The Urgency of Funding Cultural Artists amid Large-scale Cuts
Across the U.S., but especially here in California, arts communities are reeling from deep government funding cuts. In May 2025, Governor Newsom’s proposed budget eliminated an $11.5 million allocation to the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund—a critical resource helping small nonprofit arts organizations comply with wage laws and pay artists fairly.
Simultaneously, the National Endowment for the Arts and other federal cultural-dedicated agencies have seen substantial grant cancellations
For cultural dancers and their communities, this is not just a funding diversion—it threatens tangible programs: mentorships, commissions, paid performances, productions, wages, and even the preservation of ancestral memory. These programs are lifelines in communities that have historically been marginalized in mainstream arts funding.
Today, World Arts West stands at a critical juncture. With fewer public dollars, our organization must fill the resulting gaps—ensuring our world‑dance network, now supporting over 450 companies in 100+ traditions, survives. Your financial support helps sustain free neighborhood festivals, grants accelerators, archiving projects, and artist stipends.
The stakes are high: Without collective action, we risk an erasure of dance traditions and cultural identity. By investing now, you're sustaining a vibrant, communal legacy—and asserting that cultural equity matters.
