Fundraising for the arts has never been easy. New funding priorities at the national level now add another layer of fear and uncertainty for small nonprofits already walking a financial tightrope.
The current administration has repeatedly targeted the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, even seeking to eliminate them entirely. In May, that long-standing goal took a dramatic step forward.
Following Executive Order 14173 – restricting federal funding for organizations that support what it terms “gender ideology” – the NEA and NEH abruptly canceled hundreds of previously approved grants to arts and culture organizations across the country. These cuts are part of a sweeping shift in federal priorities that now explicitly reject support for initiatives tied to inclusivity.
Estimates suggest that more than 1,200 NEH grants and at least 152 NEA grants were revoked. In Colorado alone, 22 organizations lost a combined $435,000 in funding – money that were already awarded.
Among those impacted is Creede Repertory Theatre, which lost a $20,000 grant that had been awarded for its Young Audience Outreach Tour – a bilingual program that brings live theater to children in rural communities. CRT filed an appeal, but it was recently denied. Other organizations whose grants were withdrawn include the Denver Art Museum ($30,000), Denver Botanical Garden ($40,000) and The Center for Engaged Humanities at Colorado State University ($500,000).
For large institutions, a funding cut might mean scaling back. For small, community-rooted theaters and nonprofits, it can be devastating. Even more troubling is what lies ahead: Future NEA funding may only be available to organizations that align with the administration’s narrow definition of acceptable content.
Last year, Durango PlayFest passed a policy that says “PlayFest is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all. We believe that the arts should reflect the richness and complexity of the world.” But holding fast to our core beliefs carries a price.
Although PlayFest had recently been approved for an $8,000 NEA pass-through grant through Colorado Creative Industries, the board and staff voted to decline the funding. The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra is among several other Colorado institutions that also turned down an $8,000 grant.
Why? Because organizations that receive federal money could face legal action if they maintain language about inclusivity in their mission statements, organizing documents, social media, websites and more.
PlayFest continues its important work and will fundraise to make up the $8,000 loss from CCI. We’re currently accepting submissions for our 2026 festival, and we hope to receive a body of work that reflects the full breadth of human experiences with the goal of presenting four outstanding plays to local audiences next June.
Diversity in theater is not a political talking point. It is the heart of what makes storytelling meaningful. Inclusive stages foster empathy and build stronger communities. They reflect the real world – and help us imagine a better one.
When the arts are silenced, it’s not just playwrights and performers who suffer. We all do.
Mandy Mikulencak is managing director of Durango PlayFest and an author of historical fiction. She’s worked in the nonprofit sector for 35 years.
