When the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was first established by President Johnson over five decades ago, it was built upon many of the same principles that guide our work at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival – the celebration of a rich and diverse cultural heritage, the support of arts learning, and a commitment to equal access to the arts for all Americans.
The Hudson Valley has been a home to art and artists since before the founding of the Republic, and it continues to be a major creative hub. We are lucky to have such cultural richness at our doorstep. And yet, as the largest performing arts organization in the region, HVSF serves a wide geographic radius, including many communities with limited access to the transformational experience that truly great art can provide.
The NEA has long been a key supporter of HVSF’s mission to reach the widest possible audience. An NEA grant helped establish HVSF’s Revelers program, which brings many young people to the theater for the first time. The NEA also supports our in-school education tours and residencies through its Shakespeare in American Communities program, reaching over 50,000 students and educators every year. Additionally, the NEA funds state agencies like the New York State Council on the Arts, which makes possible our annual summer season under the tent at Boscobel.
As you may know, the President’s 2018 budget proposal includes the elimination of the NEA. This is deeply concerning, not only for the future of HVSF and our impact on the cultural life of the Hudson Valley, but also for the broader implications about the place of art and culture in our society. As President Kennedy famously said, “this country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor.”
“This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor.”
– President John F. Kennedy
At HVSF, we believe that access to great art is the birthright of all Americans. Art teaches us the skills that make us good parents, neighbors, friends, and citizens: empathy, generosity, courage, and imagination. Great art reminds us of what we have in common, and binds us together as a community. At HVSF, we see this happen every summer under our tent, and all year round in the classrooms served by our Teaching Artists.
And so this week, on the heels of National Arts Advocacy Day, we are adding our voices to those of our friends and colleagues in support of the NEA. And we are asking YOU to join us.
If you value the role of the Arts in our society, and the role of HVSF in your community, now is the time to speak out. The budgeting process is long, and the public has a key role to play. Please contact your elected officials and let your voice be heard regarding these proposed cuts. You can also visit the Americans for the Arts website for more information about how to join the national movement in support of the simple but powerful idea that a great nation deserves great art.
Yours,
Davis McCallum, Artistic Director
Kate Liberman, Managing Director
#SAVEtheNEA #LOVEtheNEA #ArtsAdvocacy #NEAmatters #NEHmatters #NYSCAsupported #ShakespeareInAmericanCommunities #NEA
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival 