Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing series for Arts Access examining the health and well-being of our North Texas arts economy.
The National Endowment for the Arts abruptly withdrew grants for cultural institutions nationwide on Friday evening, including funding for at least twelve North Texas groups.
鈥淔unding is being allocated in a new direction in furtherance of the Administration's agenda,鈥� the agency wrote in an email to art groups reviewed by The Dallas Morning News and 四虎影院 news. 鈥淭he NEA will now prioritize projects that elevate the Nation's HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions, celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, foster AI competency, empower houses of worship to serve communities,鈥� the email continued.
The emails came a few hours after President Trump proposed eliminating the entire agency from the federal budget. Over the past few months, the Trump administration has made many changes to NEA funding. In early February, the NEA canceled the 2026 Challenge America grant program 鈥� funds typically granted for projects focused on underserved communities. New guidelines were also placed on NEA funding.
At the time, leaders for Ballet North Texas and Flamenco Fever, recipients of the Challenge America grant, voiced confusion about the status of their funding, Arts Access reported. Other groups were uncertain about whether they met the new guidelines for grant approval.
With the latest news of grants being terminated, here is a list of the local organizations affected.
Bishop Arts Theatre Center
The Bishop Arts Theatre Center was awarded a $15,000 grant for playwright Franky D. Gonzalez鈥檚 Dallas Hedda, showing now through May 11. News of the funds being halted came minutes into their second night of previews, Gonzalez says. The money, which they never received, had been budgeted for artist payment, costumes and general production needs, he said. The theater plans to appeal the decision, an option offered by the NEA. For now, they鈥檙e also formulating strategies on how to close the funding gap and ensure their artists are compensated. 鈥淭he show will go on,鈥� Gonzalez says. 鈥淎rt doesn鈥檛 stop just because money stops,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he tragedy of all of this is 鈥� they鈥檙e doing more to harm the potential for the United States to create the next great thing,鈥� he says.
Ballet North Texas
Ballet North Texas was selected as a 2025 Challenge America grantee and expected to receive $10,000 this year to help put on their sensory-friendly performances and fund their sensory access programs. In February, executive and artistic director Nicolina Lawson told Arts Access the organization hasn鈥檛 received their money. She said their grant was supposed to start in March, so they proceeded with performances, spending money they expected to gain back. On Friday, BNT was notified that their grant was being terminated.
鈥淲e're having to reach out through other avenues, spending more money and more time to fundraise, then compensate for the money that we were promised,鈥� she said.
Ballet North Texas plans to appeal the decision for ethical reasons, said Lawson. For now, Lawson said BNT will try to figure out how to restructure their performances to save money. This could mean hiring fewer dancers, cutting down rehearsal times, and finding ways to reduce theater costs.
鈥淭hat's not fun for the dancers, it's not fun for the theater staff, it's not fun for anybody,鈥� Lawson said.
Dallas Theater Center
Dallas Theater Center was awarded $25,000 for their production of Shane. The theater spent $25,000 to produce the play in February, expecting the grant to reimburse them. They received an email Friday terminating their funding.
鈥淲e have a $25,000 hole in our budget,鈥� Executive Director Kevin Moriarty said.
Moriarty said DTC plans to appeal the termination as a matter of principle, but he said he does not suspect it will have a meaningful impact. The DTC does not plan to apply for NEA funding next year with the new policy changes.
鈥淲e don't have the power in this situation. We're limited,鈥� he said.
Deep Vellum
Deep Vellum was awarded a $20,000 grant to support publishing four international authors' debut books. On Friday, founder Will Evans received an email from the NEA informing him the open grant had been terminated. The email stated the NEA鈥檚 priorities do not align with Deep Vellum鈥檚, because the purpose of the project Deep Vellum proposed is: 鈥渢o support artist fees and printing costs of the publication of books of poetry and prose, including work in translation.鈥�
Evans said he made multiple attempts to reach the NEA, but said they are not returning his calls.
鈥淲hat this kind of means for us right now is confusion and chaos,鈥� Evans said in a phone interview.
Deep Vellum does not plan to appeal the decision. They still plan to publish the projects they are currently working on while seeking additional support streams.
Flamenco Fever
Flamenco Fever was a recipient of a $10,000 Challenge America grant. Executive director Julia Alc谩ntara says the funds never arrived. A planned spring residency, which would have featured 25 performances and over 60 flamenco classes over the course of two months, has been instead cut down to 鈥渁 handful of activities,鈥� she says.
