There has been a bombardment of headlines in the mainstream news talking about federal cuts. But what does that mean to us locally in Westchester County, and the loss of funding that impacts public programming and the organizations like ArtsWestchester’s ability to support artists and cultural initiatives?
Recently, we reached out to ArtsWestchester’s CEO, Kathline Reckling, to discuss how these grant terminations are devastating and disruptive to the organization.
“Like thousands of organizations across the U.S. that provide access to the arts and offer opportunities to advance free creative expression, ArtsWestchester recently received notice that several of its federal grants have been terminated. Since March, ArtsWestchester has lost four grant awards: one from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and three from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), totaling $285K in committed contracts for programs and services. We’re not alone. Over these past few weeks, some $2 million in federal grants to the Westchester County’s arts and cultural community have been terminated. When we include the match requirements of these grants and outstanding project proposals to these agencies, the total impact of these cuts is of the magnitude of $8 million,” Reckling shared with Black Westchester.
“The defunded projects include initiatives that aim to document, preserve, and increase access to America’s cultural heritage and history. Other defunded projects focus on curriculum development, teacher training, and cultural workforce programs. Federal dollars support our cultural institutions, but they also go directly into the hands of independent artists and small businesses. Westchester’s non-profit arts sector contributes nearly $183 million into our local economy annually and supports 2,250 cultural jobs. A cut to the arts is a blow to our local economic landscape.
ArtsWestchester remains fiercely committed to fulfilling its mission of ensuring that the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of local life. This means we will continue to work to ensure that the arts remain accessible, that artists are recognized as entrepreneurs, that our own space and our fellow institutions remain inclusive, and that our programming and services reflect and respond to the many communities that define our region.
We are especially concerned that the current federal FY2026 spending proposal calls for the elimination of the NEA, IMLS, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. These agencies represent 13% of all public monies allocated to Westchester arts and cultural organizations. The proposed elimination of these agencies would leave a gap in funding for programs that spark innovation, expand educational resources, and support creative freedom.
ArtsWestchester and the NEA were founded in the same year. This shared history is something I have thought about a lot since I was appointed CEO of ArtsWestchester last July — and it gains deeper significance as we imagine a future America without the NEA. Since 2014, the NEA has been a leading partner to ArtsWestchester, contributing over $525K in matching grants for exhibitions and public programs.
Public funding of the arts is essential because the arts are how we express our culture, our hopes and aspirations, and our identity as individuals and as communities. The arts fundamentally help us advance towards the goal of achieving a “more perfect union.”
To silence artists is to silence us all,” she continued.
When asked what can we the public do to help, she shared, “As news of these cuts has traveled, many of you have asked me how you can help keep the arts alive in your communities. At this critical moment, ArtsWestchester invites you to take action in several ways: tell your elected officials that the arts matter and you support saving the NEA; buy a ticket to an arts event and take part in the arts; and join us in a new crowdfunding campaign to help fill the gap left by federal grant cuts. Your gift will go to work that supports local artists and helps ArtsWestchester continue providing essential resources to our friends in the field. I invite you to join me as we protect ArtsWestchester’s mission and continue to advance together through this challenging time,”
Affected programs include two upcoming exhibits in our White Plains gallery, a public art project in new public-housing units, and The Westchester Heritage Ambassador Program, a workforce development initiative, training aspiring cultural workers from Westchester’s Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, and Ghanaian communities, has been halted due to the loss of IMLS funding.
ArtsWestchester could have disbanded the projects, but instead, we are turning to the community to help fill the funding gap that remains. You can contribute to the Fill-the-Gap Campaign and help ArtsWestchester sustain its public programming threatened by federal cuts by clicking on this link. Their goal for this campaign is $25,000, which will only partially replace the lost funding for their public programming. ArtsWestchester experienced a total of $285,000 in federal grant terminations. Any amount is greatly appreciated!
ArtsWestchester’s mission is to create an equitable, vibrant, and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. ArtsWestchester supports the arts in Westchester through leadership, funding, programming, education, advocacy, audience cultivation, and professional development. We work to ensure the accessibility and diversity of the arts at every level for every resident and visitor in Westchester County.
They feel the arts are for everyone, amplifying the multi-ethnic and culturally diverse voices within our community. The arts offer opportunities for advancement and personal growth. The arts are a catalyst for systemic change, economic development, and community empowerment. The arts create life-affirming experiences, celebrating differences and finding shared values.
As ArtsWestchester looks to the future, and in recognition of the current needs of the communities we serve, we reaffirm and further commit to advancing social justice through our policies and practices. We acknowledge that this work is ongoing and commit to enacting a strategic vision that is proactive and responsive in shaping a just, fair, and equitable Westchester.
For more information about ArtsWesthester visit their website and follow ArtsWestchester on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, and LinkedIn.
Let’s be clear: this ain’t about a lack of money.
It’s about who controls it—and who gets pushed out when priorities shift.
These federal arts cuts? They’re not just budget issues. They’re strategic exclusions. And when funding disappears for arts, culture, and education—especially in diverse communities—it’s a direct hit to our stories, our healing, our futures.
As someone who moves through the world understanding how money works in these systems, I can tell you: funds don’t vanish. They pivot. And we need to pivot, too. That means building new language around impact, reimagining how we present our work, and making damn sure our community-based programs are seen not as “extras” but as essentials.
The projects being cut? They weren’t fluff. They were about access, legacy, equity. When you silence artists and cultural workers, you silence the memory of a people.
So now’s not the time for despair. It’s time for strategy.
Find your people. Build your case. Secure the bag—differently.
Because if they’re cutting us out of the conversation, we create our own table. With our own tools. On our own terms.
And if you’re not ready to play the long game? You’re not ready to protect the culture.
Agreed!
ArtsWestchester CEO Announces Loss Of Federal Grants, Reaches Out To Community To Support Their Fill-the-Gap Campaign
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