05/19/2025
This is a “must read” message from the Mobile Arts Council. Funding for the arts is more important than ever and vital for the enrichment of our community. No room for apathy here.
Hello people who benefit from the arts (everyone),
As many have heard, the National Endowment for the Arts has halted numerous grants across the country. Since 1965, the NEA has been a reliable pillar for the arts in America. In this unprecedented moment, we at Mobile Arts Council—an arts advocate in Mobile for nearly 70 years—want to share our voice. Like many local arts organizations, our future is uncertain. We may not have all the answers, but we can offer facts:
In 2025, the NEA received about $207 million in federal funding. With a U.S. population of 343.6 million, that’s roughly $0.60 per person per year—or 0.003% of the federal budget. Yet this small investment has a massive impact.
The arts are economically powerful. In 2023, arts and cultural production contributed:
$1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy
4.2% of GDP
5.4 million jobs
While 90% of Americans believe all students should have access to arts education, only 52% think students have enough access. Meanwhile, 70% agree the arts help students succeed academically.
86% of Americans believe the arts improve their community’s quality of life.
For decades, hospitals and health clinics around the world have partnered with artists, supported by research showing the arts improve physical and mental health outcomes.
Regular engagement with the arts—through museums, theaters, concerts—has been linked to lower rates of dementia and cognitive decline. The more you engage, the greater the benefit.
The numbers don’t lie.
Call your representatives.
Support local arts.
Be an active voice in keeping the arts alive.
We will continue to be that voice for Mobile.
—Mobile Arts Council
