Canceled 😞

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the cancelation of hundreds of previously awarded Arts Project Grant awards effective May 2, 2025, due to the proposed elimination of the agency by the Trump administration. This unfortunately includes Tapestry's award of $30,000 for this year's 25th Annual Soul 2 Sole Festival.      Due to this notice coming a few short weeks from our planned event, we felt it was necessary to notify the artists and the students traveling from out of town if funds were not secured from other sources in 48 hours. ________ This national government funding decision was communicated to arts organizations around the US via email notifications on Friday night May 2nd and included this statement: ​ The NEA is updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President. Consequently, we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities. The 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, assist with disaster recovery, foster skilled trade jobs, make America healthy again, support the military and veterans, support Tribal communities, make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful, and support the economic development of Asian American communities. Funding is being allocated in a new direction in furtherance of the Administration's agenda. ​ Ironically, the word ART is never mentioned. ​ MEDIA LINKS​ NY Times - May 3rd NPR​ ​ - Acia Gray, Executive/Artistic Director MINISTRY @ EMOS AUSTIN TX 05.02.25 https://youtu.be/EhaRgzwo-cQ?si=yf8BDSR7-0zXEo0w THE SQUIRRELY YEARS TOUR 2025 AL WITH THE SQUIRRELETTES Phillipines digital nomad Visa now available! https://www.travelandleisure.com/philippines-special-visa-digital-nomads-11726778 Español Home  The U.S. and its government Elected officials Find and contact elected officials Get the names and contact information for the people who represent you on the federal, state, and local levels. Federal elected officials Find out how to contact the president of the United States. Get contact information for U.S. senators. Find website and contact information for U.S. representatives. State and territorial elected officials Get in touch with state or territorial governors. Find the names and current activities of state and territorial legislators. Local elected officials Search for a mayor by name, city, or population size. Find a county executive (the head of a county’s executive branch of government) by map search or ZIP Code. The county executive may be an elected or an appointed position. Get contact information for city, county, and town officials.