Legislators Are Back—Here’s What You Need to Know About Arts Funding

Lawmakers returned to the Capitol this week, and Legacy arts funding is back on the table as key bills move closer to floor debate. What happens next could shape the future of arts funding in Minnesota.

To help you stay informed and ahead of the curve, we’ve gathered vital updates in our latest webinar:

Webinar Recording: What’s Ahead for Legacy Funding & the State Budget

Hear directly from:

• Sarah Fossen, MCA Executive Director
• Sue Gens, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Arts Board
• Tom Hanson, from our lobbying team at Winthrop & Weinstine

They break down:

• The latest on Legacy funding levels and where things stand now
• State budget projections and what they could mean for the arts
• How the state misallocation of lottery funds directly impacts arts funding across Minnesota

This is critical information for anyone who relies on public funding for the arts. The landscape is shifting, and the decisions made in the coming weeks will affect every organization in our sector.

Watch the recording now and get the insights you need to plan, advocate, and protect your funding.

As developments unfold rapidly at the federal level, MCA is committed to keeping you informed. Here's the latest update, with details from our partners at:

On April 21st, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), notified Minnesota nonprofits of possible Executive Orders by the Trump administration that could target nonprofits nationally and in Minnesota. Although the orders have not been released and likely don't include arts nonprofits, it is something we and our national partners are tracking. Click to read the full release by MCN.

In a major legal challenge, the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Here’s what’s happened so far:

Key Timeline of Events:

April 1, 2025:
Federal agencies began canceling active IMLS grants across the country.

April 3, 2025:
Termination notices were issued to nearly all IMLS employees on administrative leave—only 12 staff members were retained.

April 4, 2025:
Acting Director Jonathan Sonderling fired all 23 members of the National Museum and Library Services Board.

These actions mark an unprecedented federal rollback of support for arts, culture, and libraries.

What You Can Do

Now more than ever, your voice matters. Congress needs to hear from the arts and cultural community—urgently.

Call or write to your U.S. Senators and Representatives today.
Ask them to:

• Protect and increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
• Safeguard the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
• Stop the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Your advocacy helps preserve critical support for organizations like yours—and for communities across Minnesota and the nation.

We’ll continue to share updates as they become available. Stay tuned, stay active, and thank you for standing up for the arts.

TAKE ACTION FOR THE ARTS