, too shocking to ignore: We see the dismantling of government institutions, the consolidation of power, the limiting of free speech and a free press, and a legal system straining under the staggering weight of its responsibilities to the Constitution.
Our hearts break knowing that many of you, your families, your communities, are being threatened, targeted, and attacked. It is overwhelming. So, first and foremost, we hope that you are taking care of yourselves and your loved ones in whatever ways are available to you.
As the weeks have passed, I have felt a sense of urgency to communicate directly about what is happening in the world, to answer “how are you doing?” with more honesty.
_____
This year we won’t be applying for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), historically a major supporter of the country’s arts and cultural ecosystem. We were so proud to receive $15,000 in 2024—just our second NEA award. It was an honor, an acknowledgement at the national level of the work we do to help support artists and writers here in New York State.
But last month, the NEA requirements for funding suddenly shifted to reflect new Executive Orders that would deny funding for programs that “promote gender ideology” or seek to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes all programming an organization might plan, even programming outside of the scope of NEA funding.
Anxiety and anger spread through arts communities—theaters, small presses, art galleries, workshops, residencies. Jenni Werner, the executive artistic director of the New Harmony Project in Indianapolis, wrote in a blistering open letter to the NEA, “our values are not for sale.” Nor are ours.
We will always stand by you. We will always put people over reward. We don’t want you to wonder if we’ve been in quiet retreat, scrubbing language from our website, rephrasing descriptions of our key values and beliefs. You don’t need to look. We haven’t. And we won’t.
In this volatile time, we feel it is important to state this clearly to you – our community. We can’t defeat tyranny with silence or erasure.
The threats and challenges are changing all the time. Thanks to four theater organizations, the ACLU filed a lawsuit a week ago arguing that the new NEA requirements violate the First Amendment. These stifling rules are suspended—for now—because of diligence and leadership.
________
How are we doing? We’re stable. We’re not afraid. We’re convening with other arts organizations in the state, leaning on each other and figuring out new ways of acting and operating. We ask you to support the artists and arts organizations you care about, especially those with less resources. We’re not as grant-dependent as many other organizations. And we have our founder, Connie Saltonstall – a fierce, smart, funny, generous, gay artist – to thank for that.
A close colleague in the residency field voiced frustration recently at what they felt was the futility of letter-writing. I respect that feeling. But it was exactly a letter like this one that made me feel better and more connected, supported. It was one line from local baker Stef Senders, in the Wide Awake Bakery newsletter of all places, that made a difference to me and started me thinking about writing to you: “Is our support going to turn any tide? I doubt it, but NOT offering that support surely won’t help.”
I hope this letter makes a difference to you. I hope it finds you as winter turns to spring.
Sincerely,
Lesley Williamson, executive director