Her group is appealing the decision. Part of the new priorities for grants includes mention of elevating 鈥渉ispanic-serving institutions,鈥� which could apply to Flamenco Fever, Alc谩ntara says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not making sense. They didn鈥檛 look at us,鈥� she says.
Kitchen Dog Theater
Kitchen Dog Theater was awarded a $20,000 grant last year. Last Friday, they were notified that their grant was terminated, the company announced in an email sent out Wednesday.
鈥淲e remain steadfast in our 34-year-old mission to provide an accessible, safe space where diverse new plays and playwrights are nurtured, amplified, and celebrated and where everyone is challenged to ask questions about the world we all live in,鈥� Kitchen Dog said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
In the same Facebook post, Kitchen Dog Theater urged supporters to write to their local, state and national representatives about the importance of the arts and NEA.
Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization
Maroon 9 was awarded $10,000 by the NEA to support their sixth annual summer program, facility challenges and their production Harriet Tubman, Take My Hand and Follow Me. They received an email Friday saying their funding was being terminated.
鈥滻t's a scary time,鈥� founder ShaVonne Davis said. 鈥淚t's just another fire that I feel like I have to really put out and try not to worry my staff and worry our parents.鈥�
After an emergency staff meeting, Maroon 9 decided to submit an appeal and move forward with the summer program while being fully transparent with the community about financial strains.
鈥淚 have to appeal,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e absolutely were counting on this funding. Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money to a small organization like ours.鈥�
Pegasus Media Project
Last year, Pegasus was awarded $30,000 by the NEA for an immersive choose-your-own-adventure experience. They received $20,000 in January, but received an email on Friday that the remaining $10,000 was being terminated.
Last July, Pegasus also applied for a $50,000 grant for their student-run film festival. They expected to hear about that grant in April. However, Executive Director Niloo Jalilvand said she reached out to the NEA a week before termination emails were sent after no longer seeing her application in the NEA application portal. Jalilvand said she was told her application was still valid and would have updates at the end of May.
Jalilvand does not think she will be receiving the $50,000 grant and will be appealing the $10,000 termination. Pegasus will continue to move forward with projects despite losing NEA funding.
鈥淲e're all about DEI and we're not gonna back up. I'm not changing the language,鈥� Jalilvand said. 鈥淲e are not budging.鈥�
The Welman Project
The Welman Project was awarded $74,900 last year to increase arts access in underserved communities in Fort Worth through a maker space and tool library. On Tuesday, they announced the second award termination.
Executive Director Taylor Willis said they spent money after being told they would be reimbursed.
Willis said they have been in communication with the NEA.
鈥淭hey are also in shock and trying to figure out next steps,鈥� Willis said.
The Welman Project plans to appeal the decision. They are not certain what these changes will look like for the organization.
鈥淲e have a really great community and a great support system, so we hope that support will come through to be able to continue on this important project,鈥� she said.
Transform 1012 North Main Street
The Welman Project is part of a coalition of organizations called Transform 1012 North Main Street. The organization was awarded $35,000 from the NEA to convert a former Ku Klux Klan auditorium in Fort Worth into a community center. On Friday, they received a termination email regarding that $35,000 grant.
Taylor Willis is executive director of the Welman Project. She鈥檚 also one of the co-founders and on the board of directors for Transform 1012 North Main Street.
鈥淚t feels like nothing is stable right now,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淚 am upset for us. But mostly just really heartbroken for all of the arts organizations being affected and what that means for so many communities that are losing arts access and feeling really angry about what's happening to the NEA.鈥�
SMU DataArts
SMU DataArts was awarded $50,000 in NEA funding. They were notified last week that their grant was terminated immediately.
鈥淲e are disappointed by the decision but remain committed to supporting the arts sector through our data and research,鈥� SMU DataArts director Jen Benoit-Bryan said.
Dallas Contemporary
Dallas Contemporary was awarded $35,000 by the NEA for a fall exhibition. They were notified last week that their grant was terminated.
Senior manager of development operations Gino Dal Cin said the gallery had a 鈥渧ery strong sense鈥� that any federal funding they applied for could be affected due to the current administration.
鈥淚t's tough and it just puts more of a burden on the individual supporters for nonprofit institutions,鈥� he said.
Dal Cin said competition for federal grants is ramping up.
鈥淚t feels like the pool is getting a little bit more shallow for us all to pull from,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t's tricky just because I think that everyone is really feeling the pinch, especially all arts nonprofits.鈥�
Dallas Contemporary will not be appealing the decision. Dal Cin said the gallery will prioritize creative and resourceful fundraising while keeping a tight budget.
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