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Boston Globe

MASS MoCA decries 'diminishment of national agencies' after NEA funds cancelled

Advertisement Edmunds included a section of the termination letter, which said the agency was shifting its grant-making 'priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Consequently, we are now terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities,' it stated. 'Funding is being allocated in a new direction in furtherance of the Administration's agenda.' It remains unclear how many organizations have had their grants cut. A crowd-sourced document circulating among arts administrators nationwide showed Tuesday that nearly than 200 organizations -- including many in New England -- have reported losing more than $5 million. Numerous Advertisement 'This piece of federal money is a big deal,' said Emily Ruddock, executive director of the arts advocacy group, MASSCreative. 'In some cases it is the decision of whether or not you're going to do a project.' The cancellations follow earlier grant terminations from the Gibson, a Choctaw and Cherokee artist who represented the United States at Mass MoCA's Edmunds said that the IMLS had previously sent a grant termination notification for an award for staff training on technology. She noted that the earlier letter said the grant was being cancelled because it 'is no longer consistent with agency priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States.' 'Please take a moment and read that last sentence again: '… no longer serves the interest of the United States ," she wrote. 'These actions in combination with their rhetoric are unnerving, and are but one of many challenges at hand and to come.' Malcolm Gay can be reached at