From Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay:

“It’s really important at this time to make sure that if you haven’t talked to your legislator about the work that’s being done, about the impact that’s being made, about the opportunity for economic growth here in Delaware by investing back into the arts – it’s time to have that conversation. We are entering into budget season in legislative hall, and we want to make sure that as our legislators are pouring over those lines of budget, that they are attributing the real value to the work that you are your colleagues are doing in communities up and down the state.” – Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay, May 8, 2025

Meeting Summary

On May 8, Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay convened stakeholders to discuss “Federal Funding: Landscape & Advocacy” with updates on the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  

Link to the bi-monthly ‘Lt. Governor’s Creative Economy Convenings’

Calls to Action: 

  1. Federal Advocacy Campaigns –
    • Email Congress – Ask to Protect the NEA, Restore the NEH and IMLS (bit.ly/4m1CkJR)​ – Tell Congress the importance of arts & culture to you and your organization. 
    • National Pulse Survey – Americans for the Arts (AFTA) (bit.ly/4d7eNDh)​ – Provide data on the impact of recent Executive Orders and federal policy changes to arts and culture organizations and creative businesses. ​
    • Story Bank Your Support – (bit.ly/4jvdWON2) ​– Help us better advocate on your behalf and DAA will share your stories with our state partners. 
  2. State Advocacy Campaigns 
  3. Upcoming Events 
    • Join the Arts & Culture Caucus on May 15, 11:30AM-12:30PM at Tatnall Building (Room 112) or virtually via Zoom. – Register Now: bit.ly/ACC25rsvp 
      • Guest Speaker: Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez 
      • Objective: Advance the Arts & Culture Caucus priorities underway, such as increasing state funding for the arts & developing CTE pathways in the creative economy; and tee up future work for the caucus. 

Opening Remarks 

Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay welcomed and thanked our advocates for their efforts to date. She shared that Governor Meyer’s Budget Reset proposes a safety net to offset the costs of a loss of federal funding, but that legislators need to hear directly from constituents on how to prioritize this funding as we enter budget season, and to share impact stories on the value of the work done throughout the state by the arts and culture sector.  

  • Meeting Objective: 
    • Share updates on Federal Funding 
    • Hear from State Leaders 
    • Discuss implications of changes for Delaware’s Creative Economy 
    • Organize around Calls to Action 

 

Watch a recording of the full meeting at the link below: 

Sign up for the next Lt. Governor’s Creative Economy Convenings at https://bit.ly/LTGOVCEC 

Categories: Advocacy, Arts and Culture Caucus, Creative Economy, Events