Arts funding

What would abolishing the UK government's department for culture mean for the arts?

Following recent reports that Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to dismantle the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, experts and politicians weigh up the pros and cons of such a move

Arts organisations defend the National Endowment for the Arts amidst its proposed elimination

As Donald Trump attempts to eliminate the NEA from the US federal budget, arts groups voice their support for it

Leaderscomment

Comment | Losing federal funding for emergency heritage conservation in the US is a disaster

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation’s National Heritage Responders programme has channelled federal funding and support from local organisations to help communities struck by natural disasters to preserve their culture

The NEA is on Trump’s chopping block again, amid Doge review

The US president continues to strongarm his way into power over American culture

To make up for NEH grants cancelled by Trump, Mellon Foundation gives $15m to US humanities organisations

The emergency funds will go to humanities councils in all 50 states and six US territories

Could artwork donations provide stability for cash-strapped UK art schools? London's Goldsmiths College thinks so

The college has launched a new model, backed by a £4m art donation, encouraging donors to give money and art, or entire collections, to support its teaching and finances

Opinioncomment

Comment | Trump's 100 days should remind us to be brave—because in an autocracy there is no safety

The Trump administration has taken aim at numerous arts bodies. Elizabeth Larison, the director of the Arts and Culture Advocacy Program at the National Coalition Against Censorship, argues they need to remain steadfast in their missions—and consider strategies for survival

Elizabeth Larison
US politicsanalysis

‘It’s much more extreme’: US institutions and artists enter a new culture war

The Trump administration’s efforts to slash funding and influence programming have pushed cultural workers to organise

‘The arts are vanishing from education’: new report urges UK government to invest in arts sector

Backed by MPs and artists including Tracey Emin and Larry Achiampong, the report calls for a £5m grassroots visual arts fund and a reversal of funding cuts

Chicago's cultural affairs department hits crisis point

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events recently added new members to its Cultural Advisory Council to help right the ship

Democratic lawmakers urge J.D. Vance to save the Smithsonian from Trump

Four members of the House of Representatives wrote a letter to the US Vice-President to articular their "great concern over [the Smithsonian's] future"

Canadian art museum gets $36m funding boost for expansion from provincial government

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the country’s largest museum devoted to Canadian art, has also received $18m from the federal government toward the renovation and expansion project

Trump administration will use humanities grant money to build patriotic sculpture park

Funds from cancelled National Endowment for the Humanities grants will help realise one of the US president’s pet projects

National Endowment for the Humanities cancels grants as Trump administration redirects agency’s resources

State humanities councils and other grantees received notices from the NEH and Doge this week that their grants were being cancelled immediately

Smithsonian leader: institution will continue to operate ‘free of partisanship’ following Trump attack

Smithsonian secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III has affirmed in a memo to staff that the institution will “remain steadfast in our mission to bring history, science, education, research and the arts to all Americans”

US agency that funds museums and libraries ‘cannot’ be unilaterally eliminated, advisory board warns

In a letter to the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ new, Trump-appointed acting director, the agency's advisory board emphasised that its activities are governed by Congress

Trump appoints deputy secretary of US Labor Department to lead museum-funding agency marked for elimination

Keith Sonderling, the new acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, plans to steer the agency to “promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country”

Trump signs executive order to ‘eliminate’ agency that funds museums and libraries

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is listed alongside six other ‘unnecessary’ organisations

The big art world slowdown, Dutch culture funding crisis, Bruegel’s Hunters in the Snow—podcast

What’s behind the new, more measurement approaches to programming at museums, art fairs and more? Plus, a chat about current tensions around culture in the Netherlands and a close look at one of the most famous depictions of a wintery landscape

Chair of National Endowment for the Humanities steps down ‘at the direction of President Trump’

Shelly C. Lowe, the first Native American to lead the federal agency, was nominated by Joe Biden and held the role for just over three years

Three in five small UK museums and galleries fear closure amid declining revenue, new research suggests

The survey of independent cultural attractions found that three quarters of respondents were concerned for the future of the wider sector

UK government aims to keep cash-strapped cultural venues ‘up and running’ with £270m funding package

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy announced today that funding will be shared between arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England that are in “urgent need of financial support”

NEA shuts down arts grant for ‘underserved communities’ amid flurry of Trump executive orders

The Trump administration's shifting priorities rejects diversity, equity and inclusion in arts organisations

British Council art collection at risk in face of £197m debt to government

The respected organisation for cultural relations wants the Foreign Office to boost funding

Scottish culture sector breathes sigh of relief following £200m funding package

251 Scottish arts organisations will receive funding over the next three years

‘Transformative potential’: more arts funding on the horizon in Scotland following success of culture and health festival

A glowing report on Healing Arts Scotland festival, held in 2024, has spurred on hope that the arts will be better integrated into the Scottish national health system

'We haven’t seen positive things yet': UK arts bodies urge clarity on funding six months after Labour victory

With local authorities in crisis and Tate running a deficit, leaders of British organisations hope for much-needed capital investment

Berlin government approves €130m culture cuts

Move will kill off the art scene, say museum directors

Arts Council England to face scrutiny as government announces new review

Former minister of state for culture, creative Industries and tourism Margaret Hodge will lead the process

Saudi Arabia to give €50m towards Centre Pompidou refurbishment

France will also help develop a raft of new museums in the kingdom, including a photography institution