DOVER – Arts and cultural leaders in Delaware are calling out for action after hearing about swift and deep cuts to funding that remains critical for programming in the First State.
The Delaware Arts Alliance held an advocacy call on April 10 with more than 350 registered participants eager to hear what those cuts mean to Delaware-based entities as funding, or a lack thereof, remains up in the air. Leaders on the call said it could greatly impact groups such as the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as well as arts funding in the United States Department of Education.
“It’s like every morning I’m afraid to open my email because what new [situation] has come in overnight,” Delaware State Librarian and Director of the Delaware Division of Libraries Dr. Annie Norman said during the call.
The cuts could be severe, according to Delaware Arts Alliance Executive Director Neil Kirschling who led the call. He said that in 2024, Delaware received around $2 million in funding for arts, humanities and library related services.
He also said that while funding remains up in the air, a contingency plan was agreed upon by federal leaders offering a stay of funding for the current year. 2026 has yet to be decided.
In the past, organizations including nonprofits, education institutions and more could have relied on congressionally directed funding, known as earmarks. Those earmarks were revived under President Joe Biden after the process was ended in 2011 when Republicans took control of the House of Representatives. But that process has been cut this year, leaving various arts organizations without it.
Norman explained that the trickle-down effect has already started when it comes to library funding, citing national cuts which include grant cancellations, reductions in staff and other concerns.
As an example, Delaware received $1.38 million in federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in 2023-2024, which supported programming such as professional development, access programming to Delaware library services, the statewide catalog program, and other pieces of the puzzle. Museums will also see a significant amount of cuts, negatively impacting preservation projects across the state.
Delaware Humanities Executive Director Michele Anstine shared an even more drastic story. Most of their nonprofit budget would be eliminated by possible cuts currently facing the United States.
“Our budget currently is about $1.1 million. And what we were expecting through our appropriation this year from the NEH is $900,000 to $950,000 dollars. . . that is a significant part of our budget, and it means a significant loss if this funding is not sort of returned to us,” she said.
Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Bell said the situation isn’t as immediately dire for her division this year, but the situational unknowns continue to present problems.
“Our economies need this public funding. Arts, humanities, culture, history, it’s something that every child needs. It’s something that our communities need. Arts and humanities are so critical to our wellbeing,” she said. The state division runs programs like DelawareScene, Delaware Creative Aging, Poetry Out Loud and artist fellowships, to name a few.
Bell said that about 13% of the division’s funding comes from the federal government through the NEA and, due to regulations for that funding, states are required to match that dollar for dollar.
“Delaware far exceeds that,” she added. In fact, the General Assembly offered about $6 million, or 85% of the division’s fiscal year 2025 budget, with another sliver of funding, $113,000, derived from the division’s art fund through the Delaware Community Foundation. Most of the division’s revenue is spent directly in the community through grants or programming.
“This is an unfolding situation and it’s a tough context to be working in,” Bell said of federal cuts overall.
Kirschling encouraged action by the advocates on the call, including letters of support, to help enforce the need for funding in Delaware.
“We know our delegation is supportive of the arts and libraries,” he said while encouraging advocates to reach out anyways. “It’s always a good idea to start building those relationships with your local elected officials. . . talking to them about the positive impact that these cultural agencies are having on the community.”
