In a town hall with Rep. Becca Balint and Sen. Peter Welch, leaders of nine organizations expressed defiance as President Trump attacks federal arts and culture agencies. The event took place in Randolph, where representatives of Vermont’s arts and cultural organizations gathered to discuss the challenges they face due to the government’s attempts to cut funding and eliminate supporting agencies. Despite the threats, the leaders remained committed to their work and vowed to continue creating art.
During the “Arts & Humanities Town Hall,” organized by Rep. Becca Balint, the conversation revolved around the impact of President Trump’s efforts to shut down the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The recent decision by a federal judge to block the closure of the Institute of Museum and Library Services provided a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty.
Last month, Vermont Humanities suffered a significant loss of $729,000 in federal funding when grants were abruptly terminated to redirect funds to the president’s priorities. This setback was followed by the cancellation of grants to numerous arts organizations in Vermont by the National Endowment for the Arts. Despite these challenges, Balint remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of creativity and resilience in overcoming adversity.
Sen. Peter Welch joined Balint on stage along with directors of various arts and cultural organizations, including Susan Evans McClure from the Vermont Arts Council. Welch criticized the lack of opposition from Republicans against the attacks on arts and culture, highlighting the importance of speaking out against such actions. The panelists shared personal stories about the impact of the arts on their lives and communities, underscoring the value of artistic expression in times of turmoil.
Elizabeth Frascoia, executive director of the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, recounted her experience as a young participant in the program, emphasizing the sense of belonging and inspiration she found through the arts. Despite losing expected grants, organizations like the Vermont Historical Society and Fletcher Free Library remained committed to their missions of promoting diversity and inclusion through cultural initiatives.
As the event concluded, poet Rajnii Eddins delivered a powerful performance of his poem “Calling,” urging artists to unite and continue creating despite the challenges they face. The message of resilience and perseverance resonated with attendees, including Jody Fried from Catamount Arts, who expressed hope in the transformative power of the arts to bring people together.
Overall, the town hall served as a platform for artists and cultural leaders to voice their defiance against threats to federal arts and culture agencies. The unwavering commitment to creativity and expression highlighted the resilience of Vermont’s arts community in the face of adversity. Despite the uncertain future, the message was clear: art will endure, bringing people together and inspiring change.
