It’s Not Just Tariffs

Last week I wrote about how the Administration’s proposed tariffs would affect the art world, but there is more according to an article from February 6 on Artnet titled “A Running List of How the Trump Administration in Impacting the Arts”.

Trump has again disbanded the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH). He did this during his first administration, and it was reinstated under Biden. This committee was introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1982. It worked with the White House, National Endowment for the Arts, the Humanities, Museums and Library Sciences and others. It had a positive impact in advising economic development public health, education and climate change among other matters.

A meeting of the PCAH with a rare visit from the President

The members of Presidential committees receive no compensation. The only cost to the government is member expenses of travel to meetings and lodging. I served on two presidential committees under Presidents Reagan and Clinton. The former was a committee that advised the IRS on art matters. Expert advice was wanted as to whether works of art were being undervalued for estates or overvalued for donation purposes.

Rather than a cost to the government, the advice of the IRS art panel saved money. As evidence of the “vast” cost savings that shutting down the Arts & Humanities committee will bring, look at its budget of a mere $334,947, most of which would be for the administrators.

Trump may believe that he knows better how to advise the arts and humanities communities ... or does he just want to do away with any advocacy for the arts?

If you think I exaggerate, The Los Angeles Times of February 10 reported “shock waves through the world of arts and culture” when he announced that he intends to appoint himself as Chairman of the Kennedy Center! As I have learned while editing this Missive, after firing several members of the board, he has been “elected” Chairman!

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has become a cudgel. Whatever someone in the new administration doesn’t like can be done away with based on this concept of equality and fairness being bad. It is, of course, most potent against the arts which by its nature includes many minorities. The Smithsonian immediately knuckled under and closed its office of diversity. The administration’s order also encourages employees to report any DEI related activities, just as in any totalitarian country. From the movie “After Yang” ...

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency that provides grants to artists, cultural organizations, universities, and more. The NEA's mission is to promote the arts and strengthen communities' creative capacity. It is now in the process of changing its rules so as not to give funds to arts organizations that practice DEI. The impact is great as the arts provide an important vehicle for addressing social issues. Will this, de facto, end up censoring theater and film? How will this affect obtaining visas for performing artists from abroad?

The White House has ordered a freeze on billions of dollars of Federal Grants. That would be devastating to the arts organizations that depend on grants including NEA grants. Small organizations are concerned as to whether they can survive. I know it is making arts organizations in Santa Fe very nervous. The federal funding freeze is being challenged in the courts, but the administration has taken the position that the Executive branch is more powerful than the Judicial, and hence can ignore the courts.

Donations are often made to what people feel are the most important causes. Medicine has understandably been the leading beneficiary, but even in that light the arts are important for mental health. They have been around since man could express her/himself and have had some form of public support in every culture.

Allow me to conclude from a paragraph in that Los Angeles Times article commenting on the damage being done by the President’s Executive Orders:

“As a tool for dissent the arts are unrivaled.” Perhaps this is what the current administration fears. The paragraph continues that the arts “also build empathy, encourage creative problem-solving and build strong communities. None of these values appear to currently have a place in Washington”.