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San Francisco Chronicle​

Bay Area arts groups stunned by Trump's sweeping grant cancellations

Several Bay Area arts organizations were blindsided after the National Endowment for the Arts abruptly rescinded their federal grants, part of a broader Trump administration overhaul of federal arts policy that has upended cultural institutions nationwide. At least seven arts nonprofits in the region, including San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center, the Oakland Theater Project and Circo Zero, received termination notices Friday stating their projects no longer aligned with the administration's newly defined priorities. The NEA emails cited a pivot toward funding projects that 'reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President,' including efforts to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, foster AI competency, support military veterans and empower houses of worship. 'Consequently, we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities,' the letter stated. Projects focused on underserved communities or diversity in the arts, once a central pillar of NEA funding, are now excluded. The New Conservatory Theatre Center received notice that its $20,000 grant for the world premiere of 'Simple Mexican Pleasures' has been rescinded. In the message addressed to Executive Director Barbara Hodgen, the NEA cited a shift in agency priorities under the Trump administration, stating that the project no longer aligns with new funding goals. Circo Zero, a dance organization that promotes BIPOC and LGBTQ participation in technical theater roles, saw its $50,000 NEA grant halted. Artistic Director Keith Hennessy said the group had already spent much of the money and is awaiting a final reimbursement. 'Some of us are halfway through a project and have already been partially reimbursed,' Hennessey said in an email to the Chronicle. 'Some were awarded money, signed contracts, and committed to many artists and staff, but have not started it yet, so this announcement is more of a 'pulling the rug out,' destabilizing their upcoming production.' The Oakland Theater Project had been awarded $30,000 for the 2026 world premiere of 'Moby Dick,' by playwright Erik Ehn. Managing Director Colin Mandlin said the company has received only half the funds, adding that plans for the production may need to be scaled back. Meanwhile, Danielle Grant, director of programs at SCRAP, San Francisco's Creative Reuse Depot, lost a $25,000 grant intended to fund sustainable fashion workshops for underserved youth. 'We don't fit any of those 'new priorities,'' Grant told KQED. The NEA confirmed that projects outside the administration's new focus areas are being terminated effective May 31. Organizations have until June 30 to request final payments for completed work. Appeals must be filed within seven days. Uncertainty looms for organizations with pending NEA applications. Andrew Smith, executive director of the Lab in San Francisco, said his organization anticipated the shift and moved NEA-funded programming forward to ensure reimbursement. But like many in the region, he's uncertain about future support. The upheaval extends beyond the NEA. Last month, the National Endowment for the Humanities began informing state humanities councils and grantees that their funding was also being terminated immediately. In some cases, notices were sent from a Department of Government Efficiency email address and signed by NEH acting director Michael McDonald. 'Your grant's immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government, including its fiscal priorities,' the letters said. 'The termination of your grant represents an urgent priority for the administration, and due to exceptional circumstances, adherence to the traditional notification process is not possible.' The NEH, whose $207 million annual budget is distributed largely through state agencies, had awarded $22.6 million in grants just six days before President Donald Trump returned to office. Those included funding for regional museum exhibitions, inclusive historical programming and local cultural preservation initiatives — many of which have now been nullified. California Humanities, which had regranted NEH funds to several Bay Area groups, is among the affected. These sweeping changes follow Trump's earlier efforts to shutter the NEH, NEA, and then Institute of Museum and Library Services entirely. The administration has also pressured the Smithsonian Institution to alter museum programming, purged political opponents from the Kennedy Center board, and launched a crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across federally funded cultural institutions.