New York – Actors' Equity Association has released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's new budget proposal which moves to make major cuts to federal agencies. The budget eliminates funding for cultural agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, which is currently funded at $207 million – less than $1 per citizen.
“Federal arts funding survived the last Trump Administration with bipartisan support because Congress understands that the live arts are a huge economic job creator across the country,” said Al Vincent, Jr., executive director of Actors’ Equity Association. “The National Endowment for the Arts supports arts programs in every congressional district in the country, including many underserved rural communities. The economic value is huge – when someone goes to see a live arts show, they generate another $38.46 in economic activity per show – often spending at local restaurants, and on everything from parking to childcare. We will fight to protect this critical funding that generates a huge return on investment in local communities.”
Actors’ Equity has prioritized arts funding and works with a coalition of unions and arts advocates to fund the National Endowment for the Arts at least $1 per capita. During the last Trump Presidency, the administration proposed eliminating the NEA each year.
Americans for the Arts’ most recent survey of the economic impact of the arts sector found that the typical attendee spends $38.46 per person per event, in addition to the cost of event admission. The survey found that nationally, the sector generated $151.7 billion of economic activity in 2022 – $73.3 billion in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $78.4 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences. The sector supported 2.6 million jobs.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
May 2, 2025
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