Olivia of Troy - Art for the People, Grift for the Powerful
Just days ago, the Trump administration began issuing termination letters to dozens of arts organizations across the country, canceling grants already awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These weren’t future proposals. These were lifelines for projects already in motion, now abruptly cut off midstream.
And suppose Trump's 2026 budget proposal succeeds. In that case, it won't stop there: the NEA and its sister agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), will be eliminated entirely. This would dismantle an agency that has made over 128,000 grants totaling more than $5 billion since its founding in 1965, building cultural infrastructure in every corner of our nation.
This is the next target in the administration's campaign to gut federal institutions, especially those that elevate diverse voices, foster independent thought, or build cultural connections. I spoke about this recently in The Guardian, where I shared concerns about the targeting and dismantling of our arts and humanities agencies, including the Kennedy Center. It's not just about dollars. It's ideological.
That said, let's talk dollars. Trump is now hosting a $2 million-per-ticket fundraiser at the Kennedy Center, during a performance of Les Misérables. Has he ever even seen the show? Does he know what the musical is actually about? Because the irony isn't lost on me. It reeks of a grift. Will any of the Kennedy Center’s musicians, programs, or staff ever see a dime of it? We've seen this “performance” before so to speak. (Jim Acosta and I discussed this Kennedy Center debacle on his Substack show.)
https://www.livingitwitholiviatroye.com/p/art-for-the-people-grift-for-the